Speakers

Dr. Rosa obtained her DVM from Cornell University (New York, USA) in 2004 and then completed an internship in Ambulatory and Production Medicine. She went on to work in New Zealand at the Massey University Equine Clinic and then obtained her PhD from Massey University in 2014. Her current work in veterinary pharmacology began with sessional instructing and progressed to completing a postdoc in pharmacology before accepting a position as Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology. As part of her academic appointment, Dr. Rosa also continues to practice part-time as an equine-focused general practice veterinarian in rural Alberta.

Parasites, ponies, and plants: an ecology-based collaborative approach to discovery of novel antiparasitics

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.

Dr. Trang received his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Queen’s University and completed a fellowship at SickKids Hospital. He is a Professor at the University of Calgary, leads the Spinal Cord, Nerve Injury, and Pain (SCNIP) NeuroTeam, and CEO and co-founder of a biotherapeutics company, AphioTx. His team is committed to unlocking the causes of chronic pain at the level of genes, cells, and circuits. An area of focus is on understanding how opioids impact the nervous system and on improving the safety of these medications. The work from his team has been recognized by national and international awards.

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!).

Daniel Pang is a 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 anaesthesia at the University of Montreal 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). Daniel is a Diplomate of the European and American Colleges of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Daniel teaches anesthesia in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) at the University of Calgary. His research interests include pain assessment, perioperative safety and improving clinical practice.

Peer Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Dr. Michelle Jackman is a practicing pediatrician, born and raised in Ontario. She grew up in the City of Kawartha Lakes and is a University of Toronto Alumni OT1. She completed three years of surgical residency at Queen’s University in Kingston and earned her FRCPC in pediatrics in 2008. 

Dr. Jackman has been clinical lead at the Pediatric Centre for Wellness & Health at Alberta Children’s Hospital since it was established in 2012. Her clinical expertise is in supporting children and youth with mental health and metabolic and mechanical co-morbidities of obesity to achieve their best health. 

She  completed her executive coaching certification and coaching mastery program through Erickson International and is passionate about bringing coaching into the medical field to help her colleagues navigate challenges, excel in their professions and increase their fulfillment in all aspects of their lives.

Coaching as the antidote