8:00am

Sarah Heath - BVSc DipECAWBM(BM) PGCert Vet Ed FHEA FRCVS

Where does behaviour medicine fit in with managing pain?

Dr Sarah Heath is both an RCVS and EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine, as well as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist. Sarah is an External Lecturer in small animal behavioural medicine on the veterinary undergraduate courses at Liverpool University and the University of Surrey. She is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist under the ASAB accreditation scheme and registered as a Veterinary Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. She sees clinical cases across North West England. She promotes the recognition of emotional health issues in companion animals, and the role of veterinary professionals in safeguarding the welfare of animals.

8:00am

Colin Driver - BSc(Hons) BVetMed(Hons) MVetMed PhD DipECVN FRCVS

Lumbosacral Pain in Practice: A Surgeon’s Guide for the Wider Multidisciplinary Team

Colin is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and has worked in speciality referral practice for 16 years. He has helped to establish three different neurology services and has served as clinical director of two large referral hospitals. He is an RCVS fellow by meritorious contribution to clinical practice. Colin is based at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in Alton, Hampshire, and is a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Surrey. Colin has published over 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers and textbook chapters; his main clinical interests are the management of IVD-related causes of spinal pain in dogs, orthopaedic and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Colin is a pioneer of the emerging field of endoscopic spinal surgery for dogs.

9:30am

Katrin Jahn - Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine, DrMedVet, CertVA, MANZCVS (BM), DACVB, DipECAWBM (BM)

Behaviour, Pain and Psychopharmacology

Katrin has been a vet for over 25 years and is a Double Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine who believes that the mental and emotional health of veterinary patients is equally as important as their physical health. Katrin owns and runs a Small Animal Veterinary Practice - the German Veterinary Clinic - in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which is the first ISFM Gold Standard Cat Friendly Clinic, Fear Free Accredited Veterinary Practice and Zero Pain Practice in the Middle East.

She is also the proud owner of Trinity Veterinary Behaviour, a global online Veterinary Behaviour business dedicated to upskilling, supporting, educating and mentoring Veterinary - and Pet Care Professionals in all things Veterinary Behaviour Medicine.

9:30am

Amber Batson - Veterinarian and behaviourist BVetMed MRCVS

Unwanted behaviours, pain, and anxiolytics

Amber Batson graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1999. During the first year in primary care practice she recognised that many clients were asking behaviour related questions so went on over several years to undertake a number of behaviour and welfare qualifications and to start studying psychoneuroimmunology – the field of medicine that considers the impact of stress and the environment on health, wellbeing and behaviour.

Amber continued to work in primary care practice and alongside this, set up up her business Understand Animals in 2007, looking to bridge the gap between published science and its practical application in companion animals for veterinary and non veterinary professionals to apply. Today she continues to work in practice and has a passion for co-operative care, patient centred approaches and working in a collaborative way with all members of an individual’s care team.

11:00am

Sarah Caney - RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine; BVSc PhD DSAM(Feline) MRCVS

Unravelling chronic pain from other medical conditions in the older cat

Sarah Caney is an internationally recognised specialist in feline medicine who has worked as a feline-only vet for more than thirty years. She trained as a specialist at the University of Bristol and is one of fifteen recognised specialists in feline medicine working within the UK.

Sarah has written or co-written four books published by her business Vet Professionals including ‘Caring for an elderly cat’.

Sarah conducts online owner surveys and has published much of her research results in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Sarah sees primary and referral feline patients in a large hospital in Cheshire.

11:00am

Mikel Delgado - PhD, CAAB

Grumpy or Painful? How behaviour professionals can recognise and help cats in pain

Dr. Mikel Delgado has been working professionally with cats for over 25 years, as a shelter worker, behaviour consultant, and researcher.

She is co-founder of Feline Minds, a cat behaviour consultancy, which helps cat caregivers, rescues, and corporations understand the needs of cats.

She received her PhD in Psychology/Animal Behaviour from UC Berkeley and was a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis.

Her research has included the health and development of orphaned neonatal kittens, cat play and predatory behaviour, and the feeding behaviour of cats.

Mikel currently works as a Senior Researcher of animal welfare at Purdue University.

