Speaker Biographies

2024 FAMSS Speakers:

Dr. Dave Prentice

Elanco Speaker Panel

I was born in Detroit Michigan in 1964 (Go BLUE) but moved away before I was 5, grew up in Des Moines Iowa.  I am not from an agricultural background, nor were any of my aunts/uncles from an agricultural background (mostly GM and Ford).  Became interested in veterinary medicine in late 70’s but not sure why as no ag background nor did I know anything about James Herriot. Started college at Iowa State University in 1982 and got a degree in Dairy Science and then went to vet school at Iowa State (graduating 1991). I started practice in Cascade Iowa (NE Iowa near Dubuque) at a 7 doctor, two location mixed animal practice.  In 1987, I started practice in Tulare California doing 100% dairy work. In 1988 I had the opportunity to go to the University of Wisconsin and do a MS project on subacute ruminal acidosis. After completing my MS degree in 2000 I joined ABS global where I did reproductive consulting around the US and around the globe.  In April of 2007 I was hired as a dairy technical consultant with Elanco where I have been ever since except a two year sabbatical at Balchem. Interesting fact, I actually stayed and gave a presentation to dairy producers in the town (Thirsk) in which James Herriot (which was his pen name) practiced. 

Dr. Jessica Risser

Elanco Speaker Panel

Dr. Risser has been a Swine Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health for 4 years, prior to that worked for 10 years as veterinarian for an integrated swine production system. Jessica has participated in various AASV and swine industry task forces, committees, and councils regarding swine production, animal welfare, and antibiotic use. Jessica received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biochemistry from West Virginia University, a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University, and completed the Executive Veterinary Program for Swine Veterinarians at the University of Illinois. Jessica resides in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with her husband, Jason, and their two sons. 

Dr. Michele Calvo-Lorenzo

Elanco Speaker Panel

Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo is the Chief Animal Welfare Officer for Elanco Animal Health and joined Elanco in 2015 as an expert in livestock welfare. In her current role, Michelle leads discussions and develops strategies related to animal welfare, with a focus on the areas of research, communication, audits/assessments, guidance, and innovative services for the livestock industry. She also manages a team of field experts that support producers with operation-wide solutions through customized hands-on training sessions. Michelle graduated with a Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Prior to joining Elanco, she was an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University and developed a research and teaching program centered on livestock behavior and welfare. Working within the industry and academia over the past decade, Michelle is proud to work alongside hard-working producers, packers, industry representatives, academics, and veterinarians every day. She strives to have a positive impact on livestock welfare and enhance its role in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Gustavo Pena

Zoetis Kickoff Speaker

Dr. Pena received his VMD in 1999 at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Mexico State University, Toluca, Mexico. From August 2004 to May 2009, Dr. Pena was a Dairy Extension Specialist at Utah State University while he pursued a master’s degree in Dairy Management. In July 2011, Gustavo began his residency in Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. His residency research evaluated dairy calf performance and health under different housing management strategies. 

 

Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Pena worked for GENEX-CRI in Canyon, Texas as a national account reproductive specialist. In March 2013, he became the training and technical support specialist for Advanced Animal Diagnostics and their Q-Scout system for differential milk leukocyte counts.   

 

Zoetis hired him in 2017 as a Dairy Production Specialist in the Central Valley of California. In 2023, Dr. Pena transitioned to his new role as DTVS in the Midwest.

2024 Interactive Session Speakers:

Dr. Laura Homan

Interactive Session Speaker: Practical Strategies for Implanting with FDA's GFI #191

Laura is a Territory Business Manager with Zoetis, where she works closely with veterinarians, beef producers, and dairy producers in Ohio. Laura graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a degree in Animal Science.  With over 10 years of prior experience as an on-farm consulting nutritionist for Cargill, she enjoys combining her nutrition and animal health expertise to provide the best outcomes for producers. Coming from a farming background, Laura understands the challenges and opportunities in the cattle industry. Her family owns a farm with 300 milking cows and 200 dairy x beef steers. Laura and her husband Mark live in Saint Marys, OH with their two sons.

