June 2025 | OneHealth & Community-Based Models for Preparedness
June 16 - 22 2025
Casara Andre
DVM cVMA
Dr. Casara Andre is a Healer consistently motivated by her desire to help all mammals of all species (human and veterinary) repair and sustain their health and wellbeing. A veterinarian by education and training, Dr. Andre’s day-to-day mission is creating a safe-haven and incubator-for-ideas opportunities within medical communities. By leveraging the power of cooperation, creating a supportive community, and encouraging creative solutions, she works to support entrepreneurship among Healers that have a vision for positive change in the world. Dr. Andre is dedicated to providing practical education and harm reduction training to the emerging fields of veterinary cannabis and psychedelic medicines to ensure that veterinary practitioners and animal caregivers have access to science-backed, clinically-applicable, and patient-focused information with these emerging areas of medicine. Dr. Andre firmly believes that scientific curiosity can and will open unexpected, exciting, and hugely beneficial opportunities within this field but also that scientific rigor and scrutiny must never be neglected.
Opening Remarks (Mon - Sun)
Dr. Casara Andre joins the 2025 World Congress on Planetary Health as the event director and content architect. Dr. Andre participates throughout the event as panel moderator, interview facilitator and opens each day with a greeting and intention-setting message for conference attendees. Dr. Andre is excited and proud to assist in bringing this year's content and community-building message to all of our event attendees.
Calming Canine Corner | Live Streaming
During our event week, Care for the Healer practices its disaster support service deployment - the Calming Canine Corner - at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, Colorado. This set of services provides access to therapy canine teams, service animal respite areas, and onsite veterinary first aid. As Dr. Andre serves as the in-room oversight clinician, she joins the World Congress event in a live stream session to allow conference attendees an opportunity to see the response team in action, observe the therapy canine teams in service, and learn about job-specific and field-appropriate medical oversight for Animals as Healers.
Psychedelic Substances in Veterinary Medicine | 2025 Update
Care for the Healer (CFTH) disaster response services - the Calming Canine Corner - are in practice this week in support of the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver this week - Dr. Andre present live from the Denver Convention Center with comments on the state of the psychedelic substance landscape, the intersection with veterinary medicine, and raises awareness of issues that veterinary and animal care practitioners should be aware of in 2025 and the future. Tune in to hear the updates!
Animal Psychological Buddy-Aid (for service and therapy animal teams)
Dr. Casara Andre serves as the clinician-onsite during the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, Colorado. During this live, onsite workshop - Dr. Andre speaks about care to working animals including therapy, service, and emotional support animals, with particular attention to the needs of canine teams adjacent to chaotic and emotionally unstable human environments. Join Dr. Andre and onsite therapy canine team handlers for a workshop on animal care, preventative actions, medical monitoring, and skills to recognize psychological injury or threat of harm in animals adjacent to human psychologic instability or chaotic environments.
Steve Kruzeniski
BSc DVM PgDev OneHealth
Dr. Steven Kruzeniski is a companion animal veterinarian with further education and passion for Planetary Health, Human Support, Indigenous Wisdom, and Psychedelic Assisted Therapies. For over a decade he has been living and working across The Americas, Africa & Asia. He currently resides in the Sacred Valley of Peru. His work combines social veterinary service & educational advocacy for animal welfare; support of veterinary professional wellbeing; and Psychedelic Harm Reduction for both humans and animals.
International Veterinary Community Building: Creating Virtual Spaces for Peer-to-Peer Support.
Care for the Healer is a US based non-profit whose goals are to restore the wellbeing of the world's Healers through compassion, curiosity, and innovation. In this talk, we'll explore one of our ongoing projects of building an international veterinary community through virtual spaces for peer-to-peer support. We'll discuss the project's goals, the platforms used, and the strategies implemented to foster engagement, collaboration, and professional development among veterinarians worldwide. 1. Understand the Importance of Virtual Communities, 2. Identify Key Strategies for Community Building, 3. Apply Best Practices for Virtual Engagement
Animal Safety & Consent in Psychedelic Spaces
While we were expecting to see evidence of the spillover effects of the psychedelic medicine renaissance on non-human animal species - it happened faster than we thought. Either through accidental ingestion or intentional sharing of medicines in hopes of providing support of a pets wellbeing. This coupled with the extra-medicine effects on animals and the planet presents the animal health community many intersections in need of our exploration. Join this discussion for an introduction to psychedelic medicines and how these medicines may intersect with our patients and beyond. How can we as a community advocate for inter-species harm reduction and education with a focus on animal safety and consent in psychedelic spaces? VeterinaryPsy invites you to join this conversation with a curious mind helping to navigate the boundaries of Psychedelics and Veterinary Medicine.
