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Leadership
2023-24 Executive Board
Washington State University
Class of '94
Currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, and practices at McKenzie Animal Hospital.
Matthew E. Fricke, DVM, CVA, ANT-C
President
University of Colorado CVM
Class of '95
Owner of Mistralvet-Veterinary Anesthesia Teaching and Support.
Bonnie Wright, DVM, DACVAA
President-Elect
University of Minnesota CVM
Class of '11
Owner of Julius Rehabilitation & Integrative Veterinary Services, LLC in Minnesota.
Currently lives in Columbus, OH where she owns and operates a house-call complementary-only practice.
Shantel Julius, DVM, CCRP, CVA, CVSMT, CVFT
Vice-Elect
Michigan State University
Class of '01
Co-owner and Founder of East-West Equine Sports Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky.
Lori Bidwell, DVM, DACVAA, CVA, CVTP
Immediate Past President
Tufts University
Class of '03
Member since 2001
Currently lives in Columbus, OH where she owns and operates a house-call complementary-only practice.
Carol Gifford, DVM, CVA, FAAVA
Secretary/Treasurer
NC State CVM
Class of '11
Owner of Hunt Country Equine, a 3 doctor ambulatory practice in North Carolina.
Grace Buchanan, DVM, CVA
Director (2023-2025 1st term)
Michigan State University’s CVM
Class of '00
Associate Professor of Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Tara Harrison, DVM, MPVM, DACZM, DECZM, CVA
Director (2023-2025 1st term)
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Class of '88
Mixed animal practitioner specializing in acupuncture and holistic medicine in Grass Valley, California.
Leslie Phillips, MS, DVM, CVA
Director (2022-2024 2nd term)
Texas A&M CVM
Class of '03
Owner of Integrative Veterinary Wellness in Texas.
Jennifer Smallwood, DVM, MS, CVA, CCRP, CVFT, CVCH
Director (202-2024 finishing term)
Tuskegee University CVM
Class of '94
Owner of Orchid Springs Animal Hospital
Mitsie Vargas, DVM, CVA, FAAVA
Director (2023-2025 2nd term)AAVA House of Delegates to AVMA
Cornell University
Class of '06
Currently lives in the New York area and is an integrative small animal veterinarian at Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital in North Greenbush, NY.
Jennifer Kareklas, DVM, CVA, FAAVA
Delegate (2023-2027)
University of Minnesota CVM
Class of '95
Clinical Associate Professor, North Carolina State University CVM