General Meeting Speakers - SUNDAY
OCTOBER 18, 2026
Dr. Nicole Bertolini is an emergency veterinarian and Lead ER Doctor at Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Katy, Texas. She graduated from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 and has been practicing at VEG Katy since October 2021. She has a strong passion for emergency and critical care medicine, as well as teaching and mentorship within the veterinary profession. In her leadership role, Dr. Bertolini works closely with veterinarians, interns, and veterinary students, with a particular focus on developing clinical confidence and practical decision-making in the ER. She enjoys the fast-paced, collaborative nature of emergency medicine and is passionate about providing high-quality, compassionate care to both patients and their families.
Katie Freeman graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022 and started her career as a new ER doctor with Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in June of that year. She has been practicing at VEG in Katy, TX ever since.
Katie was honored to receive the VEG Scholarship in 2021, which covered the cost of her fourth year of veterinary school. She has a particular passion for critical care medicine and loves the challenge of managing complex and critically ill patients
Outside of work Katie loves to spend her time traveling and accumulating brown tabby dumpster cats.
Cathay Wu, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (Cardiology), is a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist at MedVet Houston Bay Area where she has been a part of the team since 2023.
Dr. Wu attended Duke University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then attended the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine where she earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Following veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating internship at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then completed a cardiology internship and residency at MedVet Columbus.
Dr. Cathay Wu has a special interest in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and degenerative mitral valve disease. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is interacting with patients and the opportunity to observe and influence the human-animal bond.
In her spare time, Dr. Wu enjoys classical music and grew up playing piano and harp. She also enjoys crafting, cheering on Duke University basketball with her husband, and traveling to try new foods.
James Collins is the Co-Founder, President and CFO of Sage Veterinary Imaging since 2009. He has grown the company from one location to three locations in TX. He previously worked at MRI Vets as a COO / CFO. James Collins attended the University of Oregon - Charles H. Lundquist College of Business.
James Collins combines over 30 years in medical imaging, veterinary radiology, and business leadership, with a track record of scaling advanced imaging services and building operational and financial infrastructure to support clinical excellence
Dr. Westbrook graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and returned to Houston to begin her career in small animal general practice in the Atascocita/Humble area.
She started her career in shelter medicine with SPCA and now is expanding access to affordable veterinary care through PetSet’s mobile spay and neuter program and by supporting shelters and nonprofit organizations. She provides high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services through PetSet, her goal is to improve the lives of animals and support the people who care for them.
She has also been an educator for veterinary technicians in VTI and adjunct professor for shelter medicine for veterinary students in TAMU.
She is seen on the TV as a podcaster and active proponent of shelter medicine. Dr. Westbrook combines clinical expertise in surgery and shelter medicine with a strong commitment to veterinary education and animal welfare advocacy, making her a recognized leader in the Houston veterinary community.
She is the face and advocate of shelter medicine in Texas, and we are delighted to have her as a speaker for HCVMA. In her spare time, she is a triathlon athlete winning many competitions.
Dr. Pamela White has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (Radiation Oncology) since 2015. She earned her veterinary degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She then completed a small-animal medicine and surgery internship at the Ontario Veterinary College, followed by a medical oncology internship. She continued her training as a radiation oncology intern at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, then finished a radiation oncology residency at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Since completing her residency, Dr. White has been practicing radiation oncology at a busy oncology practice in Northern Virginia. In those 12 years, Dr. White cared for thousands of oncology patients with various cancer types all the way from initial consultation through treatments and long-term follow-up. Most recently, in 2024 she was named Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Veterinarians. Her clinical interests include the use of stereotactic radiation therapy, tumors of the central nervous system, using radiation to treat benign diseases and multimodality cancer care aimed at preserving quality of life.
Dr. White is excited to join the team at Animal Cancer & Referral Center, bringing her experience in radiation oncology to help pets live better, longer lives. She looks forward to working closely with the team, referring to veterinarians and pet families to provide compassionate, individualized cancer care.