Psychedelic Veterinary Medicine - A Veterinary Clinical Perspective
This session delves into harm reduction strategies specifically within veterinary clinical settings, focusing on the potential impacts of psychedelics on animals as veterinary patients. We explore the impact of psychedelic substances on animals in a clinical setting. This talk covers various psychedelic substances, including amphetamines, MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin, discussing their clinical signs of toxicity, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. We emphasize the importance of understanding these substances' effects on animal health and safety to better manage accidental ingestions and improve veterinary care. This discussion provides animal health professionals with practical guidelines for managing cases of accidental ingestion and ensuring the safety and well-being of animals. Topics: 1. Understanding and managing psychedelic exposure in animals 2. Developing clinical protocols and best practices 3. Training and capacity building for veterinary professionals 4.Educating pet owners and addressing legal and ethical considerations
Psychedelic Veterinary Medicine - Psychedelics & Connection
This discussion will cover the potential benefits of psychedelic use, how it can enhance the human-animal bond, and its impact on our relationship with the natural world. We will explore the fascinating research on how classic psychedelics influence human-animal relations and may promote pro-environmental behavior. Understanding psychedelics as non-specific amplifiers, we will also discuss the potential risks; and as animal health professionals how this may show up in the exam room. Key topics for Week 5 include: 1. Classic Psychedelics and Human-Animal Relations: 2. Lifetime use of psychedelics is linked to reduced speciesism and increased animal solidarity. 3. Ego dissolution, a key psychedelic experience, further reduces speciesism and enhances the desire to help animals. 4. Mechanisms of Change: Psychedelics reduce defense mechanisms that prevent attitude changes, fostering reconnection with animals and breaking down human-animal distinctions. 5. Pro-Environmental Behavior: Psychedelic experiences can change self-construal to include the natural world, leading to more pro-environmental actions. 6. Environmental Virtues: Psychedelics can promote virtues like 'living in place,' which includes respect for nature, humility, and wonder. 7. Nature Relatedness: Psychedelics can significantly increase nature relatedness, enhancing psychological well-being and predicting pro-environmental behaviors. 8. Synergistic Effects with Nature: Nature-based settings enhance the benefits of psychedelic therapy, increasing nature relatedness and psychological benefits. 9. Climate Change Knowledge: Psychedelic use is linked to increased knowledge about climate change, fostering pro-environmental behavior. 10: Psychedelics as non-specific amplifiers: Understanding that psychedelics do not create a guaranteed result in any particular individual, we discussed the potential challenges or risks related to the human-animal and how this could present in the exam room. Classic psychedelics can profoundly influence and change our relationship with animals and nature. Join us as we explore the profound implications of psychedelics on fostering deeper connections with animals and the environment.
Amalia Reeves
L.Ac
Amalia Reeves is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese medicine practitioner, and somatic educator with over 20 years of experience supporting humans—and now animals—through embodied healing. She is the founder of Paws to Heal Together, where she teaches nervous system care through the lens of the human-animal bond. Amalia specializes in somatic practices for caregivers and healing professionals, helping them build resilience, restore regulation, and deepen connection across species. As she completes advanced training in animal acupuncture, she remains dedicated to supporting the humans who care for animals, deepening her commitment to holistic, cross-species healing.
Somatic Groundwork: An Introduction to Autonomic Support for Healing Professionals
This lecture introduces foundational somatic tools to support the autonomic nervous system and acknowledge the impact of chronic stress, fatigue, and burnout in caregiving roles. Designed for healing professionals, it offers simple, body-based practices alongside context for why somatic care matters. Through these practices, participants will learn how regulating their own nervous system supports resilience, connection, and the ability to show up fully in their work. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how tending to their own nervous system impacts the quality of connection and service.
