Speakers

Michael D. Apley, DVM, PhD, DACVCP, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Apley is a veterinarian with a PhD in physiology (pharmacology). He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. His practice background includes general practice in central Kansas and a feedlot consulting/contract research practice based in Colorado. Dr. Apley is currently a professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University. His research interests include infectious disease, antibiotic efficacy and resistance, antibiotic stewardship, drug residues, and applications of drugs in food animals.

Maggie Behnke, DVM, DACLAM, Director of the Animal Resources Unit and attending veterinarian at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)

Maggie Struck Behnke, DVM, DACLAM NBAF Attending Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Behnke is the attending veterinarian and leads the Animal Resources Unit for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), which is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Behnke earned her Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM). Dr. Behnke completed residency training in Laboratory Animal Medicine at University of Florida’s Health Science Center. Behnke was awarded board certification from the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) in 2011. Later, Dr. Behnke worked at Kansas State University in various regulatory oversight, management and clinical roles. Dr. Behnke has expertise in regulatory oversight of institutional animal care and research, as well as clinical care of various traditional and nontraditional species in large and varied research programs. Dr. Behnke has mentored veterinary residents, and served on various national committees through ACLAM as well as the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Dr. Behnke leads NBAF’s Animal Resources Unit. This unit is comprised of laboratory animal professionals who provide critical support of science programs through assurance of welfare for the animals under their care.

Anri Celliers, BSc, BVSc (hons), BVSc MMedVet (Med), ECVIM - CA, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr Celliers is a South African and European board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist and assistant professor at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center. Together with expertise in solving complex medical challenges, Dr Celliers has a special interest in immunology and infectious diseases. After six years in private practice and seven years in academia, Dr Celliers recently relocated from South Africa to join the faculty of Kansas State University’s internal medicine department, bringing with her a global perspective to clinical and academic work. Her current research focuses on the acute phase protein response in cats with histoplasmosis. She is passionate about helping students to become resilient, well-rounded and capable veterinarians. In her spare time, she enjoys trail running, hiking and reading.

Akaterina Davros, DVM, DACVECC

Kat Davros DVM, DACVECC is a proud graduate of the KSU CVM, class of 2018. She moved to Fort Collins, CO after graduation and spent a year in a private practice ER before finding her passion for critical care. She then completed an ECC specialty internship at Colorado State University and residency at North Carolina State University. Kat achieved diplomate status and joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 2023. In her free time Kat enjoys traveling (and finding local breweries) and competing in trail races and triathlons.

Steve Ensley, BS, DVM, MS, PhD, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr Ensley graduated in 1981 from Kansas State University with a DVM. After 14 years in mixed practice in the Midwest he received a MS and PhD in veterinary toxicology at Iowa State University completing his PhD in 2000. Dr Ensley has worked for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Bayer AG, Iowa State University and Kansas State University.
Dr Ensley’s interests are clinical veterinary toxicology and applied veterinary toxicology research. Dr Ensley has published extensively on applied veterinary toxicology and gives numerous presentations on these topics. Food animal veterinary toxicology is his passion.

Luis Feitoza, DVM, PAS, PhD, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Luis F. B. B. Feitoza is a Clinical Assistant Research Professor at the Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. With a strong background in veterinary medicine, diagnostics, and animal management, his research focuses on advancing chute-side ultrasound diagnostics, respiratory disease prognostics, and nutritional strategies in feedlot cattle.
Dr. Feitoza earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and later pursued his Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine & Pathobiology at Kansas State University, emphasizing veterinary diagnostics, animal nutrition, and management. Additionally, he holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics, which complements his expertise in data analysis for veterinary and agricultural research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Feitoza has been extensively involved in interdisciplinary research, leading clinical trials, spatial epidemiological studies, and novel diagnostic evaluations for bovine respiratory diseases. His work has been recognized in multiple scientific conferences,
including the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and the Bovine Respiratory Disease Symposium.
Beyond research, Dr. Feitoza has significant experience in feedlot operations, having managed the K-State Beef Cattle Research Center, overseeing personnel, experimental trials, and herd health management. His expertise extends to veterinary ultrasonography, statistical modeling, and precision livestock management.
Dr. Feitoza continues to contribute to the field through scientific writing, grant development, and mentorship of graduate students, fostering innovation in cattle health and production systems.

