Large Animal Candidate Boot Camp

Rose Nolen-Walston grew up on a farm in England with aspirations of becoming a professional dressage rider. A complete lack of talent for the sport, however, led her instead to veterinary medicine. She earned her DVM from the University of Georgia in 2001, followed by an internship and residency in large animal internal medicine at Tufts University. In 2006, she joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Nolen-Walston has received the University of Pennsylvania’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, and is also a past president of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society. After completing a non-traditional residency in clinical pathology at Tufts University, she became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2025. Dr. Nolen-Walston is passionate about education and currently enjoys every minute of practicing and teaching both large animal internal medicine and clinical pathology to veterinary students, interns, and residents.

Dr. Underwood graduated from Cambridge University in 2006, then undertook a surgery internship and at The University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center followed by two years in Dr Virginia Reef’s ultrasound and cardiology fellowship. In 2010 she joined the University of Queensland, Australia, where she completed a PhD and provided the ultrasound and cardiology service in their equine hospital. She returned to The University of Pennsylvania in 2017 as part-time clinical faculty in ultrasound and cardiology. In addition to clinical service, her current research interests include temporary cardiac pacing, novel methods in musculoskeletal and cardiac ultrasound and telehealth.

Cris Navas received his veterinary degree from the UCH-CEU University in Valencia, Spain, Phd from UAB, Barcelona, Spain and Masters Of Veterinary Clinical Medicine from the University of Illinois. He completed a residency in Equine Internal Medicine (University of Illinois) and Fellowship in Cardiology and Ultrasound (University of Pennsylvania) and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2009. Dr Navas joined Texas A&M as Clinical Assistant Professor from 2015-2019 and returned to PennVet in 2019. Dr Navas' clinical activity and research focuses in equine cardiology and he ultrasound.

Dr. Caroline Monk is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and an active member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, where she serves on a leadership committee. Dr. Monk earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cornell University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia. She completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Kennett Square, followed by a residency in Veterinary Ophthalmology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Her professional interests include challenging corneal ulcers, entropion correction, and the human-animal bond.

Dr. MJ Drake grew up in Delaware and received a BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Richmond. In college, she became enthralled with infectious diseases and went on to attend graduate school studying virology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research investigated how viruses co-opt mammalian cells for their own replication. After completing her PhD in 2016, Dr. Drake continued her studies in veterinary medicine at PennVet, focusing on food animal medicine. She has been a large animal ambulatory practitioner since receiving her VMD in 2020. Dr. Drake is interested in the intersection of infectious diseases in food animal production systems and strives to improve the health of individual animals and as well as the overall herd in her daily work. In addition to her passion for dairy production medicine, Dr. Drake also enjoys diagnostic imaging and seeks opportunities to incorporate ultrasonography and radiography into patient workups whenever possible. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, playing ultimate frisbee, and spending time with family.

Dr. Johnson is currently a professor of large animal medicine and neurology at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center, where she sees a variety of wobbly horses and neurologic farm animals.  Her research focuses on improving antemortem diagnosis of neurologic disease in horses.

Dr. Kara Brown completed equine internships in private practice and at New Bolton Center, followed by a fellowship in large-animal ultrasound and cardiology and a residency in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Brown’s clinical and research interests focus on the diagnosis and management of poor performance in equine athletes, with particular emphasis on axial skeletal pain, advanced diagnostic imaging, orthobiologic therapies, and evidence-based rehabilitation. She is dedicated to translating emerging research into practical strategies that improve the diagnosis, treatment, and performance of sport horses.

Dr. Sarah F. Colmer is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in New Jersey and returned for a rotating internship at New Bolton Center before completing her residency and becoming board certified in large animal internal medicine. Following this, Sarah began a neurology fellowship at New Bolton Center that morphed into a non-traditional neurology residency, which is nearing completion. Sarah has particular interests in neurodegenerative disease and nervous system imaging and has a passion for teaching. 

