Speakers

Lynn Weber is the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Weber's research explores how environmental, nutritional and toxicological factors influence metabolism and cardiovascular health across a wide range of animal species. Her work spans fish, rodents, pigs, dogs and cats, with current research focusing on topics such as taurine deficiency and canine heart health, the safety and health benefits of mustard bran in dog food, and the use of alternative proteins in aquafeeds.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of British Columbia. Following her doctoral studies, she completed postdoctoral research with the Smooth Muscle Research Group at the University of Calgary and in the Department of Zoology at Oklahoma State University.

In addition to her research, Dr. Weber teaches general pharmacology, veterinary nutrition, cardiovascular physiology and toxicology within the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate programs. She is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative research environment where students from diverse backgrounds are supported to contribute their unique perspectives while working toward improving the health and well-being of animals through innovative research.

TBA

Dr. Daniel Pang is an Associate Professor of veterinary anesthesiology at the University of Calgary. He received his veterinary degree in 2000 from the University of Bristol and completed a MSc and residency in veterinary anaesthetics at the Université de Montréal  after a year in small animal practice and an internship (University of Glasgow). He received his doctorate in neuroscience (molecular mechanisms of volatile anaesthetics) from Imperial College, London (2011). Dr .Pang teaches anesthesia at UCVM and has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students and his research interests include pain assessment perioperative safety and improving clinical practice. 

TBA

Dr. Natasha Kutryk is a Senior Specialist in Scientific Marketing Affairs for a pharmeceutical company, Merck Animal Health. Most recently she practised as a Feedlot Consultant for Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods. Prior to consulting she was a mixed animal veterinarian in Alberta and Saskatchewan and practised large animal medicine in England and New Zealand.  Natasha has served on the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Council since 2020 and was most recently the ABVMA’s President. She obtained her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan.  When not working, she farms with her husband in North Eastern Alberta.

Delores Peters manages the Animal Health Surveillance Unit for the Government of Alberta, overseeing animal health and food safety surveillance, as well as responding to reportable diseases at the provincial and federal levels. She holds a DVM (1984), MSc in animal biochemistry (1994), and a MVPHMgt (2007) specializing in Veterinary Public Health Management. Delores has a rich career history, from mixed animal private practice to field studies for animal health, and has been with the Government of Alberta in veterinary epidemiology and regulatory medicine since 2006.

Dr. Jeff Weissmann obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Jeff grew up with a love of science and animals, and always enjoyed the challenge of solving a good puzzle. While veterinary medicine wasn’t always his career aspiration from the start, these loves eventually drew him to the profession. If you had asked Jeff where he would end up after graduating from vet school, working in the field of nutrition probably wouldn’t have been on his radar, but after practicing small animal medicine for a handful of years in the Calgary area, Jeff learned where his true passions in veterinary medicine lie: nutrition, dermatology, veterinary communication, and sharing knowledge through education. In his role as a Scientific Communications Veterinarian, Jeff has the pleasure of consulting with other veterinarians and veterinary professionals to work through their challenging cases and find the best nutritional solution for their patients. Since joining Royal Canin in 2019, Jeff has been able to help find an appropriate nutritional solution for nearly 7000 patients across Canada. He also currently serves as a Sessional Instructor at UCVM, helping to educate the future of veterinary medicine in the areas of nutrition and communication. Jeff currently enjoys life with his partner Amanda, their two orange tabbies named Waffle and Pancake, and Berry, a crazy Golden with allergies (of course!).

Dr. Adam Chernick completed his Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences and his PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Calgary, Canada. His doctoral research focused on the evolution of ssRNA viruses infecting cattle and relied heavily on basic molecular biology techniques as well as sophisticated methods, including next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. After starting at IDT as an Inside Sales Representative and Business Analyst supporting Canadian customers, he moved through successive roles in Field Applications and Product Management while completing his MBA in 2024. Today, he works as a Sr. Commercial Product Manager overseeing IDT’s global CRISPR and Functional Genomics portfolio. His primary obejctive is the commercialization and sustainment of genome editing and engineering technologies that support the customers of IDT in the broad range of industries in which they work.