Lindsey Elswick
Associate Veterinarian
Wellesley Animal Hospital
Substrate Impaction in a Pacman Frog (Ceratophrys sp.)
Dr. Lindsey Elswick graduated from Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She moved back to her home state of West Virginia and practiced for 3 years at a GP and 24/7 ER clinic, focusing on providing care to all exotic species. In 2024, she moved to Richmond, Virginia where she currently resides and practices at Wellesley Animal Hospital as an associate exotic veterinarian. Reptiles and amphibians are her favorite patients to see, but she loves all non-traditional species!
Associate Veterinarian
Wellesley Animal Hospital
Substrate Impaction in a Pacman Frog (Ceratophrys sp.)
Dr. Lindsey Elswick graduated from Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She moved back to her home state of West Virginia and practiced for 3 years at a GP and 24/7 ER clinic, focusing on providing care to all exotic species. In 2024, she moved to Richmond, Virginia where she currently resides and practices at Wellesley Animal Hospital as an associate exotic veterinarian. Reptiles and amphibians are her favorite patients to see, but she loves all non-traditional species!
Dieter Everaert
Mvetmed
Curiovet nesto
Dieter Everaert graduated at Ghent University in 2004 with mayor small animals and minor exotics. Exotics was about ferrets, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. In December 2004, he started a private practice in Herent. The practice moved to Wilsele in 2013 and to a bigger clinic in Lubbeek in 2022. In 2021 he joined Nesto, a veterinary cooperation in Belgium. At that moment the clinic name was changed to CURIOVET. In 2023 Lennert Pieraets and Britt Nijs joined the practice. Dieter followed numerous cpds all over Europe and the US. He is also a frequent lecturer and already published some papers. He always focused on correct diagnosis before treatment. Because of that Curiovet is the first practice in Belgium with cbct and even inhouse PCR. Dieter is president of the Flemish working group for exotic vets. Since 2021 he is responsible vet for Avalon, the first hedgehog shelter in Belgium.
Mvetmed
Curiovet nesto
Dieter Everaert graduated at Ghent University in 2004 with mayor small animals and minor exotics. Exotics was about ferrets, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. In December 2004, he started a private practice in Herent. The practice moved to Wilsele in 2013 and to a bigger clinic in Lubbeek in 2022. In 2021 he joined Nesto, a veterinary cooperation in Belgium. At that moment the clinic name was changed to CURIOVET. In 2023 Lennert Pieraets and Britt Nijs joined the practice. Dieter followed numerous cpds all over Europe and the US. He is also a frequent lecturer and already published some papers. He always focused on correct diagnosis before treatment. Because of that Curiovet is the first practice in Belgium with cbct and even inhouse PCR. Dieter is president of the Flemish working group for exotic vets. Since 2021 he is responsible vet for Avalon, the first hedgehog shelter in Belgium.
Heidi Free
Associate Veterinarian
Quakertown Veterinary Clinic
Low Incidence of Reported Side Effects Post RHDV-2 Vaccine Administration: 81 Domestic Rabbits
Heidi Free is currently the lead zoological companion veterinarian at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. She completed veterinary school at Kansas State University followed by a rotating internship at the University of Illinois where RHDV-2 vaccination served as her internship project. She is currently working on a Master of Science in Biology through East Stroudsburg University where she is working on characterizing the lipidome profile of American Black Bears. Her interests include zoological and wildlife medicine as well as emergency and critical care.
Associate Veterinarian
Quakertown Veterinary Clinic
Low Incidence of Reported Side Effects Post RHDV-2 Vaccine Administration: 81 Domestic Rabbits
Heidi Free is currently the lead zoological companion veterinarian at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. She completed veterinary school at Kansas State University followed by a rotating internship at the University of Illinois where RHDV-2 vaccination served as her internship project. She is currently working on a Master of Science in Biology through East Stroudsburg University where she is working on characterizing the lipidome profile of American Black Bears. Her interests include zoological and wildlife medicine as well as emergency and critical care.
Meg Freedman
Veterinary Specialty Intern
Veterinarian
Dr. Meg Freedman graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2022. She then went on to complete a rotating small animal internship in Ontario, followed by a specialty internship in exotic animal medicine in New Jersey, and a specialty internship at the Calgary Zoo.
