Small Animal II Speakers

Mike Hickey is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a residency in cardiology with CVCA – Cardiac Care for Pets and achieved ACVIM board certification in 2013. He sees patients at the CVCA office 1n Rockville, MD. His professional interests include echocardiography, medical management of arrhythmias and heart failure, improving the owner-veterinary team-pet relationship in achieving best outcomes in long term care for chronic conditions, and medical communication.

Dr. Lindell is a diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

As the owner of a behavior specialty practice, Dr. Lindell has devoted her professional career to helping pets, their families, and their veterinarians by addressing and treating behavioral concerns.

Dr. Lindell supports minimizing distress related to veterinary health care and is proud to be a member of the Fear Free Advisory Panel and an Approved Fear Free Speaker. She is dedicated to educating caregivers and pet professionals alike of the importance of a calm, safe veterinary experience.

Dr. Lindell enjoys teaching and has lectured extensively to veterinarians, pet professionals, and animal appreciators nation-wide. She is also an on-line behavior consultant for the Veterinary Information Network.

Dr. Lindell has had the opportunity to contribute to several textbooks including the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavior, Blackwell’s 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Blackwell’s 5-Minute Consult: Canine and Feline Behavior and the newly revised Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat. She frequently writes and reviews papers in peer-reviewed publications, had a paper published in Veterinary Clinics of North America, and co-authored a chapter in the popular publication, Decoding Your Dog.

In her spare time, Dr. Lindell enjoys training her dogs and participates in dog sports such as Agility, Rally, and Obedience. Her current training partners are Rita the sheltie and Cara the toller.

Dr. Epstein received his DVM from University of Georgia and is the Senior Partner and Medical Director of TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals, a small group of AAHA-accredited practices in the Charlotte & Gastonia NC. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline) and is a past-president of ABVP. He is certified by the Academy of Integrative Pain Management (AIPM), is recognized as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and is a past-president of IVAPM; he is currently President of the IVAPM Research & Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Epstein chaired the AAHA Senior Care Guidelines Task Force and co-Chaired the 2015 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines Task Force. He is a recipient of the 2022 Viticus Small Animal Educator of the Year Award.

Kathleen Ham graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and then completed a rotating internship, surgery residency and Masters degree at the University of Illinois.  After spending several years in specialty practice, she joined the surgery team at the Ohio State University achieved the rank of Associate Professor and won the Sydney award for patient care.  Dr. Ham moved back to Michigan to work in specialty practice and at Michigan State University. In 2020 she transitioned to the University of Florida CVM, and became the Section Chief of Soft Tissue Surgery.  Her areas of expertise and research include parathyroid disease, wounds and reconstruction, surgical oncology, and upper airway disease.  Dr. Ham has numerous publications and has provided continuing education lectures on these topics and others.  She also has an interest in education and served as the Assistant Director of the Continuing Education Committee for ACVS.  While in academia she has served as a mentor to students, interns and residents.  She keeps busy with her husband and 2 kids, 3 cats, 2 tortoises and a bearded dragon.

Kathleen Ham graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and then completed a rotating internship, surgery residency and Masters degree at the University of Illinois.  After spending several years in specialty practice, she joined the surgery team at the Ohio State University achieved the rank of Associate Professor and won the Sydney award for patient care.  Dr. Ham moved back to Michigan to work in specialty practice and at Michigan State University. In 2020 she transitioned to the University of Florida CVM, and became the Section Chief of Soft Tissue Surgery.  Her areas of expertise and research include parathyroid disease, wounds and reconstruction, surgical oncology, and upper airway disease.  Dr. Ham has numerous publications and has provided continuing education lectures on these topics and others.  She also has an interest in education and served as the Assistant Director of the Continuing Education Committee for ACVS.  While in academia she has served as a mentor to students, interns and residents.  She keeps busy with her husband and 2 kids, 3 cats, 2 tortoises and a bearded dragon.

Dr. Kathleen Cooney has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. She is CEO and Director of Education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA). Dr. Cooney is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and is an author and international speaker on the subject. She is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and loves all things old and gray. Learn more about Dr. Cooney’s accomplishments at caetainternational.com.

Rachel Starr, DVM graduated from Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, in 2000. She began her work as a veterinarian as a mixed animal practitioner in rural Ohio and then as a shelter veterinarian in Columbus, OH. She moved back to Michigan in 2005 and become a small animal veterinarian in the Traverse City area. After an initial interest in surgery, she began to explore alternative therapies, learning Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation in 2010, and adding frequency specific laser therapy in 2011. She also took an introductory course in Nutrition Response Testing in 2011. After starting to incorporate it into veterinary practice, she decided to pursue Advanced Clinic Training and graduated from that program in 2018. She is currently practicing in two small animal clinics in Northern Michigan where she specializes in non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical holistic therapies.