Jennifer Babineaux graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 and completed an internal medicine residency at VCA East Bay Veterinary Specialists in 2009.  During her residency, she developed an interest in feline medicine as well as in using ultrasound as a daily diagnostic tool for challenging internal medicine cases.  Dr. Babineaux worked as an internist the in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2009 until 2014.  In 2014, she became an ABVP Diplomate (Feline Practice).  Dr. Babineaux relocated to Philadelphia in 2014, where she developed a mobile ultrasound and internal medicine consulting practice serving more than 25 hospitals, including 4 feline-only practices.  Dr. Babineaux currently provides mobile ultrasound and internal medicine consulting in Portland, Oregon.  She enjoys teaching veterinarians ultrasound skills, and advocates for the routine use of ultrasound to diagnose challenging internal medicine cases in general practice.  Dr. Babineaux considers cats an especially ultrasound-deficient species.  

10 Ways Cats Are Not Small Dogs on Ultrasound 

Kat works as a critical care technician in the ICU at MedVet in Vancouver, Washington.

Her journey in veterinary medicine started in the early 90’s, as a receptionist in general practice. Fascinated by the medical aspects, she moved into the role of assistant and started college at the University of Utah, with the intent to move on to vet school. 

As Kat gained more experience in veterinary medicine, she realized that she was drawn more to the role of technician. She attended San Francisco Community College and earned her technician license in October of 2000. 

Kat spent four years in shelter medicine at the SF/SPCA, then found new passion in Internal Medicine/Critical Care. She worked concurrently in Internal Medicine and ICU for 10 years and earned her VTS in small animal internal medicine in October of 2015.

Professionally Kat most enjoys nursing Intensive Care patients, training and continuing to learn. 

Fat shaming in Vet Med, is it Weighing us Down?

Mel Bocchichio brings 27 years of experiential wisdom as a Certified Veterinary Technician in Emergency & Specialty Medicine to the table to uplift budding veterinary professionals & create supportive containers for compassion fatigued folks in the industry.  She weaves a legacy of sharing knowledge, skills, care, and laughter all along the way.  Mel has been a proven educator and team advocate since 2013, providing educational opportunities to growing veterinary professionals throughout the PNW and online.  

In 2018, Mel founded Veterinary Professional Training providing educational content & resources for teams and individuals.  VPT has served as the leading licensed provider of Radiation Safety Certification that meets Oregon Health Authority standards for veterinary x-ray operators.  As a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional & Certified Jungian Life Coach, Mel weaves depth psychology and a compassionate understanding of our very unique experience as veterinary professionals into a supportive container for moving through burnout and compassion fatigue that we face in our industry.  She does this through 1:1 coaching and group burnout coaching in her online community and course platform. 

Supporting a Burned-out Team Member

Dr. Rosalie Alls (Atkins) received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa after enjoying a semester at sea aboard the ship, MV Explorer, which circumnavigated the globe, learning about cultural and humanitarian issues. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee. After veterinary school, she completed a 1-year rotating internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, California, and a 3-year private practice residency in Annapolis Maryland. She received her Board certification with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2015. Dr. Alls moved to the pacific northwest in 2017 where she worked for Northwest Veterinary Specialists and then Columbia River Veterinary Specialists.  Most recently she has been enjoying the journey of motherhood.

What to do When Surgery Isn't an Option: Eyelid and Cornea

Dr. Ross Luethcke is a veterinary oncologist and clinician-scientist, dedicated to making compassionate, evidence-based cancer care more accessible for pets and their families. He earned his PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (‘19) and DVM (‘21) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, completed a small animal rotating internship at Cornell University (‘22), and his medical oncology residency at the University of Minnesota (‘25).

Dr. Luethcke’s research explores how social and environmental factors shape cancer risk, prognosis, and treatment decisions in veterinary patients. He seeks to identify barriers to diagnosis and care while developing sustainable ways to expand access to specialty oncology services. In the clinic, he values collaboration, communication, and individualized care—partnering with families, referring veterinarians, and other specialists to align treatment plans with each pet’s needs and their family’s goals. Outside of work, Ross enjoys climbing, cooking, getting lost on mountain trails, working with horses, and hosting family Mario Kart tournaments with his copilots, Sasquatch the cat and Beaker the corn snake.