Dr. Aaron Pospisil

Interactive Session Speaker: How I Almost Died, and How to Avoid It

Dr. Aaron is a 2017 graduate of The Ohio State University and a mixed animal veterinarian at Sugarcreek Veterinary Clinic in eastern Ohio. After numerous early career setbacks, he was able to get back on track, following his passions of herd consulting, mostly focussing on labor training, calf health, and milk quality. That experience also led him to a mastermind facilitator position working with the veterinary leadership company Operators to Owners. In his spare time he enjoys backpacking and hiking with his wife and 2-and 5-year old sons. 

Dr. Daniel Cummings

Interactive Session Speaker: New Understandings of Refugia-Based Parasite Control Strategies in Beef Cattle

Growing up on a small farm in rural Western KY, Dr. Dan Cummings, DVM, DABVP Beef Cattle Practice, quickly recognized his desire to pursue veterinary medicine. He attended Murray State University for undergraduate studies before earning his DVM from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently he is a practitioner with Heritage Veterinary Partners where he serves beef cattle clients in the Southeastern US. In addition to his work in clinical practice, Dr. Cummings leads the organization’s research initiatives and provides technical support for the group. Dan works closely with industry partners, practitioners, clients, and other stakeholders to conduct clinical research relevant to the beef and dairy industries. Dr. Cummings recognizes the value of organized veterinary medicine and serves in various roles to support and promote the profession. He currently resides on his farm in Madisonville, TN with his wife, Amy, and their three children. 

Dr. Fred Gingrich

Interactive Session Speaker: Opportunities in Bovine Practice for Everyone 

Dr. Fred Gingrich graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. He was in a 100% dairy practice in California for two years then the owner of a private mixed animal/dairy emphasis focus and small animal practice in Ashland for 20 years. In 2016, he was hired by the American Association of Bovine Practitioner's 4th Executive Director. He has been married to Michelle since veterinary school and together they have four children. 

Dr. Lee Jones

Interactive Session Speaker: Critical Skills to be a Reproduction Veterinarian

Dr. Lee Jones is a Senior Beef Professional Services Veterinarian with Boehringer, Duluth, GA. He joined Boehringer in June 2023. Prior to that, he was Associate Professor with the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and Extension Veterinarian where he provided veterinary services to South Georgia farm clients including herd health and reproductive services such as bull breeding soundness evaluations and embryo transfer; as the UGA Extension Veterinarian he presented animal health and reproduction programs throughout Georgia; he taught beef production systems management to senior veterinary students in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; he served as the Veterinary Field Investigator for the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory. Dr Jones is a Director for American Embryo Transfer Association; past AABP Director For District 3 (2016-2022) and program committee Chair for the Georgia Food Animal Conference. He received his Masters of Science in Animal Science from UGA in 1987 and his DVM from Colorado State University in 1998. He was an associate veterinarian in a rural mixed animal practice in Curtis, NE, 1998-2001. He owned Frontier Genetics International (2001-2010), primarily a beef cattle and equine breeding and embryo transfer company but served many commercial beef herds as well. Lee and his wife of 35 years, Katy, live in Chula, GA with their 2 horses and 45 cows. Their son and 2 daughters are married and have 4 grandsons

Dr. Luciana Bignardi DaCosta

Interactive Session Speaker: Cross-Cultural Communication

Dr. Luciana da Costa is a veterinarian with over 25 years of experience in the dairy sector and a faculty member at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She holds a teaching, research, and Extension appointment and works closely with federal and state-wide leadership such as the USDA, State Department of Agriculture, Association of Dairy Producers, milk processors, producers, and veterinarians. Her responsibilities include providing unbiased information and applied research on all aspects of livestock health, best management practices, animal welfare and well-being, animal-environmental interactions, and antimicrobial stewardship. She has extensive experience working with a multi-disciplinary team in a collaborative approach, developing and implementing surveys, troubleshooting common animal problems (e.g., mastitis, milk quality, lameness, calves’ issues), and evaluating dairy management for small or large farms, conventional or organic systems. She has published numerous articles in renowned peer-reviewed journals and has lectured nationally and internationally on livestock husbandry and production/sustainability practices to both agricultural and non-agricultural audiences. 

