
Speakers
Please note, we are currently confirming speaker topics. Below are all of the conference speakers. Please note their topics are subject to change.
Companion Animal Speakers | ||
Dr. Chad SchmiedtDr. Chad Schmiedt is currently a professor of soft tissue surgery at the University of Georgia where he also serves as the Section Chief of Small Animal Surgery and Anesthesia. Dr. Schmiedt is a graduate of the University of Georgia and completed internships at the University of Tennessee and the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center prior to beginning a surgical residency at the University of Wisconsin in 2002. Following his residency, Dr. Schmiedt was an instructor at UW for several years and returned to the University of Georgia as a clinical instructor in 2007. Since that time he has worked as a soft tissue surgeon seeing regional referrals for all types of soft tissue surgical cases and international referrals for feline renal transplantation. Dr. Schmiedt's current research interests include the consequences of renal ischemia, chronic kidney disease, characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, and any clinical soft tissue surgery related topic. Dr. Schmiedt has published almost 200 book chapters, manuscripts and scientific abstracts. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family on their small farm in the Georgia countryside. Conference Topics
| ![]() Dr. Craig DatzDr. Datz is a 1987 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. He was in private companion animal practice in Virginia and Arkansas until 2001, when he joined the faculty at the University of Missouri College Of Veterinary Medicine working in the areas of Community Practice and Clinical Nutrition until 2012. He is currently the Director of Scientific Affairs at Royal Canin USA in St. Charles, Missouri. Dr. Datz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and is certified in both Canine/Feline and Feline Practice. He currently serves as the Residency Chair for ABVP. He is also board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and has a master’s degree in biomedical sciences with a human and animal nutrition focus. Conference Topics
| Dr. Kate KuKanichKansas State University |
Dr. Nicky CasselKansas State University | Dr. Carlo AnselmiKansas State University | Dr. Justin ThomasonKansas State University |
Dr. Butch KuKanichKansas State University | Dr. Mary Bagladi-SwansonKansas State University |
Food Animal Speakers | ||
Dr. Bob LarsonKansas State University | Dr. Glenn RogersInformation coming soon!Conference Topic
| Dr. Brian HerrinKansas State University |
Dr. Doug HilbigDr. Douglas Hilbig is a Senior Beef Tech Service Veterinarian with the U.S. Cattle and Equine Technical Services team at Zoetis. His responsibilities include providing support for the veterinarians, producers and TBM’s of Zoetis’s areas in OK, KS, MO and AR as well as marketing and research teams as needed.
Doug is a native of Kansas, grew up in Oklahoma received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oklahoma State University in 1991. He practiced veterinary medicine in Kansas for over 20 years, the last 18 as an owner of mixed animal practices and a consulting business dealing with feedyards, backgrounders, stockers, cow/calf and dairy clients. In 2012 Doug joined Pfizer Animal Health/Zoetis with his current responsibilities.
Dr. Hilbig’s professional affiliations include the AVC (Academy of Veterinary Consultants) where he was a director for the state of KS as well as the Membership Chairman, AABP (American Association of Bovine Practitioners), NCBA (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) and the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association), as well as OVMA (Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association).
Doug’s family includes his wife of 30 years, Penny, as well as their daughter Maggie of Stillwater, OK and son Zane at Ok State University. He and Penny live in Morrison, OK, where they have cattle and horses. Conference Topic
| Dr. Dan ThomsonKansas State University | Dr. Rachel OmanUniversity of Missouri |
Dr. Terry EngelkenIowa State University | ![]() Cassie KniebelMore information coming soon!
Conference Topic
| Dr. Justin WaggonerKansas State University |
Dr. Hans CoetzeeKansas State University | Dr. Brian LubbersKansas State University |
Equine Speaker | ||
Dr. Steve AdairSteve Adair, DVM, MS, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Adair holds a BS in Microbiology (Auburn University, a MS in Veterinary Microbiology (Auburn University), and a DVM (Auburn University). Dr. Adair is Board Certified as a specialist by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is Certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in Animal Chiropractic’s and is a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner. His special interests are equine rehabilitation, lameness, and regenerative medicine. His clinical focus areas include equine lameness, rehabilitation, and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Adair’s teaching interest include equine musculoskeletal diseases and rehabilitation. Dr. Adair provides CE seminars internationally on equine rehabilitation lameness and regenerative medicine. Education
Board Certification
University Appointments
Practice Experience
Conference Topics
| Dr. Elizabeth SantschiKansas State University | ![]() Dr. Katie DelphKansas State University |
Practice Management Speakers | ||
Dr. Ingrid GarrisonDr. Garrison has been the State Public Health Veterinarian for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment since 2008. She developed a lifelong passion for One Health at an early age through 4-H. She received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1999 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2003 from Kansas State University. She witnessed the impact that rabies has on human and animal health during a summer spent in South India between her 2nd and 3rd year of veterinary school. After graduation, she practiced small animal medicine in southwest Missouri before moving to Ames, Iowa to work for the Center of Food Security and Public Health. She obtained her Master of Public Health from the University of Iowa in 2005 and became board certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2007. She completed a two-year fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), known as the ‘Disease Detectives’ in 2008. She honed her skills as an epidemiologist through a variety of outbreak investigations and data analysis including a review of rabies vaccination status among dogs imported through O’Hare International Airport. Dr. Garrison had the opportunity to practice public health around the world and developed a passion for occupational health through her time as a Public Health Officer in the U.S. Air Force. She retired as Lieutenant Colonel in September of 2017. She had more than 23 years of service with the Kansas Air National Guard, 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field in Topeka, Kansas. Conference Topic
| Dr. Adryanna Siqueira DrakeKansas State University | Emma WinkleyKansas State University |
Dr. Michael WhitehairDr. Michael Whitehair, Abilene, Kansas, is a retired large animal veterinary practitioner and retired partner at Abilene Animal Hospital PA. His clinical interests include beef, feedlot and equine medicine. He has been a partner at Abilene Animal Hospital since 1975. Prior to that he practiced at Miami County Veterinary Clinic in Paola, Kansas. Dr. Whitehair is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and currently serves as the chair of its board of directors. He also is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners and Academy of Veterinary Consultants. Dr. Whitehair also served as president of the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association in 1993 and earned its Distinguished Service Award in 2008. Dr. Whitehair is a former board member for the K-State Alumni Association and the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine’s Alumni Association. Additionally, he has assisted the College of Veterinary Medicine in multiple dean searches. He and his wife, Catherine, have two adult children: Martha and Rebecca. Dr. Whitehair earned two degrees from K-State, a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine in 1972 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1974. Conference Topic
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