Expanding Access to Specialty Care in PDX: It Takes a Village

Dr. Valli Parthasarathy is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, OR. She helps people whose dogs, cats, bird, horses, and other species showing unwanted behaviors. Her passion is to help support positive behavioral change and problem behavior prevention through education, greater mutual understanding and improved relationships between people and their animals. She does this though a collaboration between the client, primary veterinarian, other specialists, and her on-staff behavior team. She has been invited to speak at national and international conferences on topics in veterinary behavior ranging from early recognition of problem behavior and treating behavior problems in various species, to making veterinary care less stressful for patients.

Don’t touch me! Reduce stress in handling: tips for the clinic and home

Dr. Kelly Cooper is an author, speaker, the founder of Reality Vet Coaching & Consulting, and a practicing veterinarian. She has over 30 years of industry experience, first as an independent practice owner and then as a senior leader with Banfield Pet Hospital. Having grown up in the trenches of jumping-in-over-your-head, cringe-worthy life lessons and light-bulb a-ha moments, she is an authentic storyteller that brings together the best of corporate medicine and independent practice to develop today’s veterinary leaders. She volunteers on the AVMA Council on Veterinary Services, is a past-president of the Oklahoma VMA, and is an active member of VetPartners. Dr. Kelly lives outside Portland, OR, with her husband Paul, three cats and a dog. 

Just Say It! How to give and receive feedback that creates change

Kelly Bremken is the Veterinary Social Worker with Oregon Humane Society. Originally a Midwest native, with a BA in Organizational Communication, Kelly’s experiences have crisscrossed the entire country. She has worked in animal sheltering for more than 20 years at Arizona Humane Society, Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, Seattle Animal Shelter, and Oregon Humane Society. Kelly graduated in Spring 2021 with a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a certification in Veterinary Social Work (VSW). At Oregon Humane Society and in the Community Veterinary Hospital, Kelly serves as Oregon Humane Society’s first veterinary social worker and is paving the way in the field for greater workplace wellbeing and community partnership.

Perfectionism, Shame & Other Wild Animals: Handling the Hard Stuff with Self-Compassion

The Story Behind the Story: Rewriting Our Client Narratives.

Nicole has been working as a licensed veterinary technician for over 16 years. Her clinical experience ranges from working in a small general practice, to working in a university setting with multiple anesthesiologists, and multi-specialty/emergency hospitals. She obtained her VTS in anesthesia and analgesia in 2018, shortly after moving to Portland. She is an active academy member of the AVTAA, NAVAS, and OVTAA and is currently serving as Chair of the AVTAA Exam Committee and President-Elect of the AVTAA. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing in May 2024. She has always had a special interest in teaching other technicians and students and is currently working on providing CE to members of the veterinary community on a local and national level through lecturing and publications. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, backpacking, camping, and other outdoor sports with her husband, Chris. She is a dedicated and slightly obsessed cat mom to her one and only, Bennie.

When Good Anesthesia Goes Bad- Case based Choose Your Own Adventure

While striving to understand inter-pet conflict within her home, Dr. Pankratz became passionate about veterinary behavior. She aspires to help others rebuild their human-animal bonds. She is most interested in educating others to better understand and communicate with their beloved pets for harmony in the home,

teaches veterinary behavior to the public, veterinary students, and fellow veterinarians through conferences hosted throughout the US and Canada. Her research projects have involved confirming the use of several anti-anxiety medications for cats and a novel non-medication device for the treatment of dog separation anxiety. For her research on the use of behavioral medication to improve the welfare of cats, she was awarded the RK Anderson ACVB Resident Award and JFMS Resident Best Paper Award.

Claw-Trol your Kitty’s Undesirable Behavior

Dr. Sonja Olson is a passionate veterinary wellness coach, educator, and emergency room veterinarian with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in helping individuals and teams within the veterinary field navigate stress, find balance, and cultivate emotional well-being. Combining evidence-based coaching, mindfulness, and her clinical expertise, Dr. Olson creates compassionate, transformative spaces that empower her clients to thrive both personally and professionally.