Dr. Victor Cortese

Interactive Session Speaker: Immunology in Food Animal Medicine

Vic graduated from Michigan State University with his bachelors and doctorate. He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1980. He then entered a mixed animal/ dairy practice in Wisconsin where he also held a non-tenured adjunct professor position with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1989 he joined Diamond Scientific in their technical services department where he was promoted to director of veterinary operations. In June of 1990 he moved to SmithKline Beecham Animal Health (now Zoetis) as a senior technical services veterinarian, with his main emphasis on dairy and its allied sectors. Until November of 2020, He held the title of Director Technical Services—Cattle Immunology which included both North American and international cattle and veterinary segments. He currently is the owner of Cortese Veterinary Consulting LLC where he works with veterinarians and cattle producers around the world. He has many publications on viral infections, immunology, neonatal immunology and young dairy calf management, several textbook chapters and guest lectures at many veterinary and university meetings including the American Association of Bovine Practitioners/World Buiatrics Congress, American Association of Swine Veterinarians and the AVMA. He received his diplomat status to American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Dairy Practice Specialty) in 1995. In September 1997, at the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference in Montreal, he received the AABP’s Award for Excellence. In 1999, he successfully completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. In 2013, Bovine Veterinarian Magazine selected Dr. Cortese as one of the twenty most influential cattle veterinarians in the United States.

Dr. Kevin Cain

Interactive Session Speaker: Liver Biopsies and Trace Mineral Status

Kevin Cain, DVM grew up in Miller, SD, where he was heavily involved with the family's cow/calf ranch. This influenced Dr. Cain to develop a great passion and dedication for beef cattle production. Dr. Cain attended Kansas State University and received his B.S. in Animal Sciences and is a 2006 Graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he returned to Miller, SD where he purchased a mixed animal practice that he owned and operated for 13 years. While in practice, his primary focus was cow/calf, feedlot, and background cattle production. He has a strong desire for cattle genetics, reproduction, and artificial insemination. After selling his practice in 2017, he wanted to expand his opportunities and pursue a career in the industry. He and his four boys currently live in Northeast Kansas. He is a member of the AVMA, the AABP, Society for Theriogenology and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants. Kevin joined Axiota/Multimin USA as a Technical Service veterinarian in December 2018.

Dr. Petra Szymkowicz

Interactive Session Speaker: "What They Don't Teach You About Rural Practice" and "Is that a Toxin?"


Dr. Sara Wagner

Interactive Session Speaker: Practical Pharmacology 


Dr. Emily Zuir-Linden

Interactive Session Speaker: Preparing Your Body and Mind for Practice

2024 Wet Lab Instructors:

Dr. Tricia Pugh

Wetlab Instructor: Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture and Chiropractics in Food Animal Medicine

Dr. Tricia Pugh of East Canton, OH has done chiropracter and acupuncture work for 7 years. She has experience in small animal and equine eastern medicine. She has recently done preemptive work for show stock and she is well-versed in large animal alternative medicine. 

Dr. Stephen Reichley

Wetlab Instructor: Aquaculture

Dr. Stephen Reichley serves as the deputy director for the Fish Innovation Lab, supporting the management entity in technical administration. Reichley also works as the associate director of the Mississippi State University Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security and as an assistant professor at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine. He provides support for the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation, Recovery, and Monitoring Program and collaborations with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He also provides diagnostic services, teaching, student mentorship, and other university and college services. Reichley is a past president of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association and is a director-at-large for the American Association of Fish Veterinarians. He also serves on the Technical Standards Committee of the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section. He has experience in the production of many aquatic species, numerous scientific publications related to aquatic animal health, and has given lectures and seminars throughout the world. Prior to joining the lab, Reichley was the director of R&D and fish health for Clear Springs Foods, the largest producer of freshwater rainbow trout in the United States. His responsibilities included oversight of all R&D activities; clinical health and welfare of 45+ million fish across brood, hatchery, and grow-out operations; and oversight of the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory as well as the Water Quality and Analytical Laboratory. Reichley received his BS from the University of Findlay, DVM from the Ohio State University, and PhD from Mississippi State University. He is a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian (CertAqV). 