Andrew graduated from the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science, Australia. His PhD studies focused on laminitis, under the mentorship of Professor Chris Pollitt. After training as a large animal internist at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, he returned there in 2017 as the Dean W. Richardson Endowed Chair of Equine Disease Research.  His laboratory focuses on developing strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disease and laminitis.  

Dr. Tomlinson received her degrees in biological and environmental engineering, veterinary medicine, and biomedical and biological sciences from Cornell University. Her research focuses on equine viral hepatitis, including the pathogens equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV). Her seminal work in this area has defined new diseases, resulting in federal regulations to prevent disease transmission.

Daniela Luethy received her veterinary degree from University of California - Davis in 2014. She completed a rotating internship at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a residency in large animal internal medicine, achieving board certification in 2018. After working at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Large Animal Medicine, she returned to University of Pennsylvania in 2023 in her current role. Her clinical and research interests include oncology, chronic conditions, and small ruminant internal medicine. 

Holly Stewart completed both her veterinary school and her large-animal surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Following her residency, she completed a PhD in orthopedic science at Colorado State University, and her research has been focused on subchondral bone, osteoarthritis, and advanced imaging modalities. She returned to New Bolton Center in 2023 in her current faculty position as a clinician-scientist and enjoys teaching students and trainees at all levels of education and across disciplines. 

Dr. Marie-Eve Fecteau obtained her veterinary degree from the Université de Montréal, and following graduation, she completed a large animal rotating internship and a one-year lectureship in the bovine field service of the same institution. Dr. Fecteau then completed a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at the University of California-Davis, from which she holds diplomate status. In 2004, Dr. Fecteau joined the Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine as a clinician-scientist and farm animal specialist. Dr. Fecteau’s research interests are centered on the study of paratuberculosis in cattle and other ruminants.  

Dr. Smith is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, certified in Food Animal Practice (1997), and obtained required recertification twice (2007 & 2017). He joined the Section of Field Service at New Bolton Center in 1998. He enjoys teaching veterinary students, and he has been recognized for his contribution to veterinary science and education by receiving the Lindback Teaching Award, the Carl Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award, and the Dean’s Award for Leadership in Clinical Science Education. Clinically, Dr. Smith has spent the last 35 years practicing veterinary medicine in numerous regions of the United States and on various herd sizes ranging from < 50 to more than 5,000 animals. His clinical focus is transition dairy cow management, monitoring ruminant health protocols in dairy, beef, and small ruminants, and implementing preventative disease measures in ruminant food animals. His research interests mainly focus on food animal herd health trials resulting in improved health, performance, and productivity, including manipulation of reproductive synchronization programs, vaccination response in cattle, epidemiology of Mycoplasma bovis in cattle, colostrum manipulation, and handling.

Dr. Sue McDonnell holds bachelors and master’s degrees in human and animal psychology, a PhD in reproductive physiology and behavior from the University of Delaware, and is board certified as an Applied Animal Behaviorist by the Animal Behavior Society. Dr. McDonnell’s career has been based at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, where she is the Founding Head of the Havemeyer Equine Behavior Program. 

Dr. McDonnell’s work includes clinical, research, and teaching activities in reproduction and behavior, with particular expertise in stallion reproductive physiology and behavior. In addition to scientific research publications, clinical case reports and review chapters, Dr. McDonnell has authored two introductory level books on horse behavior, as well as a book and DVD entitled The Equid Ethogram: A practical field guide to horse behavior, cataloging behavior of horses under both domestic and natural conditions.  She is also the co-editor With Dr. Daniel Mills of The Domestic Horse, an international review of horse behavior research.  She writes a monthly column for The Horse magazine, and contributes regularly to other equine industry magazines in North America and Europe.  In 2004, the American College of Theriogenologists awarded Dr. McDonnell Honorary Membership for contributions to clinical reproduction, and in 2011 the American Association of Equine Practitioners honored her with the George Stubbs Award for contributions by non-veterinarians to veterinary medicine. In 2026 she was awarded Fellow status with the Animal Behavior Society.