Through her innovative 1:1 'heartstorming sessions,' keynote presentations, and resilience-focused writings, she shares practical tools to manage change, enhance self-awareness, and foster meaningful connections. As a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and Mental Health First Aid instructor, she is dedicated to inspiring calmer, kinder, and more resilient communities. Dr. Olson’s mission is to harness the innate potential for healing and growth, guiding veterinary professionals toward a healthier and more balanced way of living.

The Culture Cure: Building Trust, Psychological Safety, and a Workplace that Retains Talent

Dr. Mandi Blackwelder came to veterinary rehabilitation in a roundabout way—beginning in dairy practice, moving into small animal medicine, and enduring far too much “bruticaine” along the way. Although she became certified in veterinary acupuncture in 2002, it was the birth of her handicapped son in 2008 that profoundly reshaped her path. Immersion in a world of therapies and sensory awareness opened her heart to rehabilitation medicine and the importance of truly low-stress handling. In 2012, Dr. Blackwelder earned her Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) from the University of Tennessee, founded Healing Arts Animal Care in 2014 and was certified in Veterinary Cannabis in 2020. Today, Healing Arts is an integrative center offering low-stress handling, rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, cannabis counseling and canine fitness training. Dr. Mandi'ss passion lies in ensuring that every patient—and every person involved in their care—feels safe, supported, and comfortable within veterinary medicine.

Don’t touch me! Reduce stress in handling: tips for the clinic and home

Alice Sievers is a diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College.  She has worked in mixed and small animal practice, emergency medicine, and referral practice.  She is a co-founder of Pet Dental Specialists in Vancouver, Washington. 

Alice enjoys working with veterinary students and veterinarians to grow and expand their veterinary dental skills, supporting their growth in any way she can.  She is involved in dental resident training and is a visiting clinical instructor at OSU CVM. She is active in the AVDC as a member of multiple committees, including DEI and Residency Program Assistance, and as a member of the Board of Directors as the Recording Secretary. She enjoys supporting and working with the veterinary community of the Portland Metro Area and the PNW!

The Inflammation Game: Decoding the Patterns of Feline Oral Inflammation

Ryanne Heiny, CVT, VTS (SAIM) is a small animal internal medicine veterinary technician specialist currently working as the lead technician for her department and specialty supervisor at BluePearl in Northeast Portland, OR.

Ryanne obtained her AA degree from Daytona State College in 2013, before starting in the IM department at a large, multi-specialty hospital (then Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, now BluePearl in Maitland, FL) as an uncredentialed technician. While working there, she earned her AS in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College in 2017. She eventually obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2022. Ryanne was also a reviewer and contributor to the Gender Identity Global Bill of Rights for the Veterinary Profession. Additionally, she serves as the Director at Large for AIMVT’s SAIM specialty. She is responsible for creating the examination each year for applicants seeking to earn their own VTS in SAIM.

Case Based Examples of GOOD History taking: How taking a good history can make or break a case

The Portland Animal Welfare Team is a grassroots, volunteer-powered nonprofit that provides vital veterinary services for over 1,000 Portland-area families per year, aiding individuals living on the streets, in transitional shelters or government housing, as well as those facing temporary financial hardship that restricts their access to medical care for their pets. 

For many of our clients, home is where their beloved companion animal is. 

PAW Team provides veterinary care through a robust medical program including essential wellness, vaccinations, parasite prevention, medication, management of some chronic conditions, food, pet supplies, and so much more. We have no veterinarians on staff and rely on the generous time and energy of a network of volunteers to help power our clinics. 

These essential services keep pets happy and healthy and with the people that love them the most.

Don’t Take Our Word For It: Trusting Underserved Communities to Tell Us What They Need (and believing them)

Dr. Sonja Zabel was born and raised in Germany.  She discovered her passion for veterinary dermatology while attending the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover.  After graduating in 1998, her drive for excellence and love of traveling took her to Colorado State University, where she completed a residency in veterinary dermatology and a master’s degree.

Sonja spent many years in academia as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.  She was on the faculty at Colorado State University until 2010 and then at the University of Georgia in Athens until 2015, where she built an otology service as she continued to grow their established dermatology service.