Veterinary Specialty Intern
Veterinarian
Dr. Meg Freedman graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2022. She then went on to complete a rotating small animal internship in Ontario, followed by a specialty internship in exotic animal medicine in New Jersey, and a specialty internship at the Calgary Zoo.
Michael Garner
Veterinary Pathologist
Northwest ZooPath
Gross Lesion Recognition for the Reptile Clinician
Gross Lesion Recognition for the Small Mammal Clinician
Dr. Michael Garner founded Northwest ZooPath in 1994. Mike has over 200 scientific publications and book chapters, over 400 professional presentations, and is co-editor of the new two volume atlas and text, Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles. Mike enjoys literature, American history, vintage motorcycles, bass fishing and blues guitar.
Veterinary Pathologist
Northwest ZooPath
Gross Lesion Recognition for the Reptile Clinician
Gross Lesion Recognition for the Small Mammal Clinician
Dr. Michael Garner founded Northwest ZooPath in 1994. Mike has over 200 scientific publications and book chapters, over 400 professional presentations, and is co-editor of the new two volume atlas and text, Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles. Mike enjoys literature, American history, vintage motorcycles, bass fishing and blues guitar.
Melissa Giese
Associate Veterinarian
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Successful Treatment of Encephalitozoon pogonae Infection in a Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) with Systemic Fenbendazole and Meloxicam
Melissa Giese is a 2017 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Since earning her degree, she has dedicated her career exclusively to the field of exotic animal medicine. Dr. Giese currently practices at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie, Illinois, where she provides care for a wide range of exotic species. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as an active member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Elmhurst College. She is also committed to veterinary education, regularly lecturing on reptile and amphibian medicine to veterinary students.
Associate Veterinarian
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Successful Treatment of Encephalitozoon pogonae Infection in a Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) with Systemic Fenbendazole and Meloxicam
Melissa Giese is a 2017 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Since earning her degree, she has dedicated her career exclusively to the field of exotic animal medicine. Dr. Giese currently practices at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie, Illinois, where she provides care for a wide range of exotic species. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as an active member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Elmhurst College. She is also committed to veterinary education, regularly lecturing on reptile and amphibian medicine to veterinary students.
Luca Giori
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr Giori was born in Brescia, a city located south of the Alps in Northern Italy. For the last 6 years, he has lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with his dog Scarlet, an energetic pit-mix that was rescued at 4 months old. Dr Giori holds a DVM and a PhD focused on identification of new biomarkers and innovative analytical methods in veterinary medicine. He worked as a clinical pathologist in private practice in Milan and Brescia for a few years before completing a Clinical Pathology Residency with the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology and an additional year with the American College of Veterinary Pathology at UT. He joined the veterinary college as faculty in 2014 and he is currently Assistant Director of the UTCVM Diagnostic Endocrinology Service. He coordinates the VMP824 course (Physiology and Microanatomy II) in the first-year veterinary curriculum in which he teaches blood and endocrine physiology. He also teaches physiology and disorders of the blood and endocrine system to graduate students enrolled in Animal Science and Comparative & Experimental Medicine programs. His professional interests include all aspects of laboratory medicine (hematology, biochemistry, cytology, and quality assurance) with a specific interest in endocrine and metabolic diseases and related diagnostics.
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr Giori was born in Brescia, a city located south of the Alps in Northern Italy. For the last 6 years, he has lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with his dog Scarlet, an energetic pit-mix that was rescued at 4 months old. Dr Giori holds a DVM and a PhD focused on identification of new biomarkers and innovative analytical methods in veterinary medicine. He worked as a clinical pathologist in private practice in Milan and Brescia for a few years before completing a Clinical Pathology Residency with the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology and an additional year with the American College of Veterinary Pathology at UT. He joined the veterinary college as faculty in 2014 and he is currently Assistant Director of the UTCVM Diagnostic Endocrinology Service. He coordinates the VMP824 course (Physiology and Microanatomy II) in the first-year veterinary curriculum in which he teaches blood and endocrine physiology. He also teaches physiology and disorders of the blood and endocrine system to graduate students enrolled in Animal Science and Comparative & Experimental Medicine programs. His professional interests include all aspects of laboratory medicine (hematology, biochemistry, cytology, and quality assurance) with a specific interest in endocrine and metabolic diseases and related diagnostics.