2015 Health Fair – Biographies of Presenters
Lisa Atckison, DVM, Lower Leg Anatomy. Lisa graduated from UC Davis Vet School and is certified
in both acupuncture and animal chiropractic. Her practice focuses on equine wellness and
prevention, lameness, digital radiography and digital ultrasound.
Vanessa Gant Bradley, DVM, Artaurus Veterinary Clinic, Napa Valley Equine, Lower Limb Wet Lab.
Vanessa grew up in Marin, and before starting veterinary school at UC Davis she worked in their
Equine Intensive Care Unit. She completed both her internship and fellowship at Peninsula Equine
Medical Center in Woodside and joined Artaurus Veterinary Clinic in Petaluma last spring. She now
splits her week between Artaurus and Napa Valley Equine and she is greatly enjoying both the
vineyards and the coast. Vanessa is studying to become a certified veterinary acupuncturist.
Sage Clarke, farrier. Therapeutic Shoeing for Lower Leg Injuries. Sage started shoeing at 12 and got really
serious at 15, when he (legally) left high school and has been a farrier ever since! His father, uncle, aunt,
sister are also farriers. Sage’s style of shoeing is geared towards not just soundness but also letting the horse’s
movement and feet tell him what the horse needs. He believes that a solid, open relationship among farrier,
vet and owner is the best way to solve problems and get the most out of every horse.
Kendra Stuber Cochran, County Saddle agent for Northern California, Certified Master Saddler’s
Association Saddle Fitter, Saddle Fit for Soundness. Kendra’s experience and expertise are proven in
her successful saddle fitting and the growing excitement over County Saddles in the Northern
California hunter jumper world. County Saddles are known as the ‘Best for Backs’ and the company
takes pride in their reputation for helping horses and riders perform to their optimum ability. As one
of the few saddlery companies in the world which actually make its own trees, County sets the
industry standard in design and innovation. Krissy Collett, Circle Oak Equine, Lower Limb Wet Lab. Krissy Collett is a 5th-generation
Californian who grew up riding 3-Day event horses as an 'A' level member. She obtained her
Bachelor of Science in Equine Sciences from Colorado State University and after college pursued a
riding career in 3-Day Eventing for a time, before moving back to California to work in the Large
Animal Intensive Care Unit at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. In 2010 she moved to
the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Department where she worked as a radiographer and MRI
technician as well as teaching veterinary students about radiography. In 2014, Krissy left the
University and went to Wellington, Florida for the winter season to work with Dr. Sarah Puchalski at
Palm Beach Equine Clinic. In May of 2015, Krissy joined the team at Circle Oak Equine Clinic where
she continues to work in Diagnostic Imaging as well as managing other aspects of the practice.
Carol Gillis, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, Equine Ultrasound & Rehabilitation, Improving Success Rates for Lower
Limb Healing. Dr. Gillis performs equine diagnostic ultrasound examinations and provides rehabilitation
guidance for soft tissue injuries. She is a graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and was the
owner of a sport horse practice for eight years, during which time she became one of the first equine
practitioners to perform ultrasound examinations on the musculoskeletal system of horses. Dr. Gillis did an
equine surgery residency at UC Davis and following completion of the residency, obtained a PhD in equine
tendon and ligament pathophysiology. She is the author of over 50 scientific publications in journals on the
subject of equine soft tissue injury diagnosis and treatment, and recently was an author of "Equine Sports
Medicine and Surgery", the definitive reference book on the topic. Dr. Gillis has performed more than 22,000
ultrasound examinations of the horse and subsequently guided treatment of problems identified.
Courtney Lewis, DVM, Circle Oak Equine, Lower Limb Wet Lab. Courtney graduated from the
University of California, Davis Veterinary School and also earned her undergraduate degree in
genetics at UC Davis, where she participated in both human and equine veterinary research studies
and worked as a veterinary technician at Circle Oak. She grew up riding in Marin County, competing
in the hunter/jumper circuit. Dr. Lewis developed an interest in lameness and imaging during her vet
school years.
John Madigan, DVM, MS, DACVIM, UC Davis Director of the International Animal Welfare Training
Institute, The Newborn Foal: Maladjustment and New Comparative Studies in Human Infants. Dr.
