Judges, Moderators, and Organizing Committee

2024 Keynote Speaker                                                   Organizing Committee

Mariana Diel de Amorim, DVM, DVSc, PhD, DACT, Assistant Professor of Theriogenology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Dr. Diel de Amorim earned her DVM from Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Brazil and completed both her PhD and residency in Theriogenology from University of Guelph, Canada.  Her research interest is on equine theriogenology, especially pertaining to equine maternal recognition of pregnancy and equine endometritis. She has focused her efforts on looking at the molecular level on the endometrium, corpus luteum and embryo interaction.

2024 Judges

Doug Antczak, VMD, PhD, Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University
Dr. Antczak’s research program is focused on the health of horses. Through the Baker Institute’s Equine Genetics Center, the Antczak laboratory has a long history of advancing basic knowledge and applying that knowledge in equine genetics, immunology, and reproduction. The cord that links these three distinct areas of science together is the intimate relationship between mother and fetus during pregnancy in mammals.

Galina Hayes, BVSc, DVSc, PhD, DACVECC, DACVS, Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Dr. Hayes' research interests include the Surgical Techniques Initiative: Clinical trials evaluating changes in surgical methods that can reduce incisional pain and inflammation, reduce infection rates and improve healing in canine surgery.  Other areas of interest include predictive scoring systems in clinical medicine, minimally invasive surgery, and trauma management.

Margaret McEntee, DVM, DACVIM, DACVR, Professor of Medical and Radiation Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Dr. McEntee earned her DVM from Cornell University and completed residencies at North Carolina State University in both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology.  Her research interests include Contrast Enhanced CT scanning, advancing the technical aspects of radiation therapy, and linear accelerator/3D treatment planning.

Peter V. Scrivani, DVM, DACVR, Professor and Section Chief of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Dr. Scrivani earned his DVM from Cornell University and completed his residency at The Ohio State University.  His research uses imaging and epidemiologic techniques for investigating and establishing the best clinical practices in animal health care. His specific research focus is advancing the understanding of head and neck disorders, with emphasis on the role of the underlying morphology.

2024 Moderators

Kimaya Bakhle (DVM/PhD Student)
Kimaya worked at a small animal clinic during high school which sparked her interest in veterinary medicine. She pursued this interest through a pre-veterinary biochemistry program at Purdue University and is now enrolled in the Cornell Combined DVM/PhD Program. In the future, Kimaya hopes to use her background in veterinary medicine and cancer biology research to improve outcomes for animals and humans with cancer.

Megan Fahey (DVM/PhD Student)
Meg is a fifth-year Combined DVM/PhD student currently working in Dr. Gerlinde Van de Walle's lab. Her research focuses on the secreted products (i.e. secretome) of mesenchymal stromal cells and its potential as an anti-microbial and pro-regenerative therapeutic. Meg is passionate about translational research and aspires to be a clinician-scientist that studies stem cell derived therapeutics for humans and veterinary species alike.

Stephanie Hon, DVM, DACVAA, Assistant Professor, Section of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Hon completed her veterinary training at University of Florida, her rotating internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and her anesthesia residency at Cornell University. Dr. Hon's research interests include locoregional and vascular access techniques in pigs, with an emphasis on supporting translational research efforts and bringing those skills and improvements to the clinic.



2023 Judges

Parminder Basran, PhD, FCCPM, Associate Research Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Luis Campoy, LV CertVA, DECVAA, Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
Ruth Collins, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University
Jeongmin Song, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University

2023 Moderators

Kimaya Bakhle, combined DVM/PhD student, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
Mason C. Jager, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
Erin M. Scott, VMD, DACVO, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University


2022 Judges

Scott Coonrod, PhD, Judy Wilpon Professor of Cancer Biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Director Baker Institute for Animal Health
Kevin Cummings, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University
Julia Felippe, M.V., M.Sc., Ph.D.’02, Diplomate ACVIM, Professor of Medicine and Provost’s Fellow for Public Engagement, Cornell University
Toby Pinn-Woodcock, DVM, DACVIM, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Population Medicine, Cornell University

