Neuroscience Course - BRAIN Camp 2016 Speakers

Joan R. Coates BS, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Joan Coates is a Full Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Missouri. She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in General Agriculture in 1987 and DVM degree in 1990 from the University of Missouri. In 1990-1991, she then went on to a small animal rotating internship at Texas A&M University and then from 1991-1994 completed a 3-year neurology and neurosurgery residency at Auburn University where she also completed a Master of Science degree. Also in 1994, she became board-certified in veterinary neurology through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Since, she has served on the faculty at the University of Georgia between 1994 and 1997 and at Texas A&M University between 1997 and 2003. In 2003, she returned to the University of Missouri as a faculty member. As a clinical neurologist and neurosurgeon, she is Service Leader for the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service and Co-Director for the Physical Rehabilitation Program at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. As a researcher, she is a member of the Comparative Neurology Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, which explores the inherited developmental and degenerative diseases of the nervous system and is involved with translational research for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Her area of research focus involves the study of canine degenerative myelopathy as a disease model for translation of therapeutic strategies to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Lynette K. Cole, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVD

The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

Lynette Cole is an Associate Professor and Section Head of Dermatology and

Otology at The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a

graduate of the University of Tennessee where she received her DVM. She

completed her Residency in Dermatology and obtained her Master of Science at

The Ohio State University and is a Diplomate of the ACVD. Her publications

include over 35 articles and book chapters and she has presented over 80 seminars

nationally and internationally. She is involved in teaching and training of the

veterinary students and dermatology residents, and is the Intern Program Director.

Her research interests include Staphylococcal infections/antibiotics, otitis media,

Primary Secretory Otitis Media in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and BAER

testing.

Laurie Cook, DVM Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Cook received her DVM from Texas A&M University in 1998. She completed a rotating internship at University of Illinois from 1998-99 followed by a year in private practice. In 2003 she completed her residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Texas A&M University and became board certified. She then went into Specialty practice in Maine for 8 years prior to joining the Neurology service at The Ohio State University in 2011. She is a Clinical Track Assistant Professor in Neurology and Neurosurgery with interests in seizure management, neuroimaging and neurosurgery.

Paul Cuddon Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital & Veterinary Specialists, Wheat Ridge, Colorado Dr. Cuddon graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia, in 1979 with first class honors. He initially completed a 2 year small animal internship at the University of Queensland, before completing a residency in small animal medicine at the University of Guelph, Canada. He then proceeded to complete a second residency in neurology/neurosurgery at the University of California, Davis. He remained at UC Davis for an extra year as a clinical instructor. He was awarded diplomate status in the ACVIM Specialty of Neurology in 1989. He has worked as an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for 8 years, and at Colorado State University for 7 years as an Associate Professor, where he obtained tenure. In 2001, Dr. Cuddon ventured into specialty private practice for 6 years, before returning to Colorado State University for 4 years as a special appointment associate professor. Dr. Cuddon spent the last 4 years as the staff neurologist at Wheat Ridge veterinary Specialists in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and, most recently as a locum clinical professor at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama. At the end of this year, Dr. Cuddon will, for the most part, hang up his pleximeter and retire to his newly built house in Nosara, Costa Rica. Dr. Cuddon’s major interests are in electrophysiology, peripheral neuropathy, and inflammatory brain diseases.

Ronaldo C. da Costa, DMV, MSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM – Neurology The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. da Costa is a Professor and Service Head of Neurology and Neurosurgery at The Ohio State University. He is the co-editor of the Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology (Dewey and da Costa, 2016), and the Guest Editor of a Veterinary Clinics of North America on Spinal Diseases. He is also the consulting editor of the Neurology Section of the 8th ed. (2016) of Ettinger and Feldman’s book. He has an active clinical and research program on spinal diseases, and has published 90 scientific articles and book chapters, including 33 on cervical spondylomyelopathy. He actively serves the profession as a member of several associations, and as the founding and current President of the Brazilian Veterinary Neurology Association. Dr. da Costa has received over 30 awards for research, teaching and academic excellence, including 5 teaching awards at The Ohio State University, such as the Pfizer-Norden Teaching Excellence award (highest college teaching award) and the Excellence in Graduate Education Award twice.