Somatic Grounding (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
Start each day with a brief somatic grounding session designed to help you arrive, settle your nervous system, and reconnect with your body. These gentle practices support resilience, presence, and regulation—offering a steady foundation for engaging with the day's content, whether you're caring for humans, animals, or both. Tues 6/17 - Somatic Grounding: Anchoring Awareness in the Body Wed 6/18 - Somatic Grounding: Touch Points - Self Acupressure for Calm Thurs 6/19 - Somatic Grounding: Co-Regulation w/ your Animal(s)
Resiliency Room Lecture Support
During our event week, Care for the Healer (CFTH) provides support to conference attendees with a quiet breakout room - the Resiliency Room. This space is cared for by the CFTH Compassion Program team and is open for participants that need to step aside from the lecture content, find a quiet moment, or re-regulate themselves throughout the programming. Amalia Reeves offers somatic care, breathwork-based grounding, and peer-to-peer support within the Resiliency Room breakout space. Find out more about CFTH's Resiliency Room here: https://youtu.be/8UKRfr4EXLw
MASTERCLASS | Rooted Resiliency: Somatic Tools for Cultivating Calm in Health Entrepreneurs ($35)
This immersive masterclass offers practical somatic tools to cultivate calm, resilience, and grounded presence in your professional and personal life. Building on the foundations of autonomic awareness, we’ll explore how to apply body-based practices that regulate the nervous system, restore balance, and deepen your capacity to show up — especially in the face of stress, overwhelm, or fatigue. Participants will learn and experience: Simple daily rituals to regulate the nervous system in real time How to recognize your own stress responses and meet them somatically The role of co-regulation — especially relevant when working with animals or clients in distress How somatic tools help sustain your nervous system and your capacity to serve Practices that can be used before client sessions, after emotionally taxing work, or during moments of disconnection This session is ideal for all healing professionals, veterinary teams, and caregivers ready to explore embodied, sustainable practices that nourish both presence and purpose.
Tricia Croasdell
Tricia joined World Animal Protection in 2022 as the UK Country Director, where she has driven innovation in fundraising, a bolder approach to campaigning against corporations and increased connections into the UK Government. She took up the post of Global Chief Executive in July 2024. Before World Animal Protection, Tricia held pivotal roles with global organisations including WWF, where she orchestrated global initiatives for institutional funding. Her career within the UK Civil Service includes working under 4 successive Prime Ministers from Tony Blair to Theresa May, including time as the Downing Street’s Head of Campaigns for David Cameron; Organising and managing all of the communications for the NATO Summit, and as Director of Communications for HM The Queen’s Commonwealth Summit, where she honed her skills in driving impactful policy and communication strategies on a global scale. Educated to Masters Level at University of London, Birkbeck College, Tricia studied International Security and has a great interest in world politics. She was born in Harare, Zimbabwe spent her early childhood living in rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, before emigrating to the UK. Both sides of her family have strong farming connections and some of Tricia’s earliest memories are of spending time helping with farm animals and harvests. She lives with her partner and their pack of dogs in Hertfordshire, UK.
Spotlight on Animal-Aware Policy from Around the World
We're honored to share a community interview with Tricia and Dr. Casara Andre on the role of World Animal Protection in advocating for animal wellbeing, disrupting the systems that compromise that welfare, and giving voice to ways that we as a community can make changes at a global policy level. This conversation touches on global policies such as the marine mammal breeding ban in Canada, 2019 and the pivotal ban of wildlife use within Australia's Fashion Week. Tricia speaks about practicing as a global executive leader and the techniques she employs intentionally to remain grounded, resilient, and effective in her role. Join us for this fascinating conversation.
OfficeHours | Cannabis in Senior Feline Care
Pain control, appetite stimulation, anxiety control, and use in multi-cat households - cannabis derived molecules offer a host of mechanisms by which to support senior felines. Together, members of the VeterinaryCannabis consultation team discussed the use of cannabis medicine to support our senior feline patients, including harm reduction principles, cooperative care training for administration, care with concurrent conditions, and drug interactions. During this discussion the team's medical director, Dr. Gewehr will share his clinical experience with the use of phytocannabinoids in geriatric feline patients. With a special interest in improving the quality of life of aging cats, Dr. Gewehr brings practical insights into how cannabis-based therapies can support the management of chronic pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline in feline medicine.
