Small Animal I Speakers

Dr. Rozanski graduated from the University of Illinois and then completed an internship at the University of Minnesota and a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked at Tufts University for over 20 years in the Emergency and Critical Care services.

Dr. Mandy Wallace is an Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the University of Georgia. She is a 2010 graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Colorado State University in 2011. She was the PennHIP research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania prior to completing a combined Master of Science degree program and Small Animal Surgery residency at the University of Florida in 2016. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017. Dr. Wallace’s research interests are in hepatic vascular anomalies, septic peritonitis, novel wound treatments, and biomaterials for soft tissue surgery.

Dr. Stephanie Bruner graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991 and practiced general small animal medicine for four years before returning to Purdue University to complete one year as a Visiting Scholar and a three-year residency in Comparative Dermatology. She has been board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology since 1999.

Dr. Bruner enjoyed 25 years in private specialty practice with over 20 years as the co-owner of a multispecialty hospital in the midwestern United States. During this time, she published numerous textbook chapters and journal articles and presented lectures at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Bruner joined the faculty at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2024 as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, focusing on teaching future veterinarians to be compassionate critical thinkers.

An enthusiastic clinician who loves talking about the body’s largest and most impressive organ, Dr. Bruner’s favorite conversations are with pet owners and their veterinarians as they collaborate to create customized treatment programs for their very special patients.

Dr. Jacquline Risalvato, PhD, DVM, DACVM-Virology is the Director of the Virology and Immunology Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also founded the Virology/Immunology Poultry (VIP) Lab. She teaches Veterinary Virology, Immunology, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, and leads a research program focused on zoonotic disease surveillance, vaccine development, and the advancement of molecular and immunological diagnostics.
Dr. Risalvato earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of South Carolina and completed both her DVM and PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Georgia through the Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program. Her DVM training was in mixed animal medicine with a strong research focus, and she remains licensed to practice veterinary medicine in both Georgia and Tennessee. This clinical background supports her teaching by helping students bridge diagnostic concepts with real-world client communication and clinical decision-making.
Following her training, she served as a USDA postdoctoral fellow at the Southeast Poultry Research Lab, where she conducted pathogenesis studies on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and used next generation sequencing to track viral evolution across host species. Her ongoing work continues to support One Health initiatives through translational virology and the genetic characterization of veterinary viruses.

Julia Albright is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Albright obtained both a Masters degree in Experimental Psychology and DVM from The University of Tennessee before completing a residency and fellowship in Animal Behavior at Cornell University CVM. Dr. Albright’s research interests include reducing stress in animal facilities, psychopharmacology, and the human-animal bond.

Ryan Gibson (@thebraindogtor) is a veterinary educator and neurologist from Auburn University. His teaching focuses on foundational neuroscience, applications in clinical neurology, and microanatomy. His virtual consulting services (The Brain Dogtor LLC) are aimed at improving access to care for neurological patients and supporting general practitioners. Dr. Gibson collaborates with researchers in exploring new drugs for neuropathic pain, translating the age of the neurological system across species, seizure therapies, and veterinary education. He founded Pet Parent Educators, which aims to increase client education following the diagnosis of chronic conditions such as seizures and diabetes.