Felipe Pierezan
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Florida
Pathology and genetic diversity of flagellates associated with gastric cryptobiosis in cichlids
Dr. Pierezan is a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologist. During his academic training and professional career he has always held enthusiasm and passion for diagnostic pathology. A majority of his prior teaching and research activities have been driven by the diagnostic routine, even after deciding to focus his research on fish pathology concurrently with his university establishing a fish pathology service. Currently, his research projects and publications are primarily related to fish diseases with a focus on the diagnosis of infectious agents, metal toxicity, and immune responses combining pathology and molecular methods.
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Florida
Pathology and genetic diversity of flagellates associated with gastric cryptobiosis in cichlids
Dr. Pierezan is a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologist. During his academic training and professional career he has always held enthusiasm and passion for diagnostic pathology. A majority of his prior teaching and research activities have been driven by the diagnostic routine, even after deciding to focus his research on fish pathology concurrently with his university establishing a fish pathology service. Currently, his research projects and publications are primarily related to fish diseases with a focus on the diagnosis of infectious agents, metal toxicity, and immune responses combining pathology and molecular methods.
Charly Pignon
Clinical Associate Professor
EnvA
Ear surgery in rabbits and rodents
Ear diseases in guinea pigs
Graduated in 2005 from Alfort (France). Then he worked in the wildlife rescue center in Alfort and
worked in Paris Zoo. 2009, completed an Exotic Medicine Internship at Tufts University, came back
to France he created the Exotic Medicine Service in Alfort National Veterinary School. Diplomate of
the ECZM (Small mammals), a former president of AEMV, a former member of the executive committee of
the ECZM and a current member of the Standards Quality Assurance Committee of the EBVS. 2023 Oxbow
Quest Award. Current field of research are ear surgeries, flexible endoscopy and pain management in
small mammals.
Clinical Associate Professor
EnvA
Ear surgery in rabbits and rodents
Ear diseases in guinea pigs
Graduated in 2005 from Alfort (France). Then he worked in the wildlife rescue center in Alfort and
worked in Paris Zoo. 2009, completed an Exotic Medicine Internship at Tufts University, came back
to France he created the Exotic Medicine Service in Alfort National Veterinary School. Diplomate of
the ECZM (Small mammals), a former president of AEMV, a former member of the executive committee of
the ECZM and a current member of the Standards Quality Assurance Committee of the EBVS. 2023 Oxbow
Quest Award. Current field of research are ear surgeries, flexible endoscopy and pain management in
small mammals.
Sydney Pokard
Fauna Veterinary Collective
Feathers, Fur, and Followers: How Social Media Helped Me Build an Exotics Veterinary Brand
Dr. Sydney Pokard is the founder of Fauna Veterinary Collective, a modern veterinary practice dedicated to exotic companion animals. She is passionate about advancing high-quality care for exotics while building a brand that makes specialized veterinary medicine more accessible and engaging for today’s pet owners. Through thoughtful practice design, social media, and client education, Dr. Pokard has created a recognizable voice for exotic animal medicine in a space that is often underrepresented. Her work focuses on blending clinical excellence with innovative branding to help veterinarians connect with the growing community of exotic pet owners.
Fauna Veterinary Collective
Feathers, Fur, and Followers: How Social Media Helped Me Build an Exotics Veterinary Brand
Dr. Sydney Pokard is the founder of Fauna Veterinary Collective, a modern veterinary practice dedicated to exotic companion animals. She is passionate about advancing high-quality care for exotics while building a brand that makes specialized veterinary medicine more accessible and engaging for today’s pet owners. Through thoughtful practice design, social media, and client education, Dr. Pokard has created a recognizable voice for exotic animal medicine in a space that is often underrepresented. Her work focuses on blending clinical excellence with innovative branding to help veterinarians connect with the growing community of exotic pet owners.