Sonja relocated to Portland in July 2015 with the goal of establishing a veterinary dermatologist service in a private practice setting as well as enjoying the beautiful Portland area and its surroundings.  She established successful dermatology services in two area specialty clinics, prior to opening Peak to Coast, her own dermatology-focused clinic. Her special clinical interest is otology (ears), which fills a unique and important need for the region.  She has established ties to general practitioner and specialty veterinarians all across the Portland Metropolitan area and loves to work with them in partnership to solve challenging and rewarding cases.

JAK INHIBITORS- What has changed in Dermatology

Dr. Michael Lovasz, is a Board-Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist based in Portland, Oregon. With over a decade of experience in the field, he strives to provide and teach the highest quality care for animals in need of anesthesia. 

As a graduate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a rotating internship at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, and the pursuit of further training by completing an anesthesia residency at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Lovasz has a deep understanding of animal physiology and the complexities of anesthesia. He is committed to staying current with the latest advancements in the field and is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Lovasz is also an avid rockhound. Dr. Lovasz finds great joy in exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and has a special interest in fossils and gemstones. This hobby has taught patience, attention to detail, and the importance of preserving our planet's resources.

His expertise in veterinary anesthesia combined with a passion for animals and the outdoors make Dr. Lovasz a well-rounded and dedicated professional. He is always seeking new opportunities to collaborate and share his knowledge with others in the industry. Let’s work together in elevating pet care throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Case Based Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias Under Anesthesia 

I'm originally from the East Coast and attended vet school at the University of Florida. I pursued private practice internships in Connecticut and Atlanta and then completed a Neurology/Neurosurgery Residency at Washington State University. After graduation, my partner and I moved to Portland and we are proud to have worked in this region for over 10 years.  We love our home in NE Portland and have 3 young girls to keep us (very) busy.   

Case Share of Interesting and Challenging Neurologic Cases

Ladan Mohammad-Zadeh graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She completed a rotating internship and residency in emergency and critical care medicine at Angell Animal Medical Center and gained her ACVECC diplomate status in 2010.  Ladan has focused her career on incorporating teaching and education with clinical work. She was the internship director at Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialists and most recently at Dove Lewis Emergency and Specialty Animal Hospital in Portland OR. At Dove Lewis she was actively involved with multiple aspects the non-profit’s hospital and local veterinarian community driven educational initiatives such as AtDove.org, and the Dove Lewis Annual Conference. She has spoken at local and county veterinary medical associations as well as nationally. Ladan has a deep commitment to support initiatives that advance the field of emergency and critical care medicine. She is a member on the Veterinary Committee on Trauma, contributed work for both RECOVER and RECOVER 2.0 guidelines and serves on a joint VECCS/ACVECC committee that is developing an ER competency framework and ER certificate program for US veterinarians.  Ladan is also involved in the AFSCAN-Twinning pilot program, a joint initiative with Zoetis and WSAVA that connects African clinicians with US and UK based clinicians in order to exchange ideas and gain an appreciation and insight into veterinary practice on a different continent.  

Feline-focused Journal Club

If I tell you … I’ll have to kill you:  tricks, tips, and ideas for common reproductive procedures

Owning the Oops

Diagnosis and management of severe pancreatitis: a team based approach

Stacy Montgomerie is a staff veterinarian at DoveLewis. Dr. Montgomerie joined DoveLewis in 2016 and has been an ER and ICU DVM since graduating in 2012. While in school, she participated in the Colorado State University hospice service to provide comfort for pets and their families during difficult times. Passionate about effective client communication, Dr. Montgomerie is a clinical communications instructor for both DVMs and Students. Dr. Montgomerie also earned her hospice/palliative care certification via the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care  (IAAHPC) in 2022.

Outside of work, Dr. Montgomerie enjoys mushroom foraging, hiking, pickling/fermentation, crocheting/ knitting and travel, and skeleton preparation/articulation. She also enjoys spending time with her partner and pets.

Navigating Difficult Communication and Moral Distress: A Case Based Discussion

Debrah Lee joined DoveLewis as the Veterinary Well-Being Program Director in March 2020. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over six years of experience working with children, families, and adults in hospital and primary care settings. She is honored to facilitate DoveLewis’ Pet Loss Support Groups and provide short term grief support to clients following the death of a companion animal. Debrah is passionate about developing a well-being program that supports veterinary professionals in engaging with their work in a sustainable and enriching way.

