Pam Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology), graduated from Purdue University’s veterinary technology program in 1997 and was employed by the university until she left on July 1, 2025. She dedicated 23 of those years to working in the ophthalmology department. Pam has special interests in large animal ophthalmology and surgery. Pam most recently joined the Aventix Animal Health team as an ophthalmology consultant. Throughout her career, she has taught veterinary and veterinary nursing students in various settings, including the clinic floor, classroom, labs, and online formats. Additionally, Pam has presented at local, regional, and national conferences. She has also contributed articles to publications such as Today’s Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Team Brief and co-authored the ophthalmology chapter of *Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Technicians*. In 2025, Pam was honored as one of three recipients of the Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship. She has served on the executive board of the Veterinary Ophthalmic Technician Society and is currently a charter member and immediate past president of the Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians.

Julie Antonellis received her bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Quinnipiac University. Since then she has been working in the field of emergency and critical care and pursuing her love of teaching. She became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in emergency and critical care in 2001. Julie is grateful to be able to give back to the veterinary community through teaching, training and lecturing. She is devoted to helping veterinary technicians recognize their potential and elevate the level of nursing care they provide. Julie is currently the Program Director for the VCA Vet Tech Academy.

Victoria Barton is a highly accomplished Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) with over two decades of dedicated experience in clinical excellence and veterinary education. Victoria earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Carolina State University in 2006, followed by an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from Cedar Valley College. She currently serves as the Clinical Education Specialist for MedVet Austin, where she leads staff onboarding, clinical training, and professional development initiatives. Throughout her career, Victoria has specialized in high-acuity nursing, including Emergency and Critical care (ECC) and Radiation Oncology. Her clinical expertise is backed by an impressive suite of advanced certifications; she is Fear Free Elite Certified, a RECOVER Rescuer and Instructor, and holds a formal certification in the Human-Animal Bond. Beyond the clinical floor, Victoria is deeply committed to the emotional and holistic aspects of veterinary medicine. As a Certified Pet Death Doula and Pet Grief Counselor, she advocates for compassionate end-of-life care and provides essential support to families navigating the loss of a pet. Her leadership extends to the professional community as the Vice President of the Veterinary Team Association of Texas (VTAT), where she champions the vital role of the veterinary nursing team. When she isn't teaching or in the clinic, Victoria can be found enjoying the outdoors with her husband, son, and daughter—usually camping, hiking, or cheering on her favorite soccer teams. She is a frequent fixture on the sidelines of her son’s soccer games and shares her home with a beloved menagerie of five geriatric dogs and nine cats, five of whom have special needs.

Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) is an internationally recognized speaker and educator in veterinary dentistry with over 38 years of experience. She is the Past President of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians and President-Elect of the Arizona Veterinary Technician Association. As the founder of Pawsitive Dental Education LLC, Benita has provided engaging, hands-on training and lectures to veterinary teams across the U.S., Canada, and internationally since 2008. She is a co-author of two veterinary dentistry textbooks and is known for delivering practical, high-impact education that improves patient care and team confidence in clinical dentistry.

Dr. Tammi Epp earned her BS, DVM, and PhD from Kansas State University, specializing in canine and equine sports medicine and exercise physiology. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and holds certifications in acupuncture, chiropractic, rehabilitation, and massage therapy, with additional training in herbal medicine. Her career spans academia, industry, private practice, and consulting, with research in airway disease, stem cells, immunology, omega-3 fatty acids, yeast fermentation products, and amnion-based technology. Dr. Epp has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, and clinical articles and is engaged in advancing regenerative medicine in veterinary practice.

Ricky Thackray is the Veterinary Oncology, Business Development Manager for Equashield. He has over 13 years experience educating veterinary professionals on hazardous drug handling, contamination prevention, and workplace safety practices related to chemotherapy administration. His work centers on improving safety for veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and oncology staff through practical training and implementation of safer handling technologies.

Stephen Niño Cital is a multi-credentialed veterinary technician specialist with a passion for anesthesia and pain management, in addition to cannabinoid medicine. Cital has been on the forefront of cannabinoid medicine and the evolution of pain management in veterinary medicine. He has authored multiple articles and contributed to several textbooks, including acting as the lead editor for Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine, by Springer Nature and the forthcoming second edition of Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses by Wiley. He serves on multiple boards and is a strong advocate for veterinary technician advancement, along with minority representation. He is a lab manager at Stanford University, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at Remedy Veterinary Specialists and COO for the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, LLC. For more information, please see StephenCital.com.

As creator of the 8 Pillars Framework™, Dr. Drake speaks to veterinary and human medical leaders who want more than growth — they want practices that elevate care, inspire teams, and endure. Her work is grounded in real-world ownership experience, informed by a decade of industry speaking, and driven by a single conviction: When we build better practices, we deliver better medicine.

Sharon is a credentialed Veterinary Technician, with a Masters degree in Biology (focused on infectious disease and molecular microbiology). She is also a motivational speaker dedicated to inspiring people in the veterinary field to overcome challenges, improve patient care, boost mental wellness, and enhance relationships with pet owners. With years of experience in veterinary medicine and teaching, she combines powerful storytelling with actionable insights to create transformative keynote experiences.

Dr. Nancy Sanders earned her DVM from The Ohio State University and completed specialty training in small animal internal medicine and emergency/critical care at the University of Pennsylvania. She spent 22 years in clinical practice, holding leadership roles in emergency, ICU, and internal medicine departments, directing residency programs, and serving as a principal investigator on multiple clinical drug trials. Dr. Sanders joined IDEXX in 2012 first as a member of the Medical Consultant Services (MCS) as an internal medicine phone consultant. She recently transitioned to the Medical Education Specialty (MES) team, where she enjoys educating and learning from veterinary professionals.