Dr. Callie Willingham

Wetlab Instructor: Dairy Consulting

Dr. Callie Willingham grew up in northeast Texas, spending much of her time in her parents’ mixed animal practice. Callie earned her DVM from Texas A&M University in 2007. Upon graduation, Dr. Willingham joined Dairy Veterinary Services in Chandler, Arizona. Becoming a partner in 2010, she practiced in Arizona for 11 years. In 2018, Callie left practice to move to Calgary with her now husband and currently splits her time between Alberta and Texas. 

While with Dairy Veterinary Services, Dr. Willingham provided routine veterinary care to dairy herds with a focus on on-farm employee education and training, proper drug use and residue avoidance, and improving, maintaining and monitoring herd records. Callie was fortunate to have progressive clients who challenged and encouraged her to expand her knowledge and skills. She also enjoyed hosting veterinary student externs through out her time in practice. 

Throughout her career, Callie has been, and continues to be, actively involved in organized veterinary medicine, including the AABP, the AVMA, and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. She currently serves as the Vice-President of the AABP.

Dr. Rodrigo Sala

Wetlab Instructor: Artificial Reproductive Technologies: Bovine

Rodrigo Sala received his DVM from UNIFEOB in 2007 and his master’s degree in Animal Reproduction from São Paulo University in 2013. After graduating in 2007, he worked on dairy and beef farms in Brazil with focus in reproduction (AI, TAI, ET, Flush and reproductive management), as well as working at Bayer Healthcare as a dairy farm consultant. In 2014 Rodrigo was invited to come to the United States to work at STgenetics in the genetic program, working in ET and OPU/IVF while collaborating with the research and development department. Rodrigo has 16 years of experience working in bovine reproduction and has also participated as a collaborator in research groups at the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University in recent years. Working in bovine reproduction has been his dream since childhood, which was inspired by his father who also worked as a vet in animal reproduction.

Dr. Eric Gordon

Wetlab Instructor: Artificial Reproductive Technologies: Small Ruminant

Dr. Eric Gordon serves as the Director of the Ohio State Large Animal Services program. He received his DVM from The Ohio State University in 1997 and went on to join the OSU Large Animal Services in 2006 following a nine-year career in private practice. He is also currently serving as the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association President. 

Dr. Emily Nogay

Wetlab Instructor: Artificial Reproductive Technologies- Small Ruminant

Dr. John Grooves

Wetlab Instructor: Beef Management

Dr. Keirsten Morris

Wetlab Instructor: Beef Management

Dr. Reed M. Johnson

Wetlab Instructor: Beekeeping 1: Introduction and Fundamentals 

Reed M. Johnson, PhD. Reed got his start in research beekeeping while looking for a summer job in his hometown, Missoula, Montana. He knocked on the door of a honey bee researcher at the University of Montana, was offered employment, and was quickly drawn into the world of bees and their biology. Reed went on to receive a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working where he was involved in the honey bee genome project. Reed is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at The Ohio State University in Wooster, Ohio where he teaches two courses: one on beekeeping and the other on pesticide science. His research focuses on determining how bees are exposed to pesticides and the effects that pesticides have on the health of honey bees, with the larger goal of promoting bee health in the context of modern agriculture. 

Dr. Barbara Bloetscher 

Wetlab Instructor: Beekeeping 2: Pathology and Diagnostics in Honeybee Medicine

Barbara Bloetscher has been the State Entomologist/Apiarist at the Ohio Department of Agriculture since 2009, after 23 years at The Ohio State University Extension. As State Apiarist, she oversees the Apiary Program and addresses questions and issues related to the Inspection Program, honey bees, and other pollinators. She also identifies insects and other arthropods submitted from Ohio Nursery inspectors and businesses. Barb has kept her own colonies of honey bees for over 35 years and belongs to several beekeeping clubs as well as The Ohio Lepidopterists and other insect-related organizations.

Jerry Hayes

Wetlab Instructor: Beekeeping 2: Pathology and Diagnostics in Honeybee Medicine

Jerry Hayes started out in life as a High School teacher. He hated it. He went into another business where he worked with a beekeeper. Back many years ago Jerry knew about Honey Bees but nobody actually knew a ‘Beekeeper’, did they? Jerry asked him questions, picked his brain, became more interested and fascinated and started reading everything he could get his hands on about Honey Bees. He turned into the consummate backyard beekeeper. He did all the fun and crazy things backyard beekeepers do and built and experimented with. He wondered if he could get into the Beekeeping world and support a young family. So, with the support of his family he went back to school under the tutelage of Dr. Jim Tew, at The Ohio State University. “Top 10 Best thing I ever did,” Jerry said.Years later he looks back on his opportunities as a Research Technician at the USDA/ARS Baton Rouge Bee Lab, Dadant and Sons Regional Mgr., Dadant And Sons New Product Dev., and AR Mgr., Chief of the Apiary Section for the Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Monsanto Honey Bee Lead, VP. of Vita Bee health North America and now Editor of Bee Culture magazine with awe and amazement.Add to the above the Classroom Q&A Column of the American Bee Journal for almost 40 years, the ‘Classroom’ Book, Author or Co-Author on 23 research papers and a variety of Honey Bee related articles in a variety of publications. Plus, Past President of Apiary Inspectors of America, Heartland Apiculture Assoc., Colony Collapse Working Group, CAPS Science Advisor, PAm Science Advisor, AHPA Science Advisor and many Professional Presentations internationally and media opportunities. And Now Editor of Bee Culture magazine. It has been a Great Journey. 

Lucas Prada Gutierrez

Wetlab Instructor: Dairy Consulting

Lucas Prada Gutierrez, originally from Colombia/South America, got his DVM from La Salle University at Bogota in 2012. Lucas started his Dairy cow industry work journey with an internship at DeLaval. Then, in 2014, Lucas worked for several years at "Aurora Organic Dairy Farms", a very large organic dairy operation, working throughout all different departments at the farm and managing one of the dairies in Colorado. In 2021, he worked for Zoetis helping producers identify areas of opportunity and implement practical solutions to manage and improve udder health and milk quality. This year, Lucas had the opportunity to begin the Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (MS) and do research at The Ohio State University, studying and working on his project: “Effect of length of stay in Post-Partum Pen on Survival, Health, Cyclicity, Milk Yield and Reproductive Performance of Holstein Dairy Cows.”  

Dr. Margaret Masterson

Wetlab Instructor: Dystocia and Fetotomy

Dr. Margaret Masterson is a 1984 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she spent two years in western Ohio working in a mixed-animal private practice. She then returned to OSU to complete a residency in clinical sciences. She earned her master's degree from OSU in 1989 and is board certified in veterinary preventive medicine. She has been at the university since 1989 and is an associate clinical professor in veterinary preventive medicine. She also teaches and practices at the OSU Large Animal Services Ambulatory Clinic in Marysville, Ohio. Dr. Masterson specializes in production of dairy cattle and small ruminants, including camelids and cervids.

Dr. Alissa Wilhelm

Wetlab Instructor: Dystocia and Fetotomy

Dr. Alissa Wilhelm received her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2015 and her Masters in Comparative Medicine also from The Ohio State University in 2015. After working in a mixed animal practice she returned to OSU Large Animal Services in 2016. Dr. Wilhelm especially enjoys large animal specialty and preventive medicine, and feels fortunate to combine this passion with educating veterinary students.

Dr. Michael Cressman

Wetlab Instructor: Euthanasia Techniques, Harvest and Processing

Dr. Cressman is an assistant professor in animal sciences at OSU with research in poultry and meat science.  Dr Cressman specializes in and has research with bird performance, litter quality, and welfare.  In addition to reaching, Dr. Cressman advises the undergraduate Poultry Science Club, Meat Science Club, and Poultry Judging Team.  