Viktoria Granacka, DVM, Equine Medicine Resident, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Viktoria Granacka was born in Canada but raised in Poland. She graduated from Warsaw University of Life Sciences in 2019. After graduation she spent three years working in private practices in Poland and Belgium. She started her equine internal medicine residency at Kansas State University in 2022. Professionally, she is mostly focused on emergency and critical care, neonatology and gastrointestinal diseases.

Todd Gunderson, DVM, MS, ACVPM, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Todd Gunderson grew up in an agricultural community in Eastern Idaho. His family owned and operated a small dairy farm when he was young, and through this and other experiences he had working for family and neighbors he developed a deep and abiding love for agriculture and rural communities. He graduated from Washington State University with his DVM in 2009, and spent most of his practice career working for beef cow-calf clients in the Mountain West, including several years in Alberta, Canada. He also has extensive clinical experience in equine, dairy, feedlot, small ruminant, and small animal medicine. In 2021 he went back into academia to complete a master’s degree and residency in epidemiology and population medicine at Mississippi State University. He was hired on as a member of the faculty at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary medicine in 2024 to teach Beef Production Medicine. He and his wife Ruby have 3 kids, 3 horses, 2 dogs, and a cat, and they keep themselves busy running everybody around and keeping everyone happy and healthy. Dr. Gunderson’s main research focus during his master’s program was the diagnostic performance of the bull breeding soundness evaluation.

Mackenzie Hallman, DVM, DACVR, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Hallman is an assistant clinical professor of diagnostic imaging at K-State's Veterinary Health Center. She is a 2008 graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists.

Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM, PhD, PAS (Nutrition), Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Hanzlicek received his bachelor’s and PhD from Kansas State University and his DVM from Mississippi State University. His practice experience includes 16 years as a bovine veterinarian where he provided individual animal care, herd health, production record, and nutrition services to Midwest dairy and cow-calf clients. He joined the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in 2011 and serves as the Associate Laboratory Director and he is also the Section Head for the Production Animal Field Investigations Unit and the laboratory’s Outreach program.

Nathaniel Kapaldo, DVM, MPH, DACVAA

Dr. Kapaldo is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (KSU-CVM). He is from Northern Virginia, earned his B.S. in Biology at Slippery Rock University (PA), his DVM from KSU-CVM, completed a one-year rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center (NYC, NY), before completing his residency in Anesthesia and Analgesia at KSU-CVM.

Hatem Kittana, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Bacteriology/Mycology/Immunology), Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Kittana earned his DVM degree from South Valley University in Egypt, 2009. He completed his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2018 followed by Clinical Microbiology Residency at University of Columbia in Missouri, 2021. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM) and a board-certified Microbiologist in Bacteriology/Mycology & Immunology subspecialties from ACVM. He is an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at CVM-KSU and Bacteriology/Mycology Section Head at KSVDL.

Kate KuKanich, DVM, PhD, Dip DACVIM (SAIM), Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. KuKanich earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota, did a clinical internship at Tufts, and a 5-year combined residency/PhD at the University of Tennessee. She has been on faculty at Kansas State University since 2008, and she is currently a professor and Director of the Veterinary Research Scholars Program. She is board certified in small animal internal medicine, and her research interests are infectious disease and public health.

Rebecca Legere, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-LA

Becky is an Assistant Professor of Equine Internal Medicine at Texas A&M University and director of the Legere Laboratory for Equine & Veterinary Innovation (LLEVI). Prior to veterinary school, she was a biomedical engineer and earned her MS in Equine Exercise Physiology at Sul Ross State University. She is a graduate of K-State CVM Class of 2015, followed by a private practice equine internship, equine internal medicine residency at Auburn University, MS in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University, and PhD at Texas A&M University. Her clinical and research interests focus on equine respiratory medicine, neonatology, and critical care medicine.

