Noblesville, IN
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February 5–7, 2026
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21 CE Hours
Dr. Jonathan Townsend is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dairy Production Medicine at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. He grew up on a small Jersey dairy farm in Maine and after receiving his B.S. from the University of Maine, he attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University, graduating in 1995. Following graduation, he worked as a private practice veterinarian in New York doing primarily dairy medicine and surgery.
In 1998 he began a Dairy Production Medicine residency at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University. After completing the residency in 2000, he began graduate work in the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue examining liver function in transition dairy cows which resulted in a PhD in 2007. From 2004 to 2010 he worked as technical services dairy nutritionist in Michigan. In his current role he is actively involved in teaching, clinical service and Extension throughout the state of Indiana.
Dr. Townsend lives on a small farm in Lafayette, Indiana with his wife, Wendy (who is also a veterinarian at Purdue) and their two daughters, Emma and Rachel. His hobbies include being a taxi driver for his daughters, New England sports teams, and attempting to develop a herd of Jersey show cows.
Dr. Kelsey Fugere is a Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine, currently practicing at MedVet Indianapolis. She began her journey in animal health with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences (Animal Physiology) from Cornell University, then went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island.
After veterinary school, Dr. Fugere completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, followed by a three-year residency in internal medicine at MedVet Cincinnati.
Her clinical interests include gastroenterology, infectious and immune-mediated disease, endocrinology, and advanced procedures such as endoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, ultrasonography, and thoracic and abdominal diagnostics.
Dr. Fugere’s favorite part of her work is building relationships with pets and their families and being a key part of their care during critical moments. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys traveling, reading, baking, trying new foods, and spending time with large dogs, cervids, and big cats.
Kevin Johnson serves as a Senior Account Manager, Scientific Sales Affairs with Merck Animal Health, where he provides technical support and educational resources to veterinary professionals across the Midwest.
A graduate of Northwest Missouri State University in Ag-Business, and master’s in veterinary Parasitology from Cornell University.
Carol Reinero specializes in small animal internal medicine with special interests in respiratory medicine and a particular focus on lower airway disorders and interstitial lung diseases. Her research interests include investigations of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for feline asthma and the canine and feline respiratory microbiome. She also collaborates with other clinician scientists to characterize immune responses in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, even those not directly related to the lungs.
Reinero received a doctor of veterinary medicine and PhD in immunology from the University of California, Davis, where she also completed a small animal internal medicine residency.
She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a former president of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society.
When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and teaching her two children all about the lung.
Professor Emeritus of Clinical Epidemiology, Purdue University
Dr. Moore earned his DVM degree at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Georgia. He earned his PhD in Clinical Epidemiology from Purdue University in 2005. During his career, Dr. Moore served more than 22 years in the U.S. Army on various assignments, including as Director of the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Services at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACPVM), Dr. Moore’s research interests included vaccine safety, infectious diseases, and companion animal disease epidemiology and evidence-based medicine.
Dr. Kyle Shipman, DVM currently serves as State Veterinarian for Indiana, overseeing the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and related regulatory responsibilities. He joined the agency in 2016 and later led its Animal Programs Division before being appointed interim state veterinarian in late 2024 and confirmed in 2025.
Dr. Shipman earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Purdue University. Early in his public health career, he played key roles in Indiana’s response to the 2016 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak and efforts against bovine tuberculosis. He is USDA-certified as a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician, and in 2020 he participated in international training in Uganda on diagnosis and response to foot-and-mouth disease. Outside of his technical roles, he completed Indiana Agri Institute’s two-year Agricultural Leadership Program.
Driven by a commitment to serve both animal health and agricultural communities, Dr. Shipman emphasizes collaboration with farmers, clear communication in disease response, and policies that balance practitioner needs with public welfare.
Dr. Isaac Traynor serves as Veterinary Epidemiologist for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), where he applies both clinical and field experience to disease surveillance, trace-back investigations, and biosecurity initiatives across Indiana’s animal production and companion animal sectors.
He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and is committed to a One Health approach—working at the intersection of animal, human and environmental health to identify risks early and support proactive disease prevention. In his role at BOAH, Dr. Traynor coordinates multi-agency efforts during outbreaks, supports data-driven monitoring programs, and helps train veterinary professionals in emerging and foreign animal disease response.
Dr. Traynor is passionate about building partnerships between industry, academia and government to reinforce animal health systems in Indiana. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring regional wildlife, staying current on epidemiologic methods, and mentoring the next-generation veterinary workforce.
Dr. Maria Cooper, DVM — Director of Avian Health, Animal Programs Division Indiana State Board of Animal Health
Dr. Maria Cooper leads critical state-level efforts in animal health surveillance, outbreak response, biosecurity, and high-consequence disease preparedness. With a DVM from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and advanced training in veterinary homeland security, Dr. Cooper has directed the newly formed Avian Health Division and oversees disease containment across species, contributing to Indiana’s agriculture, pet-care, and food-supply systems.
