Camie Heleski received her Ph.D. in Animal Science with an emphasis in equine behavior and welfare (from Michigan State University); her M.S. was also in Animal Science, with an emphasis in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She worked at Michigan State University for 25 years as Coordinator of their Horse Management Program. In 2016, she began teaching at the University of Kentucky in the Equine Science and Management program, where she teaches Equine Industry Issues, co-teaches the Equine Senior Capstone course, and also teaches the multi-species Animal Behavior & Welfare class.

Her applied research interests revolve around equine behavior and welfare, horse-human interactions, sport horse welfare issues and working equids in developing regions of the world. She has been actively involved with the International Society for Equitation Science as a Council member and Honorary Fellow.  One of her recent publications was a co-authored piece in the journal of Sustainability: Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare through the Lens of ‘Social License to Operate' — With an Emphasis on a U.S. Perspective.

Dr. Heleski was fortunate to grow up on an Arabian horse farm where she helped her family with training, showing, breeding and managing horses. She has recently completed a role on the FEI’s Commission for Equine Ethics and Wellbeing, which is largely related to social license to operate.

Dr. Garrett is a shareholder and director of diagnostic imaging at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., and the 2024 president of the AAEP. A 2003 graduate of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Garrett completed a pair of internships at Rood & Riddle before remaining with the practice as an associate. She became a shareholder in 2018. Dr. Garrett previously served on the AAEP board of directors from 2015–2017, and is a past chair of both the Educational Programs Committee and Member Engagement Committee.

Dr. Turner is a partner in Turner Wilson Equine Consulting in Stillwater, Minn., and AAEP president-elect. He retired from private practice in December 2023 after concentrating exclusively on equine sports medicine, lameness and surgery at his Turner Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Turner received his veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 1978, and he spent 23 years in academia before entering private practice in 2004. He previously served on the board of directors from 2017–2019, as chair of the Farrier Liaison Committee and as a member of several other committees.

Dr. Loppnow is an equine surgery resident at Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics in Salinas, Calif. After receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Loppnow served an internship at Anoka Equine and stayed on as an associate for three more years. He completed a large animal rotating internship at Iowa State University in 2021–2022 before accepting his current position. Dr. Loppnow serves on the AAEP’s Member Engagement Committee.

Dr. Debbie Spike-Pierce is a 1993 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A third-generation veterinarian, she started at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., in 1994 and took on the role of practice president and CEO in 2018, shortly after completing her MBA. Dr. Spike-Pierce has been involved in the AAEP throughout her career through service on committees and the board of directors. 

Kevin Balcirak brings over 35 years of experience in health and wellness, founding Body Structure in 1997. Under his leadership, the facility has become a trusted partner of physicians and allied health professionals. With a credentialed team of 40, they’ve helped thousands of individuals overcome challenges and achieve lasting results.

A native of Katy, Texas, Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and a master’s from the University of Louisville as well as a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontological Studies.

Dr. Dale Kelley is an assistant professor of theriogenology at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Florida in 2017, Dr. Kelley completed an internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. followed by an equine theriogenology residency at Texas A&M University. He joined the faculty at Oklahoma State in 2020 and became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 2022. Dr. Kelley is funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, examining the use of gallium nitrate to treat bacteria endometritis in mares.

Dr. Martinez is a field care veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., where he completed an ambulatory internship after receiving his veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Martinez chairs both the Student Programs Group within the AAEP’s Scientific Review and Editorial Committee as well as the AAEP’s Foreign Veterinary Graduates Task Force.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Dr. Elliott graduated from the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science in 2007. He is a board-certified specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation who moved to the U.S. in 2022 and is based at Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, Fla.

Dr. Quesada is a final-year resident in equine internal medicine at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Quesada grew up in the Canary Islands and received his veterinary degree in Spain. He completed a residency in theriogenology in Vienna, Austria, which led to his working in camel reproduction in Dubai, and an equine internship at Liverpool University. He hopes next to complete a residency in equine ophthalmology.

Dr. Rodriguez was born and raised in Colombia, and he attended the University of Tolima from 2013-2019. Shortly after graduation, Dr. Rodriguez moved to the U.S. and worked as a vet tech at a practice in Ocala, Fla. He completed the ECFVG program in November 2023 and is currently in a large animal rotating internship at Iowa State University with an end goal of becoming an equine surgeon.

Dr. Silva is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and received her veterinary degree in 2013 from the University of Franca. She interned for three years at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Stephenville, Texas, and completed a subsequent internship at Weems and Stephens Equine Hospital in Aubrey, Texas. Silva returned to Brazil in 2019 and worked as an equine field veterinarian in the country before returning to the U.S. in 2023 as a clinical veterinary instructor at North Carolina State University, where she helps run the equine emergency field service.