Rae Porter-Blackwell
Options for Surgical Elective Altering for Exotic Companion Mammals
Pilot study evaluating the palatability of Fortetropin® in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
A Northern California native, Dr. Porter-Blackwell’s passion for exotic animals began in childhood—starting with attempts to befriend neighborhood tree squirrels! Her early experience volunteering at a wildlife center solidified her commitment to caring for unusual species. She earned her B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity from UC Davis before completing her DVM at Western University of Health Sciences in 2013. During veterinary school, she adopted a rabbit and dedicated her career to advancing small herbivore medicine. Dr. Porter-Blackwell has completed a small animal rotating internship, an exotics-focused specialty internship, and a residency program. Currently, Dr. Porter-Blackwell works as an association veterinarian in the state of Washington, is a board certified through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal practice, and serves as vice president for the Association for Exotic Mammal Veterinarians.
Options for Surgical Elective Altering for Exotic Companion Mammals
Pilot study evaluating the palatability of Fortetropin® in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
A Northern California native, Dr. Porter-Blackwell’s passion for exotic animals began in childhood—starting with attempts to befriend neighborhood tree squirrels! Her early experience volunteering at a wildlife center solidified her commitment to caring for unusual species. She earned her B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity from UC Davis before completing her DVM at Western University of Health Sciences in 2013. During veterinary school, she adopted a rabbit and dedicated her career to advancing small herbivore medicine. Dr. Porter-Blackwell has completed a small animal rotating internship, an exotics-focused specialty internship, and a residency program. Currently, Dr. Porter-Blackwell works as an association veterinarian in the state of Washington, is a board certified through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal practice, and serves as vice president for the Association for Exotic Mammal Veterinarians.
Jordan Powell
Vet tech
2nd street animal hospital
Getting to the point: GV20 sedation in small mammals
Vet tech
2nd street animal hospital
Getting to the point: GV20 sedation in small mammals
Johanna Reuken
Detection of Emycomyces testavorans in endangered turtles in Germany
Zoo Veterinarian, Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten Münster GmbH, Münster, Germany
Detection of Emycomyces testavorans in endangered turtles in Germany
Zoo Veterinarian, Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten Münster GmbH, Münster, Germany
Marlis Rezende
Professor - Anesthesia and Pain Management
Colorado State University
Plasma levels and pharmacodynamics of IV and OTM methadone in rabbits
Marlis is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at Colorado State University.
Professor - Anesthesia and Pain Management
Colorado State University
Plasma levels and pharmacodynamics of IV and OTM methadone in rabbits
Marlis is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at Colorado State University.
Gary Riggs
Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital
A Newly Emergent Emydomyces Species Associated with Shell Lesions in Freshwater Turtles
Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital
A Newly Emergent Emydomyces Species Associated with Shell Lesions in Freshwater Turtles
Lucy Robson
Veterinary Surgeon
Sandhole Veterinary Centre
Medical management of tracheal stenosis in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Dr. Sydney Pokard is the founder of Fauna Veterinary Collective, a modern veterinary practice dedicated to exotic companion animals. She is passionate about advancing high-quality care for exotics while building a brand that makes specialized veterinary medicine more accessible and engaging for today’s pet owners. Through thoughtful practice design, social media, and client education, Dr. Pokard has created a recognizable voice for exotic animal medicine in a space that is often underrepresented. Her work focuses on blending clinical excellence with innovative branding to help veterinarians connect with the growing community of exotic pet owners.
Veterinary Surgeon
Sandhole Veterinary Centre
Medical management of tracheal stenosis in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Dr. Sydney Pokard is the founder of Fauna Veterinary Collective, a modern veterinary practice dedicated to exotic companion animals. She is passionate about advancing high-quality care for exotics while building a brand that makes specialized veterinary medicine more accessible and engaging for today’s pet owners. Through thoughtful practice design, social media, and client education, Dr. Pokard has created a recognizable voice for exotic animal medicine in a space that is often underrepresented. Her work focuses on blending clinical excellence with innovative branding to help veterinarians connect with the growing community of exotic pet owners.