12:10pm

Prof Francesco Staffieri - Full Professor of Veterinary Surgery, DVM, PhD

Evaluation of clinical effects and plasma metabolomic profiles after the administration of grapiprant in dogs affected by osteoarthritis: a prospective, off-on–off, clinical study

Professor Francesco Staffieri is a leading veterinary surgeon and educator with over 20 years of experience. He graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bari, Italy, and earned his PhD on biotechnology applied to organ transplantation and integrated cellular therapies in oncology. After completing a veterinary anaesthesia residency at the University of Pennsylvania, he returned to Bari, where he is now Professor in the Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation.

Professor Staffieri is fully dedicated to teaching, clinical work, and experimental research. His expertise spans experimental models for ALI/ARDS, advances in pain management and anesthesia for both small and large animals, and innovative therapies for osteoarthritis. He coordinates the University of Bari’s PhD program in Tissue and Organ Transplantations and Cellular Therapies, serves as academic editor for PlosOne, and has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and multiple textbook chapters, including authoring the first Italian textbook on locoregional anesthesia in small animals.

12:10pm

Kathy Murphy - BVetMed, DPhil (PhD), CLAS, CVA, MRCVS

The gut-brain axis: does it have relevance for pain management?

Dr Kathy Murphy BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS is a clinical-academic veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist with a special interest in anaesthesia and analgesia. She holds post graduate clinical qualifications, PhD and is residency trained in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. She is Founder and Director of Barking Brains Ltd which provides clinical, educational and business consultancy services Internationally. She is co-founder of EthicsFirst.org with an interest in clinical ethics; holds teaching and examiner positions in the UK and abroad, is past Trustee and veterinary advisor of 16 years for the Rottweiler Welfare Association, and is active within the clinical behaviour community. Passionate about the provision of high quality, affordable, first opinion veterinary care within the local community, she also takes an active interest in veterinary politics, and nudge factors influencing our choice of treatment and care options.

2:20pm

Panel Discussion:

Joao Alves - DVM, MSc, PhD, DECVSMR

Melina Zimmerman - DVM DACVAA CVPP CVMA CCRP

Russell Chandler - BVSc CertSAO MSc(OrthoEng) MSc(StemCells) MRCVSMRCVS

Intra-articular approaches to osteoarthritis - what, when, and why

João Alves graduated from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2012 and has since worked at the Guarda Nacional Republicana (Portuguese Gendarmerie) with their police working dogs, focusing on sports medicine and rehabilitation, helping these animals to achieve their full potential. He completed his PhD in 2021 from the University of Évora, Portugal, in intra-articular management modalities for osteoarthritis. In 2022, he became an European Specialist in Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Diplomate of the European College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation - Small Animals; DECVSMR).

Dr. Melina Zimmerman is a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist. She has also received additional certifications in pain management, medical acupuncture, and physical rehabilitation. She is the founder and veterinarian at The Doggy Gym, a stand alone pain management and physical rehabilitation practice in Belmar NJ and also does private anesthesia training and consulting. Dr. Zimmerman is passionate about promoting pain management education for students, veterinary professionals, and clients!

Dr Russell Chandler graduated from the University of Bristol Veterinary School.  He has gained the following post-graduate qualifications: RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Orthopaedics, MSc in Orthopaedic Engineering from Cardiff University, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Orthopaedics, and MSc in Stem Cells and Regeneration from University of Bristol. His clinical interests, in addition to surgery, are pain management, multimodal osteoarthritis management and regenerative medicine.

2:20pm

Lindsey Fry - Veterinarian/ DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, cVMA

From Injection to Action: Enhancing Canine Recovery Through Rehabilitation after intra articular injections.

Dr. Lindsey Fry grew up in Boulder Colorado and attended Colorado State University for veterinary school. As a veterinary student, she became certified in medical veterinary acupuncture and her passion for pain management and mobility was sparked. She completed her rehabilitation training and certification through the University of Tennessee in 2011 and became a certified veterinary pain practitioner through the International Veterinary Academy for Pain Management (IVAPM) in 2013. She would go on to serve on the board of the IVAPM and subsequently as treasurer, traveling and speaking about pain management. She practices in Colorado where she focuses on an integrative approach to pain and mobility management in a wide variety of patients, offering regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, palliative care, sports medicine, and advanced pain management. In 2023 she achieved board certification through the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has published on acupuncture, ketamine in chronic pain management, iliopsoas injury in agility dogs, palliative care, and continues to have a special interest in complex pain and mobility cases. She enjoys teaching and lecturing with a variety of organizations and continues to pursue research in pain management, especially the use of ketamine, sports medicine and rehabilitation. She lives in Fort Collins Colorado with her husband and two adventurous daughters and a full menagerie of pets.

