MMPC Learniverse - Shelter Med LIVE from Animal Care Expo (On-Demand)

Jennifer Bennett joined the Koret Shelter Medicine Program as the new Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care in late 2024. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and soon after she began practicing in her hometown regions of rural Northern California. She spent 5 years in small animal, emergency and farm animal medicine before joining Lake County Animal Care & Control as its first Medical Director in 2013. After realizing the life-saving impact that a shelter veterinarian can have on a community, she has remained dedicated to the field of shelter medicine. She has worked with a wide variety of municipal and private organizations, developing shelter medicine and surgery programs, consulting with humane organizations, participating in community outreach clinics, and working with large-scale humane law enforcement seizures and legal cases. Dr. Bennett most recently served as the Medical Director for the City of Seattle from 2017-2022 and the Chief Veterinary Officer for the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County from 2022-2024. She served on the California HOD, the Washington State VMA, and was WSVMA President from 2021-2022, and has been serving on the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee since 2023. Dr. Bennett is passionate about supporting and mentoring shelter veterinarians and students, creating low barrier access to care programs, and identifying and removing bottlenecks in shelter programs to improve capacity for care.

Dr. Sarah Hicks, DVM is a shelter medicine veterinarian, educator, and outreach leader currently serving as Outreach Veterinarian and Clinical Instructor with the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She brings more than a decade of hands on experience spanning frontline shelter care, medical leadership, and academic teaching, with a career grounded in improving animal welfare through practical, evidence based approaches.

Dr. Hicks previously served as Medical Director and Interim Executive Director at Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge, where she led medical operations while supporting organizational change and community centered care. A graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, she has also completed the UW and UC Davis Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Fellowship and holds multiple certifications in Fear Free shelter care, workplace wellbeing, racial equity, facilitation, and mental health first aid.

Her professional interests include capacity for care, infectious disease management, kitten and neonatal care, leveraging veterinary resources in shelter settings, and building sustainable systems that support both animals and people. Dr. Hicks is a published author and frequent national speaker, sharing practical strategies with shelter teams across the country on topics ranging from outbreak management to humane housing and community engagement. She is an active member of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association, and remains deeply passionate about empowering shelter staff with tools that improve outcomes and everyday operations.

Dr. Erica Schumacher (she/her) fell in love with shelter medicine in 2003 when she joined the medical team at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) in Madison, Wisconsin as a certified veterinary technician. Following her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and worked with Dr. Sandra Newbury to create the school's first shelter medicine elective in 2004. Upon graduation in 2008, Dr. Schumacher took a short break from shelter medicine after being accepted for a competitive Wildlife and Conservation Medicine internship at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completing her wildlife internship, Dr. Schumacher sought to find a place where she could pursue both of her veterinary passions- shelter medicine and wildlife. After traveling and working in Arizona, Alaska and Africa, she returned to her roots at DCHS as the Chief Shelter Veterinarian where she oversaw the medical team as well as the shelter's wildlife center for seven years. She particularly enjoyed supervising the clinical training for the UW Shelter Medicine Program interns, residents, and veterinary students. In 2018, Dr. Schumacher joined the UW Shelter Medicine Program as an Outreach Veterinarian. She enjoys using her clinical background in shelter medicine as well as her love of teaching to help other shelters reach their lifesaving potential. When not at work Dr. Schumacher enjoys gardening (outdoor edibles only, she can't keep a houseplant alive to save her life and any flower outdoors better have strong genes and good luck), cooking, nature and spending time with her family and their 3 cats, 2 fish, and 10 chickens (animal numbers subject to change without notice).

Dr. Becca Boronat, MV, CAWA, is a licensed veterinarian in the U.S. and Brazil, and a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator. She also holds certifications as an Animal Control Officer, Animal Cruelty Investigator, and Career Counselor. After completing her veterinary degree in Brazil and clinical training in the UK, she earned U.S. licensure through the AVMA’s ECFVG® program. Since moving to the U.S. in 2012, Dr. Becca has focused her career on shelter medicine and operations. She spent over six years leading statewide shelter outreach initiatives in South Carolina, and in 2023, joined Best Friends Animal Society as a veterinarian with the National Shelter Medicine Program. That same year, she was appointed to the Board of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. With over 20 years of international experience, Dr. Becca brings a data-driven, solution-oriented approach to improving animal welfare. She is a frequent speaker at veterinary and animal welfare conferences and serves as a mentor to emerging professionals. 

Dr. Kate Kuzminski is a veterinarian and co-founder of Ruthless Kindness. Dr. Kuzminski has worked as Field Medical Director with the Humane Society of the United States, Shelter Medicine Director with San Francisco SPCA, and Medical Director with Guide Dogs for the Blind. She is a published veterinary author, has studied veterinary forensics, and received both her DVM and business degree in her native Canada. Dr. Kuzminski is committed to improving the lives of both people and animals, especially the people and animals who are too often forgotten and unable to access services. 

Dr. Ali Lindsay is originally from the Jersey Shore and currently holds a position as a clinical instructor with Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell's Vet College. Ali graduated from Cornell with her DVM in 2018. She then completed a 1 year shelter internship at San Diego Humane Society. Following her internship, she became a staff veterinarian at Emancipet in Austin, TX, providing low cost basic medical care and surgery to the community. In 2022, she moved closer to home after accepting a position as lead veterinarian of Emancipet’s Philadelphia clinic. She joined the team at Cornell in December 2024. Ali’s interests include bridging gaps in access to veterinary care and surgery, and in her time off, she enjoys exploring and spending time with her tripod dog Darla and three cats in Ithaca. 

Dr. Christina V. Tran received her undergraduate degree at University of California, Davis, and her veterinary degree from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has spent the first part of her career in small animal private practice -- as a full-time associate, relief veterinarian, and housecall practice owner. In addition, Dr. Tran has worked in shelter medicine, veterinary telehealth and academia. She served as veterinary technology faculty at Portland Community College (Oregon) and as veterinary technology program director at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. From 2020-2024, Dr. Tran served as founding faculty at University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine as an associate professor of practice and Clinical Relations Lead Veterinarian. She recently served as founding dean of the proposed veterinary school at Hanover College in southern Indiana. In January 2026, Dr. Tran was appointed the inaugural Executive Associate Dean for the proposed DVM program at Roseman University of Health Sciences in Nevada. Dr. Tran is passionate about volunteering and currently serves in multiple veterinary medical organizations including the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (past president and founding board member), World Small Animal Veterinary Association (Standards Steering Committee), Not One More Vet (advisory committee), North American Veterinary Community (board member), Veterinary Virtual Care Association (board member) and AVMA’s Council on Education (site visitor). She is also a member of the editorial board for the Journal of One Health Systems. 

Dr. Bridgid Twomey is a shelter and spay/neuter veterinarian from California. Dr. Twomey obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her VMD (DVM equivalent) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Twomey is an Assistant Professor at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she works at their Spay/Neuter Center located inside of Los Angeles Animal Service's North Central Location. She oversees a fourth year clinical rotation in Shelter Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Twomey is also a contributing consultant for JVR strategies, where she works with a team of experts to help animal welfare organizations with tailored solutions and recommendations to achieve their goals. In her free time, Dr. Twomey does spay/neuter and shelter relief for various LA/Southern CA animal welfare organizations. She also performs improv with Crowbar Comedy.