Mike Davidson, DVM, Dipl. ACVO North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Davidson is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee and completed his undergraduate studies and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1984. His residency training in comparative ophthalmology was performed here at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Davidson became board certified in ophthalmology and joined the faculty at NC State in 1987. He is the author of numerous scientific publications on topics including intraocular and laser surgery techniques in animals, optics, infectious diseases such as toxooplasmosis which afflict the eye, and growth factors relevant to lens metabolism and cataracts.

Alexander de Lahunta, DVM, PhD Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. de Lahunta graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1951 and the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1958. He joined the mixed animal practice of Drs. Carol and George Cilley in Concord, NH from 1958-1960. He then returned to the Department of Anatomy, NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in 1960 for graduate study under the direction of Dr. Robert Habel. His PhD was awarded in 1963 and was appointed assistant professor at that time. Dr. de Lahunta spent 45 years on that faculty and retired in 2005. In the mid 60s he organized and personally ran a consulting service for clinical neurology in the Teaching Hospital. While there, he organized and taught a vertically oriented course in veterinary neuroanatomy and clinical neurology to first year students. He has also taught gross anatomy of the dog and for varying periods embryology, applied anatomy and neuropathology. Dr. de Lahunta has authored or co-authored 6 textbooks and numerous journal publications. In the mid 70s, he was asked to be a founding member of the neurology specialty of the ACVIM. In 2000, received the ACVIM Robert Kirk Award. Dr. Kirk was his teacher as a student and mentor as a faculty member.

Curtis W. Dewey, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), DACVS Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Curtis W. Dewey graduated from Cornell University, where he received both his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. He completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Following his internship, he completed a three-year comprehensive residency at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and earned a Master of Science degree in anatomy. At the University of California College of Veterinary Medicine, he completed a two-year comprehensive residency in neurology and neurosurgery. Dr. Dewey is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). He has served as the Director of Neurology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, and serves on the editorial review boards of several scientific journals. He has recently completed a comprehensive veterinary neurology textbook, A Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology, and is an international authority on topics in veterinary neurology. He is a member of the board of directors of The New York Veterinary Foundation and a senior clinician at the Canine Chiari Institute at Long Island Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Dewey’s areas of special interest include neurosurgery, trauma involving the nervous system, myasthenia gravis and magnetic resonance imaging.

Peter Dickinson, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Pete Dickinson obtained his veterinary degree (BVSc) from the University of Liverpool in 1989, following by a surgical internship at the University of Glasgow, which he completed in 1993. In 1995, he completed a PhD with the Applied Neurobiology Group at the University of Glasgow. Dr. Dickinson completed a neurology/neurosurgery residency in 2000, and achieved board certification the same year. He is currently an associate professor of neurology/neurosurgery, and is the director of the Petersen Brain Tumor Laboratory. Dr. Dickinson's research interests are neurooncology and the development and translation of novel therapeutic strategies for primary brain tumors.

Gualtiero Gandini, DVM, PhD, DECVN University of Bologna, Italy Dr. Gandini is currently employed as associate professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna (Italy), where is the head of the Neurology Service and the director of the Degree programme in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Gandini graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bologna in 1990, cum laude. He completed a PhD in Internal Medicine and, in 2003, he achieved board certification in neurology by the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN). He was elected in 2008 president of the European Society and College of Veterinary Neurology (ESVN/ECVN) and has served 12 years as officer in the Executive Committee of the ESVN/ECVN. Dr. Gandini has organized the two European editions (2010 and 2014) of the “brain camp” - Veterinary Neuroscience Courses.