In her free time, you can find Debrah practicing her gardening skills, hiking with her partner, and providing belly rubs and songs to her dog, Apollo.

Navigating Difficult Communication and Moral Distress: A Case Based Discussion

Dr. Ginger Grellmann earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University in 2011 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oregon State University in 2017. Her professional interests include veterinary dentistry, advanced oral and maxillofacial surgery—including the treatment of oral tumors and jaw fractures—pediatric development, pain management, and Fear Free® medicine. Dr. Grellmann is deeply passionate about empowering pet owners to improve the longevity, comfort, and quality of life of their beloved pets.

Dentistry holds a special place in Dr. Grellmann’s heart, and she recognized early in her career that her true calling lay in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. While in general practice, she completed more than 250 hours of advanced dental continuing education before beginning a residency in Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in 2022. She is the owner of Houndstooth Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery (formerly Pacific Northwest Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery) and trained under the mentorship of Dr. Renteria, DAVDC.

Tiny Teeth, Big Trouble: Pediatric Pearls for Puppy & Kitten Mouths

Dr. Sleznikow received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2010 and graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Following veterinary school, she completed a one-year rotating internship in 2016 and a

three-year internal medicine residency in 2019 both at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. She enjoys the challenges of internal medicine, and has a particularly strong interest in infectious diseases and immune mediated conditions. 

Dr. Sleznikow was born and raised in Wisconsin along the Mississippi River and has spent most of her life in Wisconsin and Minnesota. After visiting the Pacific Northwest, she quickly realized it was a place she wanted to call home and made the move west. 

Diagnosis and management of severe pancreatitis: a team based approach

The Veterinary Medical Examining Board was established in 1903 to test, license, monitor and regulate practitioners of veterinary medicine in the state. The Board works in the interest of  animal health and welfare, public health, and consumers of veterinary services. The Board's authority comes from the Veterinary Practice Act, Chapter 686 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and Chapter 875 of the Oregon Administrative Rules.

Regulation, Public Protection, and the Veterinary Profession

Jake Kamins is a Senior Assistant Attorney General and the Animal Cruelty Resource Prosecutor at the Oregon Department of Justice. Jake started his legal career in 2009 at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, where he learned how complex and underfunded animal cruelty prosecution can be. In 2013, Jake became the nation’s first statewide animal cruelty prosecutor, working throughout Oregon from the Benton County District Attorney’s Office.

Since 2013, Jake has prosecuted hundreds of cases of animal cruelty, and has trained law enforcement, animal services, and animal rescue agencies throughout Oregon and the United States. Jake also teaches the “Crimes Against Animals” class at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 2023, the Oregon legislature created the Animal Cruelty Resource Prosecutor position at Oregon DOJ, largely due to Jake’s advocacy.

In 2012, Jake was named one of the nation’s Top Ten Animal Defenders by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. In 2022, Jake received the Bill Lehman Memorial Award from the National Animal Care & Control Association.

Jake lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, his children, two cats, and a saltwater fish tank

Oregon Animal Cruelty Laws, Prosecutions, and Mandatory Reporting: What Veterinarians Should Know

Lauren is a partner at Dunn Carney.  She focuses her practice on helping small- and medium-sized businesses in Oregon and Washington with their employment-law needs, including compliance, advice, and litigation.  Lauren serves as a Board Member of Community Warehouse, a local furniture bank.  She regularly presents on employment-related topics to clients and community members in a variety of industries, including veterinary medicine, agriculture, automotive sales, construction, and manufacturing.

Joe is a Partner at Dunn Carney, and focuses his practice on assisting individual veterinarians and veterinary practices with their business and litigation needs - from employment agreements, to business formation, lease negotiations, business sales, and everything in between. Joe is a proud Board Member of the PAW Team.  Joe also regularly makes presentations to PVMA members (including the Power of 10, Relief Veterinarians Group, and Practice Owner’s Group) and at the Oregon State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Basics of Employment Law from Employer and Employee sid