She is active in regulatory medicine, animal-health policy, and One Health initiatives.
Dr. Kathryn Reif is an associate professor and the inaugural holder of the Bailey-Goodwin Endowed Professorship in Parasitology in the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. Dr. Reif’s research interests broadly revolve around vectors and vector-borne diseases of veterinary, medical and agricultural importance, with a primary focus on ticks and tick-borne pathogens of public health and veterinary concern. Some of Dr. Reif’s on-going research projects include: i) developing new approaches for real-time monitoring of tick salivation and feeding behaviors, ii) evaluating antimicrobial efficacy to control tick-borne pathogens, iii) evaluating efficacy of ectoparasitcide products, iv) investigating transmission dynamics and control strategies for bovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis; v) examining tick-borne pathogen prevalence; and vi) tick-borne pathogen vaccine development. Dr. Reif enjoys engaging veterinarians and clients/producers in research projects and developing and delivering presentations on the importance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to clinicians and the general public.
Dr. Bethany Funnell is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she focuses on food animal production medicine, herd health management, and client education.
A Purdue graduate, Dr. Funnell earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and went on to practice in mixed and food animal medicine before returning to her alma mater to teach and mentor the next generation of veterinarians. Her work emphasizes preventive herd health programs, biosecurity, and practical approaches to livestock care that support both animal welfare and producer success.
Dr. Funnell is passionate about hands-on learning and outreach, engaging with students and producers across Indiana to strengthen the connection between veterinary medicine, agriculture, and public health.
Dr. Heather Solomon-Gabl serves as a Field Veterinarian for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), representing District 7. In her role, she works directly with producers, veterinarians, and industry partners to monitor animal health, conduct disease investigations, and promote biosecurity throughout Indiana.
A graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Solomon-Gabl joined BOAH after several years in mixed animal practice, where she gained hands-on experience with both companion animals and livestock. Her background in clinical medicine and fieldwork provides a strong foundation for her work in regulatory medicine and animal disease prevention.
Dr. Solomon-Gabl plays an active role in emergency preparedness and response efforts, including oversight of quarantine protocols and disease surveillance. She is committed to protecting both animal and public health and is passionate about supporting Indiana’s agricultural and veterinary communities.
Scott Owens, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVIM (SAIM) is a Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist at MedVet Indianapolis, where he has been part of the team since 2015.
Dr. Owens attended Purdue University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Following his graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Owens spent a year in a mixed animal practice followed by a year as an emergency clinician at Circle City Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital, now known as MedVet Indianapolis.
In 2008, Dr. Scott Owens returned to Purdue University to pursue a yearlong internship in small animal medicine and surgery followed by a three-year residency and master’s program in small animal internal medicine. The topic of research for his residency was canine protein losing enteropathy. Dr. Owens became a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2012.
Although Dr. Owens has clinical interest in all aspects of internal medicine, he has particular interest in gastroenterology, endocrinology, and immune-mediated diseases. He is trained and skilled in procedures including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, rhinoscopy, cystoscopy, tracheobronchoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography.
One of his favorite parts of being a veterinarian is being able to diagnose and treat a pet with a chronic illness and watch the improvement in their condition and quality of life. When not treating patients, Dr. Owens enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and working on his horse farm.
Dr. Kirsten Jackson is a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist at MedVet Indianapolis, where she specializes in advanced cancer care for pets. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Biology and Forensic Sciences from Purdue University, followed by her DVM from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery and a four-year residency in medical oncology at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also obtained a Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Sciences.
Dr. Jackson’s clinical interests include electrochemotherapy, hospice/palliative care, lymphoma and osteosarcoma. She is passionate about helping pet families understand complex diagnoses, navigate treatment options, and celebrate additional quality time with their pets. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, knitting, reading, and spending time outdoors with her two dogs and husband.
Dr. Emily Curry serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she specializes in shelter medicine and mobile surgery. Prior to joining academia, she gained extensive hands-on experience performing spay/neuter procedures and community outreach through the Priority 4 Paws (P4P) mobile surgery program, which has delivered care to thousands of animals across Indiana.
Dr. Curry is passionate about advancing access to veterinary care, improving animal welfare, and mentoring the next generation of veterinarians. Outside her professional role, she enjoys contributing to community health initiatives and exploring ways to bring veterinary services to underserved areas.
Dr. Becky Zaremba is a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care specialist (DACVECC) with a Master of Science degree. She practices at VEG ER for Pets in Indianapolis, where she focuses on advanced emergency medicine, transfusion medicine, trauma care, and reproductive emergencies. Animals have always been central in Dr. Zaremba’s life, and she chose veterinary medicine to give back the care and compassion they give us.
Her veterinary interests include emergencies in reproduction (theriogenology), toxicities, and complex critical-care cases. Outside of work, Dr. Zaremba and her husband share a working farm with chickens, turkeys, goats, horses, and dogs. She loves to bake and enjoys exploring craft beer when she has a moment to relax.