Silke Hecht, Dr. med. vet., DACVR, DECVDI University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Hecht earned her Veterinary degree and doctorate (Dr. med. vet.) from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. She completed a Residency in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and achieved board certification both in the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI). She currently holds a position as Professor in Veterinary Radiology at UT. Her research areas include veterinary neuroimaging and oncologic imaging with a special focus on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Dr. Hecht has served as President of the CT/MRI Society of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and currently serves as the President of the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

Nina Kieves, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CCRT The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Nina Kieves is an Assistant Professor of Small Animal Surgery at The Ohio State University and is involved in research of pain management protocols, objective canine gait evaluation, and the use of physical therapy and rehabilitation for the treatment of various orthopedic and sports medicine injuries. Dr. Kieves earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2009 and completed a rotating small animal internship at her alma matter. She gained specialized orthopedic and sports medicine training during a surgical internship at Veterinary Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Group in Maryland. Dr. Kieves completed a surgical residency at Iowa State University in 2014 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015. Her interest in sports medicine lead her to complete a Fellowship in Canine Performance Medicine & Surgery at Colorado State University following residency, during which she conducted clinical research and became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT). She became Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation in 2016.

Christopher L. Mariani, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology) North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Chris Mariani was born near Toronto, Ontario, and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 1996. He completed a rotating small animal internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists, followed by one year as an associate veterinarian in Beverly Hills, Michigan. After this he began a residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. This was followed by graduate work in brain tumor immunotherapy, leading to a PhD in Neuroscience from the College of Medicine, also at the University of Florida. Dr. Mariani is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology subspecialty). His professional interests include epilepsy, inflammatory brain disease and brain tumor therapy he currently directs the Comparative Neuroimmunology and Neurooncology Laboratory at North Carolina State University.

Joe Mayhew, BVSc, PhD, DSc, DACVIM (LAIM & Neurology), DECVN, MANZCVS Massey University, University of New Zealand I.G. Joe Mayhew is a clinical veterinarian with an interest in large animal neurology and comparative neuropathology. Currently he is Professor in Equine Studies, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, and has clinical, research and teaching experience on staff at the University of Florida, Cambridge University and Edinburgh University. Joe enjoys time spent with family, cycling, running, family dogs, fungi and rugby. He has published quite widely in large animal neurology, equine medicine and comparative pathology. His textbook on large animal neurology has been published as the second edition: Mayhew IG. Large Animal Neurology. 2nd Ed. Wiley - Blackwell. Oxford. 2009

Sarah A. Moore, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Sarah Moore is an associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at The Ohio State University in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. She completed her residency in neurology and neurosurgery at North Carolina State University in 2009, and a post-doctoral research fellowship in neuroinflammation and spinal cord injury at The Ohio State University in 2011. Her research focuses on the management of acute spinal cord injury in dogs and her clinical interests include spinal surgery and the developing new strategies for managing spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain in veterinary patients.

Michael Nolan, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVR (Radiation Oncology) North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Mike Nolan is an assistant professor of radiation oncology at North Carolina State University. He is an ACVR board-certified radiation oncologist, and holds a PhD in radiation and cancer biology. His clinical research is focused in the realm of developmental radiotherapeutics, while his laboratory efforts involve benchtop and animal studies of cancer treatment toxicity, with particular emphasis on macrovascular and peripheral nerve injuries related to both oral and pelvic irradiation.

Dennis O’Brien, DVM PhD University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Dennis O’Brien is the Chancellor’s Chair in Comparative Neurology in the Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery at the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine. He received his DVM degree from the University of Illinois. After 3 years in general practice, he returned to the University of Illinois to complete a residency in neurology and a PhD in neuroscience. He is board certified in neurology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the recipient of the 2011 Kirk Award for Professional Excellence from the ACVIM. His research focuses on hereditary and acquired diseases of the nervous system including epilepsy, movement disorders, developmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Michael Oglesbee, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Oglesbee is professor of virology and veterinary neuropathology in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University. Scientific contributions have focused on host determinants of viral neurovirulence, and he was named a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of distinguished contributions to our understanding of virus-heat shock protein interactions related to infection, virulence and impact on innate and adaptive antiviral immunity. Dr. Oglesbee is chair of the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, faculty director of the College Summer Research Program for veterinary medical students at The Ohio State University, and principal investigator on an NIH training grant (T35) in support of that program. Dr. Oglesbee leads the college signature program in Infectious Disease, and is also the faculty lead on a university investment in infectious disease involving the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Nursing, Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Public Health, Pharmacy, and Arts and Sciences, and the Food Animal Health Research Program at the Ohio State Wooster Campus. Focus of the investment is development of interdisciplinary collaborative research networks in the programmatic areas of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and drug discovery, treatment and prevention of virus infection, host response to infection and microbial communities, and the ecology of pathogen emergence and spread. The ultimate goal is to enhance our ability to control the spread and severity of infectious disease through the creation and dissemination of knowledge, practices and products.