Outside the clinic, Dr. White enjoys spending time with her husband riding motorcycles, exploring new restaurants and spending quality time with their three cats; Floki, Freyja and Red.
Max Banwell, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVS (Small Animal), is a Board-certified Veterinary Surgeon at MedVet Houston Bay Area where he has been a part of the team since 2004.
Dr. Max Banwell attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science. He then earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Following completing his internship, Dr. Banwell completed a Surgery Residency at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Along with being a veterinarian, Dr. Banwell is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing.
Brendan Sullivan, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, is the local Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Veterinarian for the Southeast Texas region. Dr. Sullivan completed his MPH at UCLA before graduating from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. He worked in small animal private practice and shelter settings before transitioning to a position in veterinary public health. In 2024, Dr. Sullivan became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. His professional interests include rabies, vector-borne zoonoses, such as West Nile virus and leishmaniasis, and implementation of the One Health concept. In his free time Dr. Sullivan enjoys traveling and overindulging his rescue pup.
General Meeting Speakers - SUNDAY
MAY 3rd, 2026
Tifini Batts, DVM, MSPH, DACVIM (SAIM)
Updates on Diagnostics and Treatment in Internal Medicine
Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist
Tifini Batts, DVM, MSPH, DACVIM (SAIM) is a Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist. She joined the MedVet Houston Bay Area team in 2023.
Dr. Batts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry, with a concentration in Biochemistry, from Kalamazoo College. She went on to complete a Master of Science degree in Public Health at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Batts received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then completed a rotating medicine and surgery internship at BluePearl Pet Hospital. This was followed by a second internal medicine internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. In addition, Dr. Batts completed an internal medicine residency at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Tifini Batts has a special interest in infectious diseases because they are one of the few curative conditions in internal medicine. She enjoys using her public health background to isolate social determinants of health and how they impact health outcomes. This unique insight aids Dr. Batts in developing creative, equitable solutions for her patients.
When away from the hospital, Dr. Batts enjoys finding new hobbies through Groupon. Some of her favorite activities have included skydiving, horseback riding, and kickboxing.
About Veterinary Opioids
Carly Patterson, DVM, DACVIM (SA)
Dr. Carly Patterson is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP) at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and has a special interest in clinical pharmacology. She teaches pharmacology to second-year students in the professional veterinary curriculum.
Amy Savarino, PharmD, FSVHP, DICVP
Dr. Amy Savarino is the chief pharmacist at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). She is a diplomate of the International College of Veterinary Pharmacy and a fellow and treasurer of the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists. Dr. Savarino has worked in the VMTH pharmacy for 11 years and has been the chief pharmacist since 2018. She serves as director for the Texas A&M Veterinary Pharmacy Residency Program.
Nicole Martell-Moran, DVM, MPH, ABVP (Feline Practice)
Mission Possible - Beating FIP
Dr. Moran graduated from Central Michigan University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Chemistry minor. She then went on to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009 while simultaneously earning a Master's degree in Veterinary Public Health through the University of Minnesota. Dr. Moran is an ABVP boarded feline practice specialist and has received specialized training through Colorado State University for feline endoscopy. She is an active member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, International Society of Feline Medicine, the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and is an active participant with the Paw Project serving as a Texas State Director. She has a special interest in gastroenterology, endoscopy, pain management, and endocrinology.
Dr. Moran has had research publications in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and continues to participate in clinical research to advance the field of feline medicine. She grew up in Northeastern Michigan and practiced small animal and feline-only medicine in the Indianapolis area from 2009-2017 then practicing with FMC since 2017. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, genealogy research, traveling, and spoiling her cats.
Chris Jones, DVM, DACVIM
Some New (and Old) thoughts on Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease
Dr. Chris Jones received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M University in 1990. He then joined a private practice in El Paso, Texas where he worked for seven years before deciding to pursue a career in internal medicine. Dr. Jones completed a one-year internship followed by a three-year residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Jones became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2001 and that same year joined the internal medicine department at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, TX. In 2020, Dr. Jones transferred to MissionVet Specialty and Emergency in San Antonio and is now returning to Houston at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists NASA Parkway.
