AAEP Virtual Wednesday Round Table 2021: Ethics: Handling Client Pressure

Dr. Benson is Chief Veterinary Officer for the Stronach Group, with responsibilities for veterinary safety, welfare, and integrity practices and protocols, as well as equine research initiatives for TSG’s 1/ST Racing and training brands including Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, San Luis Rey Downs, Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, Palm Meadows, Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park and Bowie Training Center. From 2013-2019 she was the Executive Director and COO for the RMTC. Dr. Benson earned her veterinary degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and her Juris Doctor (JD) from the William Mitchell College of Law.Dr. Benson is Chief Veterinary Officer for the Stronach Group, with responsibilities for veterinary safety, welfare, and integrity practices and protocols, as well as equine research initiatives for TSG’s 1/ST Racing and training brands including Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, San Luis Rey Downs, Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, Palm Meadows, Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park and Bowie Training Center. From 2013-2019 she was the Executive Director and COO for the RMTC. Dr. Benson earned her veterinary degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and her Juris Doctor (JD) from the William Mitchell College of Law.

Dr. Christakos is a shareholder at Littleton Equine Medical Center in Littleton, Colo., and a member of the AAEP board of directors. Upon receiving her veterinary degree from Colorado State University, Dr. Christakos completed an internship at Littleton Equine where she has remained on staff. Dr. Christakos is a past president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, a member of the AAEP’s Scientific Review and Editorial Committee and has volunteered with AAEP student programming.

Juliea McCall currently works as a solo practitioner focused upon providing chiropractic care. She is a graduate of the Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Pomona, CA, and worked as a primary and emergency care veterinarian in ambulatory practices following a hospital based internship at Peninsula Equine, in Menlo Park, CA. She studied Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy at the Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Sturtevant, WI, and Acupuncture at the Chi Institute in Reddick, FL.

With a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Oregon, she has studied ethical inquiry and moral reasoning, and as a veterinarian has a keen interest in medical ethics.

Dr. Wilhite earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1996 from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1998, he founded Wilhite Equine Veterinary Services, P.C., which is now doing business as Wilhite and Frees Equine Veterinary Services. His is a member of: AAEP; AVMA; MVMA; KCVMA; and the Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practitioners (MAVP).

In his spare time Dr. Wilhite enjoys spending time with his wife, Dana and their two children. Both of his children are very involved in music and band so Dr. Wilhite is a devoted "Band Dad". His 4-legged family includes several horses, a miniature horse named Stanley, two Corgis, and a Terrier mix.