João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr
Dr. João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr Veterinarian (MV), Master in Veterinary Medicine (2024). Dr. João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr has always felt a deep connection with animals, which inspired him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, where he has made significant contributions in both traditional and cannabis-based veterinary practices. In 2019, Dr. Gewehr traveled to the United States to study under Dr. Andre, founder of Veterinary Cannabis, and completed the Veterinary Cannabis Counselor (VCC) course. After returning to Brazil, he graduated from Santa Catarina’s State College in 2020 and began practicing as a general veterinary clinician in Florianópolis. In 2021, he shifted his focus toward cannabis medicine, launching the course "Médico Veterinário Canabinologista" (MVC – Cannabinologist Veterinary Doctor) in collaboration with RED Medical Cannabis Brazil. That same year, he published the e-book Guia Inicial da Cannabis na Medicina Veterinária (Initial Guide of Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine). Dr. Gewehr completed his Master’s Degree in 2024 at the Federal University of Brazil, with groundbreaking research on the effects of phytocannabinoids in canine anesthesia, which was published in a high-impact international journal. Today, he is the visionary founder of an international educational platform dedicated to teaching the use of phytocannabinoids in veterinary medicine and advancing professional development, with courses available in multiple languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, and English. He currently resides in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, where he attends patients both in person and through online consultations. With over five years of experience in the clinical application of medical cannabis in veterinary medicine, Dr. Gewehr offers individualized, evidence-based care for animals using phytocannabinoid therapies. His practice blends scientific rigor with compassionate care, supporting tutors and professionals who seek innovative and integrative treatment approaches. In the 2025 World Congress on Planetary Health, Dr. Gewehr will share his clinical experience with the use of phytocannabinoids in geriatric feline patients. With a special interest in improving the quality of life of aging cats, Dr. Gewehr brings practical insights into how cannabis-based therapies can support the management of chronic pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline in feline medicine.
Tami Packham
Roadside Animal Advocacy
Community Discussion & Idea Sharing Session
When you see an animal injured by the side of the road… what do you do? Most people look away. Some feel helpless. Roadside and highway-associated injury for non-human animals occur at astonishingly high rates - every day, non-human animals are struck, stranded, or killed along roadsides. Most passersby don’t know what’s safe — or what’s legal. This year, as a community, we are choosing to take action - together. We believe that a prepared, compassionate response can be life-saving, or at least provide an honorable and respectful passing, for animals injured by roadside accidents. As part of our 2025 June event, our community invests time, resources, and problem-solving energy into finding solutions that keep animals safe even at the dangerous interface of human-use roads and animal habitats.
Maddy Walinchus
Madison Greeves
Madison is a dual degree Masters of Public Health (Epidemiology)/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student at Colorado State University. Madison has a particular interest in contagious and zoonotic disease, which developed during her time working as a Wildlife Care Specialist at a wildlife rehabilitation center. In addition to her studies, Madison is involved with the Front Range Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (FRvMRC). She finds educating others about topics such as disaster preparedness, prevention of zoonotic disease, and wildlife conservation incredibly fulfilling. Madison looks forward to the opportunity to connect with fellow veterinarians, veterinary staff, and animal lovers about wildlife roadside advocacy.
David has a B.S. in Computer Science and Mass Communication and guides the organization, develops external relationships and collaborations, fundraises, and works closely with staff and volunteers. Dave also founded and for many years directed Rocky Mountain Animal Defense – a regional animal rights organization that strengthened Colorado's anti-cruelty legislation, produced the country's first video exposing the inherent cruelty of factory farmed egg production, spearheaded the creation of the Prairie Dog Coalition, worked with the citizens of Estes Park to stop a multinational corporation from building a zoo at the east entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, and exposed the Nalge-Nunc corporation (makers of Nalgene water bottles) for their role in developing inhumane restraining devices used in animal testing.
Animal Help Now is a Colorado-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization. Animal Help Now creates state-of-the-art apps in service to animals and the humans who care about them. The organization also educates the public about keeping animals in our communities safe from human threats. The Animal Help Now team is thrilled to participate in this congress, which so closely aligns with our day-to-day efforts and our long-term vision.