Dr. Justin Kieffer

Wetlab Instructor: Euthanasia Techniques, Harvest and Processing

Dr. Justin Kieffer graduated from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, board certified in preventative medicine.  After private practice for 6.5 years, he accepted a split faculty position with Animal Science and the Office of the Attending Veterinarian, providing clinical care and animal use oversight for all agricultural species at our Columbus campus and surrounding research stations.  In addition, he provides support for the Meat Science Laboratory.

Ethan Scheffler

Wetlab Instructor: Euthanasia Techniques, Harvest and Processing

Ethan is the OSU Meat Lab Manager. He received his associate degree from OSU ATI and continued to OSU Columbus for his bachelors.  Has worked previously as assistant manager from 2017-2021 at the OSU Meat Lab. Actively involved with various food animal production systems and his grandparents’ commercial cattle operation.  

Dr. Antoinette Marsh

Wetlab Instructor: Food Animal Parasitology


Antoinette Marsh, JD, MS, PhD, is the current Service Head of Veterinary Medical Center Diagnostic Parasitology and Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has published many scholarly articles and research regarding parasitology in various animal species.

Dr. Michelle Carman

Wetlab Instructor: Food Animal Parasitology



Dr. Chris Premanandan

Wetlab Instructor: Gross Pathology

Dr. Christopher Premanandan is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated with his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001 and went on to complete a Ph.D. also from Ohio State in 2007. He is a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, and his research interests include bacterial infectious diseases and diagnostic pathology.

Dr. Ryan Jennings

Wetlab Instructor: Gross Pathology

Dr. Shaw Perrin

Wetlab Instructor: Hoof Trimming

Shaw Perrin, DVM, is assistant clinical professor at Ohio State Large Animals Services. Prior to vet school he worked as a herdsman and herd manager on dairies in Ohio and California. He spent 8 years in private dairy practice at Dairy Veterinary & Management Services in Goshen, Indiana before coming to Ohio State in 2018. He is passionate about dairy, welfare and veterinary ethics.

Dr. Lexi Grillos

Wetlab Instructor: Back to the Basics: Food Animal Edition

Dr. Lexi Grillos is the first year Theriogenology resident here at The OSU CVM. She is a previous graduate of The University of California, Davis, where she concentrated in equine medicine. Dr. Grillos spent her intern year last year at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as one of their field care interns. Her time in Lexington was spent working on large Thoroughbred farms with lots of racehorses, foals, and broodmares. Her passion for reproduction and desire to learn more about other species brought her here to OSU for her comparative residency in Theriogenology, and she hopes to enter an academic career once she is finished. During her free time, Dr. Grillos enjoys trying new restaurants, creative writing, and spending time with friends and family.  

Dr. Julia Horton

Wetlab Instructor: Back to the Basics: Food Animal Edition

Dr. Scott Fritz 

Wetlab Instructor: Liver Biopsies

Dr. Scott Fritz earned his DVM from Iowa State University in 2014.  He then spent 5 years in private practice in rural South Dakota focusing on beef cattle.  In 2019 Dr. Fritz started a residency in toxicology at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory with a focus on diagnostic medicine.  He is board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and currently serves as a diagnostician and faculty member at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  

Dr. Aaron Pospisil

Wetlab Instructor: Lung Ultrasound

Interactive Session Speaker: How I Almost Died, and How to Avoid It

Dr. Aaron is a 2017 graduate of The Ohio State University and mixed animal veterinarian at Sugarcreek Veterinary Clinic in eastern Ohio. After numerous early career setbacks, he was able to get back on track, following his passions of herd consulting, mostly focusing on labor training, calf health, and milk quality. That experience also led him to a mastermind facilitator position working for the veterinary leadership company Operators to Owners. In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking and hiking with his wife and 2- and 5-year-old sons. 