Natasha Olby, Vet MB, PhD, MRCVS, DACVIM (Neurology) North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Natasha Olby gained her veterinary degree from Cambridge University in the UK in 1991. After a brief period spent in mixed general practice, she returned to Cambridge to complete a PhD in spinal cord injury and a surgical training. Following completion of her PhD and post doctoral research, she moved to North Carolina State University to do a neurology/neurosurgery residency and she has stayed at NCSU as a faculty member since then. She is currently a professor of neurology/neurosurgery and a past president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology specialty. Her research interests are spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative diseases.

Anna Oevermann, Prof. Dr. Dipl. ECVP University of Bern, Switzerland Anna Oevermann is professor of veterinary neuropathology at the University of Bern (Switzerland). She studied veterinary medicine at the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen (Germany) and the École Vétérinaire de Nantes (France). Anna Oevermann obtained her DVM at the University of Zürich (Switzerland) and worked as a practitioner in a small animal practice in Pistoia (Italy) before performing a residency in veterinary pathology at the Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern. After obtaining the Dipl. ECVP in 2006 she joined the Division of Neurological Sciences at the University of Bern to specialize in neuropathology. Anna Oevermann teaches veterinary neuropathology to under- and postgraduates and is active in diagnostic neuropathology. She studies neurological diseases in animals with a focus on neuroinfectious diseases. The main research interests of her group are host-pathogen interactions and the pathogenesis of neurolisteriosis in ruminants.

Simon R. Platt, BVM&S, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Diplomate ECVN, MRCVS RCVS Recognized Specialist of Veterinary Neurology University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Simon Platt received his veterinary degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1992, following which he undertook an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and a 2 year period in private practice in the England. Dr. Platt completed a residency in neurology and neurosurgery in 1998 at the University of Florida and afterwards spent 2 years as an assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Georgia. In 2000, Dr. Platt returned to the UK where he was Head of the Neurology/Neurosurgery service at the Animal Health Trust until 2006, from which time he has been at the Dept. of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Georgia where is currently a Professor. Dr. Platt received the AAVC National resident of the year award in 1998, the BSAVA Blaine award for outstanding contributions to small animal medicine and surgery in 2005, the UGA Clinical Research Award in 2010 and the David Tyler Award for Innovative Teaching in 2012. Dr. Platt has authored or co-authored over 160 journal articles and 50 book chapters and is the co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology and the Manual of Small Animal Neurological Emergencies. Dr. Platt is Past-President of the ACVIM Neurology Specialty and Founder member of the South Eastern Veterinary Neurology (SEVEN) group in the USA.