Madigan is the author of over 250 scientific publications and the editor of two textbooks on the care
of foals. He has invented state of the art slings using skeletal system support which are now used to
safely lift horses recovering from injury or anesthesia and to airlift stranded horses to safety. John
founded the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team which has gained national attention as
a Medical Reserve Corp under the Office of the Surgeon General. Dr Madigan is a member of the
California Animal Emergency Response Steering Committee, and the American Association of
Equine Practitioners Welfare committee. He is the principle investigator of the 2010-2012 Animals in
Disasters grant from CAL-EMA to train emergency responders in safe and humane animal related
rescue, sheltering and preparedness.
Victoria (Torri) Maxwell, DVM, Helping to Detect Lower Limb Lameness. A lifelong competitive
horsewoman, Dr. Maxwell had a successful career with ‘Hunter Hall of Fame’ member and 1968
Olympic equestrian Carol Hoffman Thompson before veterinary school. Dr. Maxwell is a 1999
graduate of Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. She followed with a private practice
internship at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, NJ and then a show horse practice in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania with Dr. Brian Murphy, where her focus was lameness and diminished
performance in the show ring. Dr. Maxwell now works with Dechra Veterinary Products, where she
pursues new and unique pharmaceutical therapies for the veterinary industry. The Dechra Team
continues to investigate and support innovative drug and technologies that improve the quality of
life for equine patients.
Justin McCormick, MS, DVM, DACVS. Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center, Cave Creek, AZ, Over
the Ground Airway Scope. Dr. McCormick grew up in the Phoenix area, where his family was active in
the local equine industry. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a Masters degree in
Pathology, Dr. McCormick earned a DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2009. He
completed his formal residency training at Texas A&M University and then joined the Dubai Equine
Hospital, where he remained for two years as a staff surgeon, before returning to the States and
joining Chaparral in 2015. Board certified in Equine Surgery, Dr. McCormick is devoted to 24 hour
veterinary care, while remaining focused on advancements in performance horse medicine. Debranne Patillo, MEEBW, Equinology, The Secret Life of Acupuncture with a Painted Horse.
Debranne is the founder of Equinology, an equine health care and science education company based
in Gualala, CA. She is the author and facilitator of their signature Equine Body Worker certification
course which includes equine sports massage, bodywork, stretching and specialized techniques. Her
“Painted Horse” has been the backbone for presenting equine anatomy since the course began in
1994. Her work has been featured in major international publications and regional newspapers and
web sites.
Duncan Peters, DVM, MS, DACVSMR, Director of the Equine Sports Medicine Program and
Associate Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University’s College of
Veterinary Medicine. A Discussion of Therapeutic Shoeing for Lower Leg Injuries and Lower Limb
Anatomy Wet Lab. Dr. Peters joined the faculty of the CVM from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in
Lexington, Kentucky, where he was the director of the Sport Horse Division and developed one of the
nation’s strongest private sports horse medical programs. A leading authority on locomotor
pathology, diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Peters’s work focuses on managing sport horse health for
optimum performance. He is a multi-discipline licensed Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI)
veterinarian, certified in dressage, eventing, jumping, driving, vaulting, and reining, and was a
member of the Veterinary Commission for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
He speaks regularly at equine veterinary association meetings, is a contributing author of Equine
Sports Medicine and Surgery, and has published widely in lay publications. Sarah Puchalski, DVM, DACVR, Circle Oak Equine, Why and When to Send your Horse to MRI. Dr.
Puchalski has developed an international reputation as an expert in equine diagnostic imaging and
now bases her practice at Circle Oak. She is a Canadian and was educated at the University of
Saskatchewan and completed her diagnostic imaging residency at the University of California, Davis.
As an assistant, and later associate, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (2005 –
2013), Dr. Puchalski focused on didactic and clinical teaching, research and clinical radiology. Her
research interests surround the use of novel imaging techniques for the diagnosis of lameness
conditions in equine athletes. Dr. Puchalski opened her consulting practice in 2013, and consults
remotely for numerous practices across Europe, Australia, the US and Canada. At Circle Oak Equine,
she reads all of the radiographic and MRI images. Her goals are to continue to elevate the quality
and role of diagnostic imaging in equine medicine through continuing education, research and by
offering consulting services to equine veterinarians throughout the world. Kerry Ridgway, DVM, Institute for Equine Therapeutic Options, The Secret Life of Acupuncture with
a Painted Horse. Dr. Ridgway specializes in ongoing education for equine health care professionals
as well as riders and trainers. He emphasizes the integration of conventional medicine with
alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic.