Dr. Jessica Higgins

Wetlab Instructor: On Farm Diagnostics: Swine and Poultry 

Jessica Higgins received her DVM from The Ohio State University and also completed a Post-Doctorate Certification in Avian Health & Medicine through the University of Georgia. Dr. Higgins currently works for Kalmbach Feeds practicing commercial poultry and swine production medicine. She oversees the health of approximately 3 million commercial layer birds, and also serves as a poultry health resource for the company’s poultry feed customers and backyard poultry owners. She is also one of three veterinarians who oversee the health of roughly 35,000 sows and 1,000,000 market pigs for her company, where she is responsible for the multiplication sow units and associated pig flows.  She is a member of the American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Swine Veterinarians and the Association of Veterinarians in Egg Production. 

Dr. Steve Boyles

Wetlab Instructor: Roadway Disaster Response

Steve grew up on farms in West Virginia and Ohio. He received his B.S. degree from Virginia Tech in animal science, a M.S. from The Ohio State University in reproductive physiology and a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from Kansas State University. Upon graduation, Dr. Boyles worked at North Dakota State University as a livestock extension specialist. His current area of focus in extension at Ohio State is Beef Quality Assurance, Animal Handling and Facility Design. Steve is a member of the Bovine Emergency Response Program (BERP) team that trains law enforcement and emergency response personnel for livestock emergencies with a focus on highway situations. His research program involves beef cattle management and forage systems. His OSU on-campus teaching involves a course dealing with animal welfare issues and he was recognized with the OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. He is involved in conducting environmental assessments and animal welfare audits of livestock operations in the U.S. Dr. Boyles was the BQA Educator of the year in 2021. 

Dr. Tony Good

Wetlab Instructor: Select Sires, Inc: The Evolution of Genomics

Tony E. Good, DVM serves as Vice President of Production Operations for Select Sires Inc. He has been a member of the Select Sires team since 1995 and in his current role, is responsible for sire care and production facilities. Good is a member of many veterinary groups and serves as Vice Chairman of the Certified Semen Services committee. He grew up on a small, registered Holstein farm in Northwest Ohio and received his Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science from The Ohio State University in 1991. He then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary in 1995. Good resides in Marysville, Ohio with his wife, Cara. They have two children: a daughter, Sydney, that works at Select Sires’ calf campus and a son, Trey, who is attending Ohio Wesleyan University.

Dr. Andy Niehaus

Wetlab Instructor: Small Ruminant Surgical Techniques

Dr. Andy Niehaus is a professor and service head of Farm Animal Surgery at The Ohio State University. He grew up in West Virginia on his family’s beef farm and graduated from West Virginia University in 1999 with a degree in chemical engineering. He became a Buckeye in 1999 when he enrolled in the OSU College of veterinary medicine. Following graduation in 2003, he remained at OSU and completed an internship and residency in farm animal surgery, and he has remained at OSU as faculty since.  

Dr. Alison Gardner

Wetlab Instructor: Tissue Suturing and Wound Closure

Dr. Alison Gardner is a clinician, researcher, and associate professor at Ohio State CVM. Growing up in Colorado, she earned her DVM from Colorado State University before joining us at Ohio State where she earned her Masters of Science in Veterinary Medicine while becoming DACVS-LA and DACVECC-LA accredited. In research, Dr. Gardner is author or co-author to over 10 scientific journal articles on laminitis, abdominal surgery, and post-operative pain as well as author of 6 book chapters. In addition, Dr Gardner is course lead to 2 of the OSU CVM Class of 2026 classes.  

Dr. Todd Price

Wetlab Instructor: Techniques in Swine Medicine

Dr. Todd Price is a 1992 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and a 1985 graduate of Mohawk High school. Dr. Price started North Central Veterinary Services in 1995 in Sycamore, Ohio and added Lincoln Way Animal Hospital, located in Upper Sandusky, in 2013. Dr. Price, along with the staff at NCVS, take pride in offering quality and compassionate medicine to the surrounding area. Dr. Price enjoys both the companion animal and the large animal areas of veterinary medicine. Todd is married to Becky Price and they have four children, Grant, Allison, Daniel and Morgan. Together they enjoy their grain and livestock farm operation as well as spending time with their three dogs, Bella, Addie and Oakley.