Michael Podell, DVM, MSc, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) MedVet, Chicago, Illinois Dr. Michael Podell is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine (Neurology) and recipient of the Certificate of Recognition in Neurosurgical Expertise. He serves as the head of the Neurology department within MedVet Chicago, where he demonstrates his clinical expertise in neurosurgery, comparative neurology and neuroscience, and epilepsy clinical management. He is actively engaged in comparative medicine curative research for animals and people through clinical trials, and educating the future generation of veterinary neurologists. Dr. Podell’s commitment to education began at the University of North Carolina in 1980, where he received the first of what would become many academic achievements, a Bachelors of Art in Biology and Psychology (Honors). Immediately following his graduation, Dr. Podell attended Tel-Aviv University, and was awarded a Masters of Science in Physiology and Pharmacology. In 1988, Dr. Podell’s place within the field of veterinary medicine was solidified with his graduation from Tufts University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Podell then went on to complete an internship in small animal medicine at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, followed by a Residency in Neurology at The Ohio State University. Dr. Podell remained at The Ohio State as a Full Professor in the Departments of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Neurology until 2002, when he moved to Chicago to open the area’s first veterinary neurology and neurosurgery practice. Currently, Dr. Podell continues to demonstrate his passion for veterinary medicine and neurological sciences through his daily work with neurologic patients at MedVet Chicago, numerous published book chapters and articles, and as a Professor (Affiliate) at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM Rood and Riddle, Lexington, Kentucky Dr. Stephen Reed graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. Following graduation, Dr. Reed served as an intern and then resident in equine medicine and surgery at Michigan State University. Then went to Washington State University and later joined the faculty at The Ohio State University as the Jenne Professorship in Equine Medicine. Dr. Reed is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, with an interest in equine neurology with special interest on “wobbler” syndrome, equine protozoal myelitis, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. He has co-edited Equine Internal Medicine, now preparing its fourth edition and Equine Neurology along with Dr. Martin Furr. After leaving Ohio State he moved to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital where he remains a shareholder.

John Rossmeisl, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine and Neurology) Virginia-Maryland, College of Veterinary Medicine John Rossmeisl is a Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Virginia Tech. He received the D.V.M. degree from Auburn University, an MS from Virginia Tech, and is twice board certified by the American College of Veterinary Medicine in the specialties of small animal internal medicine and neurology. He serves as the director of the Veterinary and Comparative Neuro-oncology Laboratory, and his research interests focus around the development of novel therapies for brain tumors.

Diane Shelton, DVM, PhD University of California – San Diego, School of Medicine Dr. Shelton is a 1979 graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Following an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Michigan State University and a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, she became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She returned to UC Davis where she completed a PhD program in Comparative Pathology in 1985. Pursing an interest in myasthenia gravis, Dr. Shelton was a post-doctoral fellow in the Receptor Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute in La Jolla from 1985-1990. Dr. Shelton then moved to UC San Diego where she became a member of the Department of Pathology and established the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory. She is currently Professor in the Department of Pathology and Director of the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory.

Beverly Sturges, DVM, DACVIM University of California – Davis, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Bev Sturges completed a BS with high honors from Andrews University in 1980. From 1980 to 1981, Dr. Sturges was a graduate researcher in immunoparasitology. She received her DVM degree cum laude from Oregon State University in 1986. Dr. Sturges practiced mixed animal medicine and surgery between 1986 and 1988 and small animal medicine and surgery from 1988 to 1991. She then moved to Sydney, Australia, where she was a small animal practitioner between 1991 and 1995. Dr. Sturges returned to the United States in 1995, and completed a neurology/neurosurgery residency at UC Davis in 1998. That same year, she becamed board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in neurology. Dr. Sturges is currently an associate professor of clinical neurology/neurosurgery. Her research interests include brain tumors, and intracranial and spinal neurosurgery.

William Thomas, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Thomas is a Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. He received his DVM from Auburn University in 1995. After several years in a mixed animal private practice, he returned to Auburn to complete an MS and residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery. Dr. Thomas was an instructor at North Carolina State University for 2 years before moving to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He has authored or coauthored 90 scientific publications and 2 books. He lives on a horse farm and along with his wife raises Trakehners.