Sara McReynolds, DVM, MPH, PhD, Assistant Animal Health Commissioner, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health

Sara McReynolds is the Assistant Animal Health Commissioner for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. She grew up on a farm near Stockton, KS and graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She spent just over 2 years in mixed animal private practice in Laramie, WY before returning to Kansas State for a PhD in epidemiology. Prior to returning to Kansas, she served as the Assistant State Veterinarian for the North Dakota.

Matt Miesner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Miesner is originally from rural New Mexico and received his DVM from Washington State University in 1999. Dr. Miesner began his career in private mixed animal practice in Pasco, WA, then completed a Residency, Masters and ACVIM credentials at Ohio State University VTH, in Food Animal Medicine and Surgery.
He is a faculty clinician at KSU since 2006 and teaches primarily 4th year students, and food animal Medicine and Surgery in the third year. He uses clinical cases and daily consultations as teaching material. Dr. Miesner does collaborative research with primary investigators on topics such as innovative teaching methods, pain and welfare, ruminant and swine nutrition, and bovine lameness.
He has a “house divided”, with a college student at KU and KSU and his wife Tracy and he attend each of their extracurricular events whenever possible. They all still eat peacefully at the same dinner table when they are home. In his spare time, he bikes and runs far, pretends to be a mechanic and carpenter, and in the summer finds remote fly fishing locations in the mountains where few dare to go but the fishing is exciting.

Zach Mills, DVM, MPH, MBA, FNAP, Chief Operating Officer atUS Business for Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business

Dr. Zach Mills is a highly accomplished executive in the field of animal health, bringing a wealth of expertise in veterinary professional services, strategic alliances, business development, strategy, and innovation. With a diverse background spanning international, corporate, academic, and military environments, Zach has held key positions and honed his communications skills in leading animal health companies, including serving as the Head Veterinarian and Chief Veterinary Medical Officer for companion animal business at two companies. He holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Master of Public Health (MPH), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kansas State University and the University of Georgia, respectively. Zach has also been recognized as a Distinguished Clinical Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (NAP). Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer – US Business for Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business, Zach has previously held notable roles such as Vice President of Medical Performance for The Vets and Head of Veterinary Professional Services for the US Pet Business at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Additionally, Zach is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve (USAR), where he has demonstrated exceptional service and leadership since joining in 2003 as a member of the Veterinary Corp. His military journey includes various distinguished assignments and deployments to Iraq and Africa. His current role as the is the Commander of the 306th Field Hospital in Fort Gillem, GA.

KC Olson, MS, PhD, Kansas State University College of Agriculture

KC is a professor of range beef cattle nutrition and management and the W.M. and F.A. Lewis Distinguished Chair in the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University. He teaches a number of courses at KSU and takes great pride in helping train the next generation of Great Plains ranchers and farmers. KC’s research program addresses questions that affect profitability of the cow-calf and stocker segments of the Kansas beef industry. Specific areas of research include management of invasive range plants; nutritional management of cattle grazing native range; fire ecology; and factors influencing grazing behavior.
KC holds advanced degrees from Kansas State University and North Dakota State University. KC is active in the American Society of Animal Science, the Society for Range Management, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, the American College of Animal Nutrition, the Weed Science Society of American, and the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance. He was the 2019 winner of the Animal Management Award bestowed by the American Society of Animal Science.
KC, his wife Karli, and sons Charles and Theodore live on a beautiful ranch in North Lyon County. In his off time, KC enjoys spending time with his family, being active in his church, and being one of the most highly leveraged ranchers in the Flint Hills. He has a very close relationship with his banker.

Ron Orchard, DVM, MPH, CAWA, PhD, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Ron Orchard is a dual DVM/MPH and is currently a fellow with the Kansas State University’s Shelter Medicine & Community Outreach program. He teaches shelter medicine and surgical practice through a series of community partnerships. His work not only involves developing veterinarians that have technical surgical expertise but also includes an element intended to support the exercise leadership through One Health and “reflective practitioner” frames.