3:30pm

Prof Natasha Olby- Professor, Vet MB, PhD DACVIM (Neurology) MRCVS

Understanding Mobility Loss in Dogs - is it Ortho, is it Neuro, is it Frailty

Natasha Olby completed her veterinary degree at Cambridge University in the UK in 1991.

She is currently a Professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery and holds the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rhanna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology at North Carolina State University. She is a past president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology specialty and has published over 200 scientific papers, as well as more than 35 book chapters. She is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology. While much of her career has focused on spinal cord injury, she has long had an interest in aging of the nervous system, and she now runs the Canine Neuro-Aging Program and is the Director of the Center for Healthy Aging at NCSU. Her research uses clinical cases to generate translational data and she focuses on training future clinician scientists.

3:30pm

Sherry Rafatpanah - Neurology Research Intern, DVM, DVSc

Frailty in Ageing Dogs: Recognition, Clinical Impact, and Practical Assessment

Shaghayegh (Sherry) Rafatpanah Baigi is a veterinarian from Iran. She earned her DVM from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and completed a residency in Veterinary Surgery at the University of Tehran. She worked as a surgeon with a strong interest in neurology in private practice in Iran for 5 years.

She is a Neurology Research Intern at NC State University, contributing to the Longitudinal Study of Canine Neuroaging. Her research interests include aging and cognition, neurodegenerative diseases, and epilepsy. She has been involved in veterinary education, delivering webinars and workshops on small-animal neurology to veterinary students in Iran and aspires to become a veterinary neurologist and clinician-scientist.

Heli Hyytiäinen - PT, MSc (VetPhysio), PhD, Title of Docent
Clinical and counselling lecturer

Heli graduated as physiotherapist in January 2000, specialized in animal physiotherapy 2003, graduated as Master of Science in Veterinary Physiotherapy 2012, and finalized her PhD in 2015. She has over twenty years of clinical experience in veterinary physiotherapy. In 2006 she started working at the University of Helsinki Veterinary Teaching hospital, where she started and further developed the hospital’s physiotherapy department. For over ten years she was a honorary lecturer for the Liverpool University Post Graduate Diploma / MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy program as well as taught at the Finnish Animal Physiotherapy program. Currently she devotes her time to teaching and research at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki. Heli is a proud owner of a geriatric Siberian husky, and currently suffers of a severe case of puppy fever.

Anna Bergh - BSc(phys ther), DVM, PhD, DECVSMR

Anna Bergh works as a professor and holds a subject chair with focus on veterinary rehabilitation at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Her PhD had the title “Defocused CO2 laser irradiation in the rehabilitation of horses, an experimental and clinical study”. She is on the board of International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy and chair the re-certification committee at ECVSMR. She performs research on validation of assessment methods and efficacy of different treatments used in rehabilitation, such as assessment and treatment of pain and physical dysfunction in cats, dogs and horses. Her main professional focus is to combine her expertise in physiotherapy and veterinary medicine, with the goal to expand the knowledge base in veterinary rehabilitation.

Anna Boström - PT, MSc PhD

Anna is a physiotherapist working in veterinary physiotherapy. She is based at the Helsinki University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, where she is involved both in clinical work and in research. Anna holds a PgDip/MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy from the Royal Veterinary College in London and she has completed her PhD at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki in 2018 on the topic “Evaluation of epaxial muscle structure in dogs with spinal disease.” She is the principal investigator for the Finnish Agility Study that investigates training and competition routines, injuries and jumping biomechanics in agility dogs and for a project investigating clinical significance of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra in herding type dogs. Her special research interests are back muscle structure and function in dogs with spinal disease, the increasing physical demands in agility and the welfare of working and sporting dogs.

Colin Driver - BSc(Hons) BVetMed(Hons) MVetMed PhD DipECVN FRCVS

Colin is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and has worked in speciality referral practice for 16 years. He has helped to establish three different neurology services and has served as clinical director of two large referral hospitals. He is an RCVS fellow by meritorious contribution to clinical practice. Colin is based at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in Alton, Hampshire, and is a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Surrey. Colin has published over 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers and textbook chapters; his main clinical interests are the management of IVD-related causes of spinal pain in dogs, orthopaedic and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Colin is a pioneer of the emerging field of endoscopic spinal surgery for dogs.