Christine Thomson, DVM, PHD, DACVIM, DECVN University of Alaska - Fairbanks, Department of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Thomson obtained a BVSc (Hons) from Melbourne in 1983 and a PhD from Glasgow in 1992 where she studied 'Axonal influence on Schwann cell gene expression'. She became Dip ACVIM (Neurology) in 1995 and Dip ECVN in 1999. She taught general and neuroanatomy at Melbourne and Glasgow Veterinary Schools and from 2006-2012 at Massey University veterinary school. From 2012-2015 she worked both for the New Zealand Veterinary Association as its academic director, and for Massey as an adjunct Associate Professor in clinical neurology. Dr. Thomson currently works as an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Alaska and is an affiliate with Colorado State University Veterinary School. She teaches neurobiology and clinical neurology to veterinary students, interns and residents. She is the lead author on 'Veterinary Neuroanatomy: a Clinical Approach (Thomson and Hahn 2012). Her research interests include the neurobiology of mammalian myelin, neural cell culture and myelin formation.

Marc Vandevelde Prof. Dr. med.vet., Dr.h.c., DECVN University of Bern, Switzerland Marc Vandevelde graduated as Dr. med. vet. at the university of Gent, Belgium in 1971. He received post-graduate training in comparative neuropathology and neurology in Belgium, Switzerland and the US until 1979, when he obtained a faculty appointment at the school of veterinary medicine in Bern, Switzerland. In 1985 he became a full professor and head of the institute of comparative neurology at this university. He was head of the department of clinical sciences from 2000-2005 at the university of Bern after which he resumed research and teaching in the neurological sciences until his retirement in 2015. He was the first president of the European society for veterinary neurology in 1987 and diplomate of the respective college in 1995. He keeps teaching neuropathology at the post graduate level. His main area of research is in the field of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the CNS in particular the pathogenesis of demyelination and viral persistence in canine distemper virus infection. He trained numerous post doctoral students. He published over 300 publications and serves on several review boards for scientific journals.

Charles Vite, DVM, PHd, B.S. University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Vite is an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) board-certified veterinary neurologist, current President of the ACVIM Neurology specialty, as well as the Associate Professor of Neurology at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his PhD in cell and molecular biology on gene therapy of the CNS. Dr. Vite currently manages the National Referral Center for Animal Models of Human Genetic Disease (NIH OD P40-10939). This Center consists of breeding colonies of 11 models of human genetic CNS diseases including dogs with globoid cell leukodystrophy and mucopolysaccharidoses, and cats with Niemann-Pick type C disease and alpha-mannosidosis. The mission of this Center is to discover, understand, and develop treatments for naturally occurring hereditary disorders, and genetic predispositions to disease, in dogs and cats that are orthologous to those found in human patients. The focus of his lab is to improve the characterization and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by studying naturally-occurring large animal models of human diseases.

Holger A. Volk DVM, PGCAP, PhD, DipECVN, FHEA, MRCVS University of London, Royal Veterinary College Dr. Volk is the Clinical Director of the RVC Small Animal Referral Hospital, Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery and currently the President of the European College of Veterinary Neurology. He graduated from the Veterinary School of Hanover in 2001, where he also did a PhD in Neuropharmacology studying basic mechanisms of drug-resistant epilepsy. He then completed his specialist clinical education doing an internship and a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the RVC. Holger is internationally known for his work in the field of Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia and epilepsy. Holger has been leading the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force, which published recently seven consensus statements for canine and feline epilepsy and was a co-chair of the recent published ACVIM consensus statement about medical treatment of epilepsy. He has published multiple book chapters and books, >140 articles, >200 conference abstracts, and is a frequent flyer on the international conference circuit.

Benjamin D. Young, DVM, MS, DACVR VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital Dr. Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1996 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2000 at Colorado State University. After a short time in private equine practice, he accepted an internship and subsequent lecturer position, also at CSU. He then completed a residency in Diagnostic Imaging and a Master of Science degree at The Ohio State University in 2006. His board certification as a radiologist was completed the same year. Dr. Young joined the faculty at Texas A&M University, where for nearly eight years he was a member of the diagnostic imaging section. He served as chief of radiology from 2009 through 2013. In addition to clinical radiology, he has a number of publications which mainly involve MRI of brain disease in dogs. In April of 2014, Dr. Young joined VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver as a staff radiologist. He is currently a member of the national exam committee for the American College of Veterinary Radiology.