David Crawford
Flor Ortiz
DVM VCC
Dr. Flor, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a certified Veterinary Cannabis Counselor (VCC), is deeply committed to promoting health for both animals and humans. Demonstrating her dedication to the well-being of her colleagues, she also serves as a board member for Care for the Healer (CFTH). Dr. Flor’s work focuses on the convergence of veterinary and human medicine, specifically investigating the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis. She is passionate about making complex scientific research accessible and actionable. Notably, she is the lead author of the 2022 human clinical study, “Cannabidiol as a personalized treatment for anxiety: clinical cases in Mexico.” Her career is driven by the same lifelong empathy for animals that inspired her to pursue veterinary medicine. This compassion extends beyond her profession, as she is also a devoted pet parent of a rescue dog.
Bullfighting Ban, Mexico City | Spotlight on Animal-Aware Policy from Around the World
Care for the Healer (CFTH) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration of the world's Healers through curiosity, compassion, and innovation. This group of colleagues envisions a planetary state of health - facilitated by Healers.
Charles Lozow, JD is co-founder and Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Veterinary Cannabis Society (VCS). A Cornell-educated attorney, Charles founded the Right:Ratio brand in 2016 and now serves as CEO of IVMIP LLC, the intellectual-property engine behind Right:Ratio’s cannabinoid tinctures for pets battling cancer, seizures, arthritis, and anxiety. Over nearly a decade he has produced more than 7,000 custom formulations, creating a substantial real-world dataset on veterinary cannabinoid use. Through VCS, Charles drives policy reform, practitioner education, and plans collaborative clinical trials with Colorado State University to advance evidence-based standards. He engages regularly with regulators on animal-focused cannabis rules and resides in Los Angeles with his Golden Retrievers, Gus and Harper.
California Cannabis Policy
Spotlight on Animal-Aware Policy from Around the World
The Veterinary Cannabis Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving animal well-being by advancing research, education, and sensible regulation of cannabinoid therapeutics. We empower veterinary professionals and pet parents with evidence-based guidance while advocating for policies that prioritize animal safety. Why VCS Is Engaging in This Community Event (4 sentences) VCS believes animal welfare must be central to global cannabis policy. By sharing California’s evolving 1 mg-THC-per-package debate, we highlight how thoughtful veterinary involvement can protect pets, inform regulators, and inspire science-driven standards worldwide. Participating in Cultivate Wellbeing’s Congress lets us collaborate with fellow One Health leaders, exchange data, and accelerate harmonized guidelines that ensure safe, accessible cannabinoid options for animals everywhere. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this dialogue.
Pet Help & Rescue - Neighborhood-Based Pet Evacuation
When disasters strike, your neighbors are your best bet to evacuate your animals if you aren’t home. It’s this simple truth that informed the creation of the Pet Help & Rescue app (PHaR). The app was created following the Marshall Fire (Boulder County, CO, December 2021), which claimed the lives of an estimated thousand dogs, cats and other beloved pets. Learning Objective: 1. Find out how it works and why you’ll want it on your phone, whether or not you share your household with animals.
David has a B.S. in Computer Science and Mass Communication and guides the organization, develops external relationships and collaborations, fundraises, and works closely with staff and volunteers. Dave also founded and for many years directed Rocky Mountain Animal Defense – a regional animal rights organization that strengthened Colorado's anti-cruelty legislation, produced the country's first video exposing the inherent cruelty of factory farmed egg production, spearheaded the creation of the Prairie Dog Coalition, worked with the citizens of Estes Park to stop a multinational corporation from building a zoo at the east entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, and exposed the Nalge-Nunc corporation (makers of Nalgene water bottles) for their role in developing inhumane restraining devices used in animal testing.
David Crawford
Anousha Shadrach
Anousha is a UX/UI designer with a background in health science and a strong passion for justice and equity. With over six years of experience designing for marginalized communities, she brings a deep commitment to accessibility and meaningful, real-world impact. At AHNow, Anousha is leading the design of the Pet Help & Rescue (PHaR) app, a digital tool built to foster community and support pet parents during times of crisis. Her focus is on creating an intuitive, inclusive, and mission-driven experience that truly empowers users. She is excited to gather feedback during this testing event to ensure the app meets the real needs of both its users and the animals they care for.