Sarah Heath - BVSc DipECAWBM(BM) PGCert Vet Ed FHEA FRCVS

Dr Sarah Heath is both an RCVS and EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine, as well as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist. Sarah is an External Lecturer in small animal behavioural medicine on the veterinary undergraduate courses at Liverpool University and the University of Surrey. She is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist under the ASAB accreditation scheme and registered as a Veterinary Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. She sees clinical cases across North West England. She promotes the recognition of emotional health issues in companion animals, and the role of veterinary professionals in safeguarding the welfare of animals.

Fiona Taylor - PT, MSc PhD

Fiona graduated in 1995 with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from Brunel University and began her career in the NHS before spending 13 years working internationally in the USA and Switzerland. There, she provided physiotherapy and Pilates services within diverse professional settings whilst raising a young family. On returning to the UK, she expanded her expertise into animal rehabilitation, earning an MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy from Hartpury University in 2016. After initially running a mixed practice treating humans and animals, she specialised in small animals and spent six years in referral practice, thriving in multidisciplinary clinical environments. In 2025, she joined the University of Lancashire School of Veterinary Medicine as a lecturer on the MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy programme. Alongside teaching, she maintains a small animal caseload, focusing on rehabilitation and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. She is delighted to be part of the Chronic Pain Symposium 2026.

Katrin Jahn - Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine, DrMedVet, CertVA, MANZCVS (BM), DACVB, DipECAWBM (BM)

Katrin has been a vet for over 25 years and is a Double Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine who believes that the mental and emotional health of veterinary patients is equally as important as their physical health. Katrin owns and runs a Small Animal Veterinary Practice - the German Veterinary Clinic - in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which is the first ISFM Gold Standard Cat Friendly Clinic, Fear Free Accredited Veterinary Practice and Zero Pain Practice in the Middle East.

She is also the proud owner of Trinity Veterinary Behaviour, a global online Veterinary Behaviour business dedicated to upskilling, supporting, educating and mentoring Veterinary - and Pet Care Professionals in all things Veterinary Behaviour Medicine.

Amber Batson - Veterinarian and behaviourist BVetMed MRCVS

Amber Batson graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1999. During the first year in primary care practice she recognised that many clients were asking behaviour related questions so went on over several years to undertake a number of behaviour and welfare qualifications and to start studying psychoneuroimmunology – the field of medicine that considers the impact of stress and the environment on health, wellbeing and behaviour. Amber continued to work in primary care practice and alongside this, set up up her business Understand Animals in 2007, looking to bridge the gap between published science and its practical application in companion animals for veterinary and non veterinary professionals to apply. Today she continues to work in practice and has a passion for co-operative care, patient centred approaches and working in a collaborative way with all members of an individual’s care team.

Bobbie Bhambree - CDBC, CPDT-KA

Bobbie is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant and Professional Dog Trainer specialising in complex behaviour cases, resilience-building, and behaviour support for dog sports teams. She is a faculty member at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and Agility University, co-founder of Brain Camp, and founder of Dogology Behavior Consulting. With a career beginning in 2003 across shelter behavior, cruelty-case work, and large-scale behaviour program development, Bobbie eventually spent six years with Behavior Vets providing global virtual consultations and leading professional education. She is the co-creator of the Resilience Framework, presents internationally on resilience and sports-dog behavior, and has contributed to podcasts and publications including Clean Run. A dedicated agility competitor, she continues to teach behaviour workshops for the dog sports community.

Natasha Olby - Professor, Vet MB, PhD DACVIM (Neurology) MRCVS

Natasha Olby qualified from University of Cambridge and completed PhD, surgical, and residency training in neurology/neurosurgery. She is Professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery at North Carolina State University and holds the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rhanna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology.

A past president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology specialty, she has authored over 200 scientific papers and co-edited the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology. Her work focuses on spinal cord injury and neuro-aging, leading the Canine Neuro-Aging Program and directing the Center for Healthy Aging at NCSU.

Sherry Rafatpanah - Neurology Research Intern, DVM, DVSc

Shaghayegh (Sherry) Rafatpanah Baigi is a veterinarian from Iran. She earned her DVM from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and completed a residency in Veterinary Surgery at the University of Tehran. She worked as a surgeon with a strong interest in neurology in private practice in Iran for 5 years.

She is a Neurology Research Intern at NC State University, contributing to the Longitudinal Study of Canine Neuroaging. Her research interests include aging and cognition, neurodegenerative diseases, and epilepsy. She has been involved in veterinary education, delivering webinars and workshops on small-animal neurology to veterinary students in Iran and aspires to become a veterinary neurologist and clinician-scientist.

