The Integrative Veterinarian

Cassidy Kelly was raised in the Chicago, Illinois area. Her interest in veterinary medicine was sparked during a biology class in high school.

She earned earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Ohio State, and is now a first year veterinary student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Cassidy has spent significant time interning at the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center and is the CIVT University Liaison for Research and  Student Outreach.

Please enjoy this conversation with Cassidy Kelly as we discuss her undergraduate education, introduction to Integrative Veterinary Medicine, a...

Dr. Susan Recker was raised in Ames, Iowa. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 1997, then practiced small animal medicine in a few offices in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Looking for more ways to help with her clinical  cases, she earned her certification in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy from the Healing Oasis Wellness Center.  She also developed an interest in clinical nutrition.

In 2014, she designed an accredited Veterinary Technician training program for Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin. She was involved in everything from the design and implementation of the educational program as well as...

Isabella Pulido was raised in Southern California and grew up with a menagerie of pets. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. To that end, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree  in Animal Science with a minor in Spanish from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She was accepted into the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she completed her first semester in the Fall of 2023.

Please enjoy this first installment of interviews with Student Members of CIVT as Izzy and I discuss her childhood, undergraduate e...

Dr. Kate Millhouse was raised in various areas of Australia. She had a variety of pets growing up and began riding horses at a young age as well, stirring her interest in veterinary medicine.

She earned her veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 1998. Afterwards, she spent time in mixed animal practice in Australia and following that, did locum work in the United Kingdom for two years.

While in the UK, she began her integrative medicine journey by taking a short course in  acupuncture and starting a three year course in Veterinary Homeopathy through the Homeopathic P...

Dr. Jamie Lines was raised on a farm in Victoria,  Australia. He earned his Veterinary Science degree from the University of Melbourne in 1994.

His first job was in an dairy oriented practice for two years, followed by some locum work in Australia and the UK. He returned to Australia where he and his wife purchased a dairy farm while he continued to work for local veterinary practices.

He then made a career shift and trained as a mortgage broker, earning a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment. He founded a financial planning business on t...

Dr. Colleen Smith was previously a guest on Episode 26. She is the owner of the Integrative Practice, Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In this episode Dr. Smith and I discuss her decision to utilize some space in her clinic for sales of retail food and supplements. We dive into the thought behind the decision, how it has changed the workload in the practice, how she managed staffing, and her inventory decisions.

Please enjoy this episode as we explore Dr. Colleen Smith's decision to open the store, Chai Life Pet Nutrition Market, and...

Dr. Nichola Spooner was raised on a beef cattle property in Queensland, Australia, knowing from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Queensland with first class honors in 2001, she worked in a  mixed animal practice for two years before completing a small animal rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists and Pet Emergency in 2004. She obtained her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2005.  After leaving the Emergency practice, she worked in both mixed and small animal private practice.

Her...

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to our 100th episode! I want to take a minute and recognize those that have been so instrumental in getting us this far. First, I'd like to thank the Directors at CIVT for their continued support. Drs. Barbara Royal, Natasha Lilly, Nichola Spooner, and Mr Robert Kelly. Thank you to all of the guests who have so graciously given up your time in your busy schedules to tell us your stories; I have learned so much from all of you. Finally, I'd like to thank the listeners of the podcast for your support and...

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to our 100th episode! I want to take a minute and recognize those that have been so instrumental in getting us this far. First, I'd like to thank the Directors at CIVT for their continued support. Drs. Barbara Royal, Natasha Lilly, Nichola Spooner, and Mr Robert Kelly. Thank you to all of the guests who have so graciously given up your time in your busy schedules to tell us your stories; I have learned so much from all of you. Finally, I'd like to thank the listeners of the podcast for your support and...

Dr. Julie Wentzel was raised in Annapolis, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech in 1998. After a few years of assisting in veterinary clinics and working on farms, she decided to enter veterinary training and earned her DVM degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.

After graduation, she completed an internship in Emergency Medicine in Maryland, remaining on the clinic staff at that facility for seven more years. She continued to work  in Emergency Medicine as well as a Rehabilitation and Pain Management Veterinarian in a...