Courtney Rather
RVT, CTMT, A.A.S, VCC
Be Ready, Stay Safe
“Be Ready, Stay Safe” is a two-part educational video series designed to help pet parents prepare for emergencies with confidence and care. Part One covers essential biosecurity supplies for safe and stress-reducing pet evacuations. Part Two focuses on whole-being preparedness, highlighting how to support your pet’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), immune health, and overall safety during times of crisis. This series offers practical, holistic tools to protect your animals - mind, body, and beyond.
Unique Pawtensions - Pet Holistic Wellness & Bodywork is a mobile, in-home service based in Colorado Springs, offering integrative support for pets through therapeutic massage, plant-based therapies, enrichment activities, and veterinary technician (pet nurse) care. Founded in 2021, Courtney built her practice on the belief that true wellness includes both the body and mind - and that our animals deserve compassionate, individualized care. Courtney is participating in this event to share tools and knowledge about staying prepared during pet evacuations, with a focus on biosecurity and whole-being support to reduce stress and protect health during emergencies. It's an important conversation that often gets overlooked in preparedness efforts. In addition to in-home services, they also offer enrichment through customized walks and hikes, as well as an online boutique featuring carefully curated pet wellness supplies. Community members can find Unique Pawtensions at www.uniquepawtensions.com or on social media @uniquepawtensions to learn more or book an in person or virtual session.
Courtney Rather is a dedicated and passionate advocate for animal health and holistic well-being. A Registered Veterinary Technician with over a decade of experience in the veterinary field, she brings a wealth of clinical knowledge combined with a deep commitment to natural healing. She is also a Certified Canine Therapeutic Massage Therapist, Certified Animal Aromatherapy Specialist, and Certified Veterinary Cannabis Counselor, offering a truly integrative approach to animal wellness. In 2021, Courtney founded Unique Pawtensions - Pet Holistic Wellness & Bodywork, a heart-led business focused on helping pets realign their physical and emotional well-being through customized therapeutic services. Her work is rooted in the belief that animals thrive when their bodies and minds are supported in harmony. Through massage therapy, aromatherapy, and endocannabinoid system support, Courtney empowers pet parents with tools to enhance their animal companions’ quality of life. Courtney has proudly called Colorado Springs home since 2001, where she lives with her loving husband, two joyful toddlers, and a small animal family that includes a standard poodle, a shih tzu / havanese mix, a pekingese, and a leopard gecko. Her personal and professional life reflect her lifelong devotion to animals and holistic healing. She is also a proud member of Cultivate Wellbeing, Veterinary Cannabis, and The Preparedness Collective. Courtney continues to expand her knowledge and share her passion through community outreach, education, and personalized wellness sessions that support pets and their human companion.
Erin Meyers with Lady, Mimms, Charcoal, Pepper, Terragon
Community Interview: Backyard Flock Evacuation Practice
Erin Meyers, M.S. L.Ac., owns Wild Blue Acupuncture & Wellness in Lafayette, CO and specializes in orthopedic/sports acupuncture and Neuropuncture. She loves working on musculoskeletal and neurological issues of all kinds, particularly neck and shoulder pain, chronic headaches, TBI/concussion, and PTSD. She also provides acupuncture at Healing Warriors Program in Fort Collins, a non-profit serving veterans and their families. Erin studied acupuncture at Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. She is a member of the Colorado Acupuncture Medical Reserve Corps and serves on the board of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado. Before becoming an acupuncturist, Erin worked as a researcher at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics and has also worked as a personal trainer and pole fitness instructor. In her spare time she likes to hang out with her cats and chickens, pull weeds in the garden, and go dancing.