Dr. Klaus Hopster received his DVM degree from the Hannover School of Veterinary Medicine in Germany in 2006, follwed by a rotating internship at the school's Equine Hospital. He completed a doctorate program in 2007 with a thesis entitled “Open-Lung-Concept ventilation during general anesthesia of the horse and its influence on the early post-operative period”. In 2011, Klaus earned his ECVCAA diplomate status with a residency program in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Afterwards, Klaus was the Senior Lecturer in Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Critical Care at the Hannover School of Veterinary Medicine's Equine Hospital until his departure to the University of Pennsylvania in 2016.

Over the past 10 years Klaus’ research activities have focused on lung function under general anesthesia and the recovery of horses from general anesthesia. Before leaving the Hannover School of Veterinary Medicine he completed numerous investigations in large animal anesthesia culminating in his habilitation (equivalent to Ph.D.) thesis. He has published numerous other original scientific and reviews articles, book chapters, abstracts, and proceedings in the field of veterinary anesthesiology and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and seminars. Klaus is member of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA), the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA) and the Anesthesia, Intensive & Emergency Care, and Pain Management (VAINS) section of the German Veterinary Association (DVG).

Dr. JoAnn Slack is Associate Professor of Cardiology/Ultrasound at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center and the Section Chief of Large Animal Imaging. She has participated in the ultrasound and cardiology training of over 100 large animal internal medicine, radiology, cardiology, surgery, field service and sports medicine residents as well as interns and cardiology fellows. Her clinical interests include all aspects of equine, bovine and caprine cardiology with a focus on cardiac arrhythmias as well as thoracic and abdominal sonography.  Her primary research interests include equine cardiology, cardiac biomarkers, myocardial injury in the critically ill patient, cardiac arrhythmias in the athlete, cardiac monitoring under anesthesia, and moral distress in veterinary medicine. She is the Chair of the New Bolton Center Ethics Committee.

Dr. Kavita Shroff is a 2021 graduate from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a Large Animal Rotating Hospital Internship at the University of Georgia, followed by a Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency at New Bolton Center. She is currently a second-year PhD student at the Perelman School of Medicine in the Guerraty lab. Her research focuses on the role of β-adrenergic signaling in coronary microvascular disease. Following completion of her PhD, she plans to pursue a career leveraging cardiovascular biology research to advance our understanding of large animal cardiac pathophysiology. 

After receiving her VMD, Kate spent two years in private practice and went on to complete a fellowship in Large Animal Cardiology and Ultrasound at New Bolton Center. She founded the large animal ultrasound service at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, spending 19 years there as clinical faculty prior to returning to the Large Animal Cardiology and Ultrasound Service at New Bolton Center in 2022. For several years she also offered ambulatory ultrasound consulting service in New England, working with referring veterinarians in the field. Dr. Chope is boarded in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has lectured and taught wet-labs on equine ultrasound at national and international conferences and has contributed to several clinical articles in peer-reviewed veterinary journals. Kate is a lifelong horse owner and competitor, having successfully shown through the Grand Prix level in show jumping. 

Francisco O. Conrado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He received his veterinary degree and initial clinical pathology training in Brazil and completed additional residency training in clinical pathology at the University of Florida. He is a board-certified veterinary clinical pathologist, serves as Residency Coordinator for the Clinical Pathology Residency Program, and directs the second-year Foundational Clinical Pathology course at Tufts. His clinical and research interests include diagnostic cytology and hematology, the clinical pathology of exotic and wildlife species, interpretation of laboratory data, and the development and validation of emerging diagnostic technologies. Dr. Conrado also chairs the Technology and Innovations Committee of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP), where he promotes advances in digital pathology and diagnostic innovation.

Dr. Nikki Scherrer received a bachelor’s degree at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and attended Purdue University for her doctorate in veterinary medicine. After graduation she started an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and then a second rotating internship at University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. This experience opened the door into an ophthalmology residency at New Bolton Center followed by a faculty position. She became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2019.