Dr. Jones is an active member of TVMA, including a member and previous chairman of both the continuing education and specialty committees at TVMA. He is also an active member of the congressional advocacy program at AVMA. Dr. Jones has a special interest in endocrinology and gastroenterology. He enjoys exploring the hill country, listening to live music, going to the theater, and spending quality time with his family.
Dr. Cynthia Ward, VMD, PhD, DACVIM
Caring for the Diabetic Cat - Beyond Insulin Therapy
Dr. Ward received her VMD and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She was on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania until 2005, when she moved to the University of Georgia, where she is currently a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine. Dr. Ward has an active research program in clinical and basic endocrinology, has authored numerous journal articles, book chapters, and research abstracts, and has been honored by receiving numerous teaching awards, including the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Teaching Award, the Norden/Pfizer Distinguished Teaching Award (twice), and the National SCAVMA Teaching Award. Dr. Ward is also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (SAIM).
General Meetings Speakers - MARCH 2026
HCVMA is excited to announce our next VIRTUAL speaker on March 12th, 2026 - “Rising to Meet New Parasite Challenges”
Dr. Susan Little DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)
Dr. Susan Little is a veterinary parasitology educator, researcher, and scholar recognized internationally as a leader in parasitology with particular expertise in zoonotic parasites, arthropods, and vector-borne infections. After earning a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, a DVM from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in veterinary parasitology from the University of Georgia, she served three decades in academia, teaching parasitology to veterinary and graduate students at the University of Georgia and Oklahoma State University.
Register: Webinar Registration - Zoom
General Meetings Speakers - FEB 2026
HCVMA is excited to announce our next speaker on February 12th, 2026
Dr. Robin Robinett DVM CVC, CVA, CERT
Dr. Robin Robinett graduated in 1989 from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She has over 20 years of experience in veterinary chiropractic medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicine.
She started a mobile practice in veterinary chiropractic in 1997. She received her certification by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in September 1996. She took the Chi Institute mixed animal acupuncture course in 2007 and received her certification in February 2009. She has also taken the Chi Institute's Chinese Food Therapy course and is currently taking the Chinese herbal medicine certification course online.
Dr. Robinett's new clinic Veterinary Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Clinic, PC. opened in October 2008 and is the culmination of her long-time goals and dreams. With the new equipment and added therapeutic modalities, she can now offer more help for her patients and clients.
Dr. Robinett is certified in Equine Rehabilitation. She will also be working towards her goal of becoming a Board-Certified specialist in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, a newly recognized specialty in veterinary medicine.
General Meetings Speakers - JAN 2026
HCVMA is excited to announce our next speaker in January 2026
Dr. Michael Rossi, DVM, MNS
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology
Chair, Communication Committee, World Association for Veterinary Dermatology
Dr. Michael Rossi has over 15 years of experience in veterinary dermatology. He performed research at the Tulane National Primate Research Center prior to obtaining his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and Master's degree in equine allergic airway disease from Louisiana State University. After completing a 3-year veterinary dermatology internship and residency with North Carolina State University and the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado, he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. He is Director of Research and Clinical Studies at Coastal Veterinary Dermatology & Ear Clinic in Houston, Texas. He remains active in research while in a clinical setting and has been on the advisory board for both veterinary industrial and non-profit organizations. He is currently a committee chair for the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology.
Dr. Rossi has authored/co-authored several articles published in peer-reviewed journals and has lectured on veterinary dermatology both nationally and internationally. He has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of the skin, nose, coat, ears and nails in animals and works closely with local zoological gardens and wildlife preserves.
Location
Maggiano's Little Italy
2019 S Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
Ph. 713.961.2700
Thursdays
Social with Full Meal served at 6:30p.m. Speaker presents at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays
Check-in at 7:30 a.m.
Morning Speaker at 8:00 a.m.
Lunch is served at 12:00
Afternoon Speaker Presentation at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00pm