Dr. Chelsea Folmar is a large animal internal medicine resident at the University of Georgia. She is originally from Pennsylvania and has worked in the horse industry in Kentucky, Texas, and Florida prior to starting her residency.  Coming from a rural background, she was a member of her community's volunteer fire company and has seen first hand the importance of disaster preparedness and response.  

Dr. Elizabeth Gorrell is an associate veterinarian at Grand Strand Equine in South Carolina. She was foaled in Kentucky where  and lived there most of her life. She attended St. George’s University and Cornell University for her veterinary education. After finishing her internship at Equine Reproduction Concepts she started her current position at Grand Strand Equine. Her areas of interest include reproduction, medicine, and client education. She currently serves as the chair of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Horse Owner Education Committee and a member of the Foundation of the Horse Disaster Relief Committee. She is involved in the community by being an advisor for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and the pre-vet club at Coastal Carolina and on the board of the Grand Strand Alumni Association. She has three cats; Penelope, Ophelia, and Cleo who keep her life interesting. When not working she enjoys paddle boarding, gardening, reading, and hiking.

Dr. Devine is the associate dean for Student Affairs and Admissions at the Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University. A graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she completed an equine surgery and sports medicine-focused internship at a private practice in Oklahoma followed by an equine surgery residency at Kansas State University. After her residency, Dr. Devine joined the faculty at KSU as a clinical assistant professor while she passed the American College of Veterinary Surgeons board certification exam. She returned to private practice outside of Seattle where she focused on sports medicine and surgery. However, she missed interacting with veterinary students and joined the LMU faculty in 2020 as an assistant professor of large animal surgery. Dr. Devine is a member of the AAEP Wellness Committee.

Dr. Pulliam serves as Director of Professional Life Skills for the Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University where he focuses on student development in communications, professional identity, business acumen and entrepreneurship. Dr. Pulliam is a 2008 Ross University graduate, completing his clinical year at Texas A&M. He received his MBA from LMU in 2021. He began his career in equine practice in Fort Worth, Texas. From there, he transitioned into small animal practice and management over multiple hospitals in multiple states before moving into academia and joining the faculty at LMU in 2017. Dr. Pulliam and his family enjoy most things outdoors with their horses.

Dr. Gosselin is a partner at Millbrook Equine in Millbrook, N.Y.  A 2006 graduate of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she grew up on a thoroughbred breeding farm in Buckley, Wash. She also holds a BA in neuroscience from Smith College.  Prior to joining Millbrook in 2011, Dr. Gosselin opened a successful solo equine ambulatory practice in Texas, and acted as a regulatory veterinarian at Lone Star Park. Dr. Gosselin helped shape Cavalcade Management and Education with Rhinebeck Equine and the Equine Clinic at Oakencroft and is on the board of EPIC. 

Stacey, a graduate of Penn State University and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a one-year internship at B.W. Furlong and Associates in New Jersey. Her training focused on sports medicine, internal medicine and general ambulatory practice. She subsequently spent an intensive six months in Ocala, Florida expanding her experience in the lameness field as an associate with Furlong and Associates. Dr. Cordivano has performed the duties of treating veterinarian at numerous three day events and horse shows. She also served as a state veterinarian at a Standardbred harness racing track in Chester, Pennsylvania for three years. She founded Clay Creek Equine Veterinary Services in 2010 and expanded to a two-doctor practice in 2021. In 2011, Dr. Cordivano completed an intense course focusing on animal chiropractic techniques at the Options for Animals Chiropractic School in Kansas and gained her IVCA certification. She has been excited to see the excellent results of adding the chiropractic knowledge into the rest of her general practice. Her interests include performance issues in the sport horse, alternative medicine and emergency medicine. She is an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and now serves on the Wellness Committee. On a personal note, Stacey enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben and their sons, Carter and Asher. Sharing in the farm fun is their dog, Gigi, the farm cat, Cami, their two goats and two slightly chubby ponies. Dr. Stacey also enjoys hiking and trail riding. You will generally find her listening to podcasts on the way to her next appointment!

Dr. Debbie Spike-Pierce is a 1993 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A third-generation veterinarian, she started at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., in 1994 and took on the role of practice president and CEO in 2018, shortly after completing her MBA. Dr. Spike-Pierce has been involved in the AAEP throughout her career through service on committees and the board of directors. 

Andrew Langdon of Peachtree City, Ga., is a financial planner and Principal at VetWorth, a fee-only financial planning firm dedicated to serving the unique needs of veterinarians and their families. Andrew is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CERTIFIED Student Loan Professional™ and Enrolled Agent with the IRS, with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning field.