AAEP Virtual Wednesday Round Table 2021: Laminitis

Dr. Raul Bras grew up in Puerto Rico where he showed and bred Paso Fino horses.  He finished his undergraduate at Louisiana State University with a bachelor's in Animal Science. He graduated from Ross University Veterinary School in 2005 and completed his clinical year at Auburn University. In 2005, Dr. Bras completed a surgery internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, the following year Dr. Bras stayed on as an Associate Veterinarian in the Podiatry Department of Rood & Riddle.  Dr. Bras completed the farrier program at Cornell University in 2007 and in 2010 became a Certified Journeyman Farrier of the American Farriers Association. In 2012, he became a shareholder at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. In addition to providing his expertise in equine podiatry in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Bras currently travels all over the states and internationally to provide his expertise and knowledge as a worldwide leader in Equine Podiatry. He is devoted for the better of the vet-farrier relationship and an active participant within all associations in the industry such as the AAEP, NEAEP, AAPF, AFA, and many others.  In 2015, Dr. Bras was recognized by his peers for his efforts in the industry and inducted into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame. Dr. Bras is passionate for his profession and the well-being of the horse, but most importantly he is fully dedicated and devoted to his family. 

Travis Burns is an Associate Professor of Practice in the department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. He has served the American Farrier’s Association in the past as President, regional director, chairman of the education committee, and tester. He currently serves as an examiner for the association’s certification program. Since becoming a faculty member at the VMCVM he has given more than 130 presentations to professional and lay groups nationally and internationally. His clinical and research interests include laminar morphology and hoof crack repair materials.

Jaret began a performance horseshoeing practice in Vermont in 2003 after graduating from University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.  Over the years, his farrier practice evolved into a mix of therapeutic farriery and English sport horses around New England and New York.  Through his work, Jaret began to work with well-known equine podiatry veterinarians such as Dr. Ric Redden, and Dr. Sammy Pittman.  After many years as a farrier, he made the decision to return to academia to pursue his veterinary degree with a focus on equine podiatry.  Jaret attended Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine while balancing his farrier business.  Upon graduation, he incorporated his veterinary degree with his therapeutic farrier business to better serve the clients and horses.  He currently travels throughout most of the eastern US on a normal basis with routine stops in New York, Florida, and Kentucky, and splitting much of his time between Vermont and Texas.  When he is unable to work directly with the cases he is available for virtual consultations.  In his free time Jaret enjoys spending time with his dogs and working on his many unfinished automotive projects.

Andrew van Eps BVSc., PhD., MACVSc., DACVIM Andrew graduated from the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science in Australia, His PhD studies focused on the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the development of laminitis. Andrew trained as a large animal internal medicine specialist at University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center and returned there in 2017 as the Dean W. Richardson Endowed Chair of Equine Disease Research.  Andrew's research goal is to identify the key mechanisms that lead to different forms of laminitis in order to develop effective strategies for prevention.