Kady Gjessing - DVM

Dr. Kady Gjessing continues to practice part-time in retirement as a small-animal veterinarian. Her focus has always been ensuring older cats and dogs are healthy, comfortable, and unafraid. Dr. Gjessing is the former owner of Quail Corners Animal Hospital in Raleigh. Dr. Gjessing has been a board member of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation Board (NCVMF) since 2016, serving on the executive committee as well as the current chair of the finance committee. She made the largest donation to the CVM by a graduate to establish the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology, named for herself and her mother, an animal lover who once served on CVM’s NCVMF. Dr. Gjessing earned her veterinary degree from the CVM at NC State.

Julia Robertson - Founder and Managing Director Galen Myotherapy

Julia Robertson is a leading expert in canine myotherapy and the founder of Galen Myotherapy. She has made a global impact through her work on adaptive change in dogs and the connection between pain and behaviour. She developed Positive P.A.C.T.®, Galen’s choice-led treatment approach, and created the Galen Comfort Scale©, now widely used in both clinical practice and research.

An accomplished author and educator, Julia has published four books and two DVDs, including the widely respected Tongue to Tail. Her resources support dog owners, trainers, students, therapists, and veterinary professionals, reflecting her ongoing commitment to improving canine wellbeing and advancing the field of myotherapy.

Jacques Ferreira - BSc BVSc MSc MMEDVET (anaes) DipECVAA MRCVS

Jacques is a specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and Head of Anaesthesia and Emergency Critical Care at Blaise Veterinary Referrals. He earned his veterinary degree and BSc in Biotechnology from University of Pretoria, followed by advanced training and a Master of Veterinary Science in Anaesthesia. He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2017 and an RCVS recognised specialist in 2018.

His career spans clinical and academic roles at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Pretoria, combining specialist practice with teaching and research in anaesthesia, analgesia, and critical care.

Cat Henstridge - BVSc MRCVS

Cat graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2003 and has worked ever since in first opinion small animal practice. Very quickly into her career she developed a passion for client communication and collaboration, particularly in chronic disease cases and she still gets a huge amount of satisfaction from working as a team with her colleagues and the owners to ensure her patients have the best outcomes and lives.

As an extension of this interest she began writing a blog, which then progressed to social media pages, where she writes about all the things that interest her in the veterinary and pet space and she has built a reputation as a trusted and strong voice in the sector.

She is delighted and honoured to be taking part in the CAM symposium!

Tyler Carmack - Director of Hospice and Palliative Care/ DVM, CVA, CHPV, CVPP, CTPEP, CVFT

Dr. Tyler Carmack is the Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Caring Pathways.

She founded Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice, an AAHA-accredited end-of-life practice, and has practiced exclusively hospice and palliative care since 2011. She has served on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Animal Hospice and

Palliative Care (IAAHPC) since 2016 in various roles, including President in 2020 and 2025. Dr. Tyler holds certifications in animal hospice and palliative care, veterinary pain management, peaceful euthanasia, veterinary acupuncture, TCVM food therapy, and TCVM End-of-Life care.

Sheliah Robertson - BVMS (Hons), PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), CertVA, FRCVS

After graduating from the University of Glasgow Dr Robertson undertook specialised training in anesthesia and pain management. She is board certified in anesthesia and in animal welfare by the respective American and European Colleges and holds a certificate in small animal acupuncture. She is also a certified Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Palliative and End-of-Life practitioner. She is a medical advisor for Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a large network of veterinarians dedicated to end-of-life care. Dr Robertson is a courtesy lecturer in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida.

Ginny Mikita - Rev., JD/Animal Chaplain

Ginny Mikita is an animal protection attorney and founder of Mikita Kruse Law Center, providing legal advocacy for animals, neglected children, LGBTQ+ individuals, and incapacitated adults. She earned her law degree from Notre Dame Law School and began her career working on federal animal welfare legislation and cases with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Ginny co-founded Attorneys for Animals and Michigan’s first State Bar Animal Law Section, and has contributed to landmark cases including the Nonhuman Rights Project case for chimpanzee liberty. She is also the founder of Animal Blessings, a nonprofit supporting the welfare and recognition of all animals. Recognised among Michigan’s Top Ten Lawyers, Ginny continues to write, educate, and provide grief support for animal caregivers.