Rebecca Riley, DVM, Circle Oak Equine Sports Medicine, Tours of the ‘Haunted Hospital’. Dr. Riley
graduated from UC Davis Veterinary School in 2012 and then completed two years of internship and
subsequent fellowship at North Carolina State University in Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery. Dr.
Riley has obtained her certification in large animal acupuncture, and teaches the “Horse Course,” a
six week lecture & lab series for horse owners in the community. She has strong roots in the North
Bay community, having grown up riding in both Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Nicole Rombach, APM, EMEBW, CCBW, MSc., Michigan State University, Compare and Contrast the
Movement of Horses and Humans. Originally from the Netherlands, Nicole studied in the US and the
UK to receive her many accreditations and certificates. She has worked as an equine sports therapist
in direct veterinary liaison since 1998, mainly in the United Kingdom and in Brazil, with horses from
novices to Olympic competitors. Her PhD research focuses on the description and assessment of
equine neck pain as well as investigations into the effect of rehabilitation techniques on sports horse
performance. Nicole regularly competes in show jumping and dressage and currently holds state
and national titles in Brazil.
Carrie Schlachter, VMD, Circle Oak Equine, Tools of Rehabilitation - Electrophysical Therapies. Dr.
Schlachter graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and New
Bolton Center, where she received the Charles F. Reid Clinical Excellence Award for Sports Medicine
and Imaging as well as numerous scholarships. Dr. Schlachter grew up riding horses in the
competitive ‘A’ circuit on the East coast and has almost 35 years of experience with horses as a rider,
veterinarian and owner. Dr. Schlachter is an active learner and participates in numerous advanced
imaging and rehabilitation educational workshops every year and is pursuing her board certification
in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation through the ACVSMR. Her practice focuses solely on
sports medicine, with special emphasis on digital diagnostics and rehabilitation. Dr. Schlachter
oversees all rehabilitation and fitness programs at Circle Oak, working with owners, farriers and
referring veterinarians in a team approach. Claudia Sonder, DVM, Director of the Center for Equine Health, Updates on Research at the Center
for Equine Health. The Center for Equine Health is dedicated to advancing the health, well-being,
performance and veterinary care of horses through research, education and public service. Dr.
Sonder graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and was an equine practitioner
in Napa, CA, for a number of years before returning to UC Davis in her present role. Dr. Sonder
serves as a liaison between the School and the equine industry, including participating with
government and nongovernment organizations and individuals in providing scientific and
educational resources to solve equine industry problems.
Clair Thunes, PhD, Owner, Summit Equine Nutrition, When it Looks like Hocks, Ulcers or Poor
Behavior but it Isn’t. Born and raised in England, Dr. Thunes started riding at the age of eight and
has competed in eventing, show jumping, dressage, gymkhana, trail, fox hunting, hunters and side
saddle. She has a BSc from Edinburgh and a PhD from UC Davis and played polo for both the
Edinburgh and Davis teams. As an equine nutritionist, Dr. Thunes has worked with a wide range of
competition horses and with a variety of physiological problems including insulin resistance and
muscle myopathies. She works in conjunction with attending veterinarians and other health care
professionals. Dr. Thunes believes in finding the right balance not only in the horse’s diet but also
between the horse’s needs and the client’s resources.
Phil Tresenrider, Certified Journeyman Farrier, Lower Limb Movement. Phil graduated from SSU in
1981 with a BA in biology with honors and a minor in chemistry. He attended Porterville
Horseshoeing School in 1983, joined the American Farriers Association in 1985 and became a
certified journeyman farrier in 1988. Phil is a long time resident of Sebastopol, CA and an avid surfer.
Jesse Deck constructed the press and will be manning the controls.
David Weinstock, Compare and Contrast the Movement of Horses and Humans. David has been
practicing and teaching manual therapy techniques since 1973. He graduated from Johns Hopkins
University as a pre-med student and then traveled extensively in Central and South America,
learning from native healers and a variety of practitioners. He graduated from the New Mexico
School of Natural Therapeutics in 1979. In 1985 David cofounded the Institute of Conscious
Bodywork in Marin County, California. David developed the NeuroKinetic Therapy® bodywork
system in 1985, in collaboration with several peers. He now travels nationally and internationally
teaching chiropractors, physical therapists, personal trainers, massage therapists, and Pilates
instructors. David maintains a busy private practice in Marin County, using his NeuroKinetic
Therapy® bodywork system to treat athletes and weekend warriors alike.