My name is Erin Meyers and I am an acupuncturist, cat mom, and caretaker of a small flock of backyard chickens. I volunteered my chickens for this drill because it is so important to practice for an emergency, both to keep calm when an actual event happens, and also to help you realize what parts of your plan might not go as expected. (You will see this in the video when the chickens do not actually go into the carrier like I thought they would). My acupuncture practice is in Lafayette, CO and I specialize in sports/orthopedic acupuncture and Neuropuncture. If you are local and would like more information about my practice you can go to the website www.wildblueacupuncture.com, call or text 720-299-3829, or email erin@wildblueacupuncture.com
Responding to Veterinary Workplace Violence
Veterinary medical professionals face the threat of physical and virtual abuse and violence, daily. And yet continue to show up in the face of such threats to serve their patients, clients, and teammates. Tackling the discussion of workplace violence, emergency and conflict management, and team preparedness is challenging. However, when presented in an audience-focused way, a healthy discussion results and action-based plans emerge. This June 21st workshop within our week long conference event aims to facilitate a discussion on how to respond to violence in the veterinary workplace. The event continues to build on our community’s discussion earlier this year, and is motivated by the growing risk of physical harm to health professionals, such as the devastating and violent loss of Dr. Héctor Hernández Cañas. The goal of this community discussion is to support ourselves with information, gain knowledge of how to keep ourselves, team, and patients safe, and continue to serve even in the face of constantly evolving challenges.
Our facilitator, Mike Hemond, brings his 20+ years as a law enforcement officer with assignments in uniform patrol, crime scene processing, major vehicle crash reconstruction, major crimes investigation, fugitive apprehension, and other high-school resource assignments to our community discussion. Mike retired from his first career in 2020, and is currently a criminal investigator focusing on healthcare investigations of abuse, neglect, exploitation and fraud. Mike Hemond currently reside in northern Vermont with his incredibly intelligent and dedicated wife. He works full time in human healthcare investigations, part time as an adjunct professor at a local college, and a few hobbies to keep busy in his spare time.
Mike Hemond
BS (Biology), MS (Human Relations and Organizational Design), GC (Conflict Resolution)
Flor Ortiz
DVM VCC
Dr. Flor, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a certified Veterinary Cannabis Counselor (VCC), is deeply committed to promoting health for both animals and humans. Demonstrating her dedication to the well-being of her colleagues, she also serves as a board member for Care for the Healer (CFTH). Dr. Flor’s work focuses on the convergence of veterinary and human medicine, specifically investigating the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis. She is passionate about making complex scientific research accessible and actionable. Notably, she is the lead author of the 2022 human clinical study, “Cannabidiol as a personalized treatment for anxiety: clinical cases in Mexico.” Her career is driven by the same lifelong empathy for animals that inspired her to pursue veterinary medicine. This compassion extends beyond her profession, as she is also a devoted pet parent of a rescue dog.
Tania Costa
VT, CCRP, CAAP, CMT, CVPM, VCC
Community Interview: Creating Pollinator Waypoints
Tania owns a privately owned clinic in the Toronto area providing rehabilitation as well as various modalities to support dogs recovering from soft tissue injuries, surgery and neurological conditions. Tana has a passion for senior dogs and pain management as well as puppy injury prevention. Over the years I have also provided seminars to various dog sport groups on a regular basis. These seminars include core conditioning, dealing with the senior dog, understanding pain management and keeping your pet dog free of injury. I have been called in to evaluate movement and conformation at sheep herding and agility trials. Further teaching seminars include the STAAR conference in the USA to teach veterinarians, Veterinary Technician’s and physical therapists in hydrotherapy, Senior dogs, and Therapeutic exercise protocols I own three Border Collies, Jake & Ben & Sam and participate in sheep herding. My passion for animals has driven me to continuously learn new techniques that can be used for my patients thus providing a higher level of care.
Community Interview: The Overview Effect, Our Place in the Universe
Dr. Constantine Tsang is a planetary scientist and astronomer having worked on NASA missions exploring our solar system. He served as a Lead Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado, where he specializes in studying atmospheres around other planets. Dr. Tsang earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Oxford, focusing on the analysis of space imagery and spectroscopy from planetary missions and ground based telescopes. His research has contributed to interplantary space missions investigating Venus (Venus Express), the Moon (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter), Mars (Exomars), and Pluto (New Horizons). Beyond his research, Dr. Tsang has participated in eight NASA-funded microgravity parabolic flight campaigns, accumulating over two hours of weightlessness. He has also conducted fieldwork in remote locations such as the Arctic, Antarctica, Patagonia, South Africa, and Senegal, including expeditions to collect meteorites in Antarctica. His work has been featured in documentaries and talks for TEDx, the BBC, NOVA, and the Science Channel. He has an asteroid named after him: Main-belt Asteroid Name 195191 Constantinetsang (2002 CC281) and consulted for Northrop Grumman and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. He holds pilot and scuba licenses.