Pierre Picavet, DVM, MSc, DECVS, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

He graduated in 2013 and worked in private practice for three years. He subsequently completed a rotating internship, followed by a specialized internship and a residency in surgery at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liège, Belgium. He obtained the title of European Specialist in Veterinary Surgery in February 2022. Dr. Picavet moved to Manhattan, KS, in 2023 and currently serves as an Assistant Professor in Orthopedics.

Amy Rankin, DVM, MS, DACVO, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Rankin received her DVM degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1993. She then completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Rankin spent 3 years in small animal private practice in Washington and Idaho and then she completed an ocular pathology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine and the Medical School. She completed her residency training and master’s degree at Purdue University and then spent 6 years in a private specialty practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before joining the faculty at Kansas State University in August of 2007.

James K. Roush, DVM, MS, DACVS, Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Success, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Roush is the current Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Success in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, and Professor of Small Animal Surgery. He has been a faculty member at Kansas State University since 1989

Matthew Tanner, DVM

Dr. Matthew Tanner is an assistant clinical professor at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center, where he provides clinical instruction in cardiology to fourth-year veterinary students and didactic instruction in both cardiology and emergency topics to pre-clinical students. He earned his DVM from the University of Georgia and completed a small animal rotating internship at Purdue University, followed by a cardiology specialty internship at Kansas State.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Tanner served as an assistant clinical professor with the Kansas State Emergency Service, where he developed a strong interest in acute cardiac care and client-centered communication. He is passionate about helping veterinary students and primary care veterinarians build confidence in recognizing and managing common cardiac conditions.
Dr. Tanner’s long-term goal is to establish a comprehensive cardiology program at Kansas State that includes advanced diagnostics, interventional procedures, and collaborative research initiatives. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their three cats and Bernedoodle, exploring the Midwest, and tackling home improvement projects.

Brian Vander Ley, DVM, PhD, DACVPM, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center

Brian Vander Ley grew up on a small, diversified farm in South Dakota. He completed his undergraduate studies at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and went on to attend Iowa State University to earn both his DVM and PhD degrees. Dr. Vander Ley also completed an internship with the Iowa State University Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Service and served as an emergency food animal clinician.
Following his PhD, Dr. Vander Ley worked at the University of Missouri as an ambulatory food animal clinician. He taught field-based food animal medicine and surgery to veterinary students while serving clients with a wide array of livestock species. He also conducted research aimed at mitigating bovine respiratory disease.
Currently, Dr. Vander Ley works at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center as a veterinary epidemiologist. He conducts research aimed at improving livestock health and well-being, serves and a veterinary extension specialist, and teaches veterinary and graduates students.
Dr. Vander Ley lives near Sutton, NE with his wife, Katie, and three children, Gerrit, Gavin and Johanna.

David Weinstein, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Dr. David Weinstein attended Kansas State University for both his degree in Animal Science, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, and received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After two internships at premier animal hospitals in New York City and Atlanta, one as a rotating intern and one as a specialty intern in neurology, Dr. Weinstein returned to Kansas for his residency in neurology at a multi-specialty animal hospital, from 2013 to 2016.
After his residency in 2016, Dr. Weinstein became a board-certified neurologist. He remained at the hospital where he did his residency, as their sole neurologist, treating patients from across the Midwest, including Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma. In 2021, Dr. Weinstein moved to Florida to start a neurology service at another multi-specialty animal hospital, where he has established and grown the service for the past 2 years. Dr. Weinstein is excited to return to Kansas, at Mission Veterinary Emergency & Specialty.
Dr. Weinstein is passionate about providing the best care to his patients and advancing the field of veterinary neurology. He continues to participate in specialty conferences and in neurosurgery courses. He has been a frequent presenter in Kansas and Florida at continuing education seminars and has also helped train several interns.
Dr. Weinstein practices medical neurology and neurosurgery, particularly in treating seizures, brain tumors, encephalitis, and intervertebral disc disease. For him, nothing is more rewarding than helping a paralyzed dog walk again. Above all, Dr. Weinstein prides himself on his compassion for his patients and his ongoing communication with their caretakers.
Outside of work, Dr. Weinstein enjoys spending time with his wife, three kids and pets.