2022 Moderators

Carrie Adler, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University
Jacquelyn Evans, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University
Tim Hackett, DVM, Professor of Emergency and Critical Care and Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences
Megan Fahey & Sydney Womack, Combined DVM/PhD students, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine


2020 Judges

Philippe Baneux, DVM, Diplomate ECLAM, Attending Veterinarian, Director - CARE
Tom Divers, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC, Rudolph J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences
Elisha Frye, DVM '10, Veterinary Support Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University
John Parker, BVMS, Ph.D. '99, Associate Professor of Virology, Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University

2020 Moderators

Elizabeth Moore, DVM '12, PhD '19;  Postdoctoral Associate and Visiting Lecturer, Cornell University School of Biomedical Engineering
Joy Tomlinson, DVM '10, DACVIM, Research Associate Baker Institute for Animal Health, Visiting Lecturer Department of Clinical Sciences


2018 Judges

Dorothy P. Debbie, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Cornell University Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Laura Goodman, PhD '07, Assistant Research Professor, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
Scott Palmer, VMD, Adjunct Professor, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences; New York State Equine Medical Director
Heidi Reesink, VMD, PhD '16, DACVS-LA, Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences

2018 Moderators

Bryant Blank, DVM, MS, DACLAM, Assistant Director, Agriculture Animals, Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE) at Cornell University
April Choi, DVM, PhD, DAVCP, Clinical Instructor, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences
Sabine Mann, VMD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Ambulatory and Production Medicine Clinic, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
Elizabeth Moore, DVM, Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences


2017 Judges

Theodore G. Clark, PhD, Professor of Parasitology and Immunology, Cornell University Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Susan Fubini, DVM, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Hélène Marquis, DVM, PhD, Professor, Cornell University Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Scott Palmer, VMD, Adjunct Professor, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences; New York State Equine Medical Director
Mark Rishniw, BVSc, MS, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences

2017 Moderators

Bryant Blank, DVM, MS, DACLAM, Assistant Director, Agriculture Animals, Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE) at Cornell University
Erika Gruber-Hollingshead, DVM, Graduate Student, Cornell University Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Heidi Reesink, VMD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences
Andrew Miller, DVM, Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences


2016 Judges

Craig Altier, DVM, PhD, Professor and Chair, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
James W. Casey, PhD, Associate Professor of Virology, Cornell University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Scott Palmer, VMD, Adjunct Professor, Cornell University Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences; New York State Equine Medical Director
Heidi Reesink, VMD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences

2016 Moderators

Bryant Blank, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACLAM, Assistant Director, Agriculture Animals Cornell Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE)
Bethany Cummings, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences
Kelly Hume, DVM, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Cornell University Department of Clinical Sciences and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Andrew Miller, DVM, Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences


2015 Judges
  • Philippe Baneux, DVM, Diplomate ECLAM, Professor (Adjunct) Departments of Biomedical Sciences and of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; faculty member, Field of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Cornell University
  • James W. Casey, PhD, Associate Professor of Virology, Cornell University Department of Microbiology and Immunology
  • Susan Hackner, BVSc, MRCVS, Chief Medical Officer, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS)
  • Drew Noden, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Embryology and Animal Development, Cornell University Department of Biomedical Sciences
  • Janet Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
2015 Moderators
  • Kyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University; Equine Surgeon and Emergency Clinician, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists
  • Scott Palmer, VMD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University; New York State Equine Medical Director
  • Rolfe M. Radcliffe, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, Instructor, Large Animal Surgery and Emergency Critical Care, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University
  • Brian VanderVen, PhD. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University

Organizing Committee

Name Department
Mr. Doug Fink Clinical Sciences
Dr. Rob Goggs, Co-Chair Clinical Sciences
Dr. Kelly Hume, Co-Chair Clinical Sciences
Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Co-Chair Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Tracy Stokol, Co-Chair Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences