He occupies his remaining time writing book chapters and is an award-winning international lecturer.
He enjoys teaching and serves on many advisory boards and is a key opinion leader for multiple pharmaceutical/device companies.
He is the co-founder of the Veterinary Cannabinoid Academy and COO for the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds. He was also a column coordinator for one of Nature’s journals and was the primary editor for a textbook on cannabis therapy published by Springer Nature.
Victoria Elam, CVT, VTS-LAM
Victoria is a Research Specialist in Ned Kalin’s Lab at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health-Psychiatry Department and has worked as a veterinary technician for over 40 years in a variety of positions such as the military, private practice, consulting, academia and research. Since 2003, she has worked with non-human primates, providing surgical/imaging anesthesia support and behavioral coding. Victoria graduated in 1978 from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Washington D.C., serving 4 years in the military as an AHT where she was in charge of the military working dog program, calvary horse health, wildlife rehabilitation and also clinical duties. In 1988 she became a CVT in the state of Wisconsin where she served as the President of the Wisconsin VTA in 2001. As WVTA President, she was responsible for representing the organization to persuade the state legislature the need to institute continuing education requirements for CVT’s to maintain their licenses. Victoria traveled to China several times from 2007-2010 providing training and consultation in non-human primate anesthesia on a collaboration project for Parkinson’s desease. She is one of the founding members of The Society of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians (SLAVT) where she held the office of secretary. Victoria was also part of the organizing committee for The Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (ALAVTN), where she served as a member at large, President Elect and currently is serving as the President and Webmaster.
Summer Boyd, MS, RVT, VTS-LAM, RLATG
Summer is currently the IACUC Coordinator at the University of Houston in Houston, TX. She has over 21 years in the veterinary field, with 17 of those years within laboratory animal medicine. Her experience ranges from clinical medicine, training/education, and research compliance. Summer graduated from Morehead State University with her AAS in Veterinary Technology, moved on to Purdue University, where she graduated with her BS in Veterinary Technology and her MS in Agricultural Education. She is a Midwest girl at heart, as she is from Northern Indiana. Summer is involved with AALAS, LAWTE, SLAVT and is a graduate of ILAM.
Beth Skiles, BS, RVT, RLATG, VTS-LAM
Beth graduated first with a BS in biology and went back to school to get her AS in Veterinary Technology, both from Purdue University. She worked in a specialty hospital for 2 years before moving on to become staff at Indiana University School of Medicine as an Animal Health Technician working with mice and rats.
Beth has been a member of the ALAVTN Finance/Treasury committee and is now not only a mentor for the Academy but also a great speaker for Vet Tech programs.
She is active in several organizations including ALAVTN, SLAVT, NAVTA, AALAS Indiana Branch, IVTA, AALAS OLC.
Madi Wheaton, BS, LVMT, LVT, RLATG, VTS-LAM
Madi was a Senior Veterinary Technician at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She trained research and animal care personnel in handling techniques and sterile procedures in addition to caring for laboratory animals with a small team of technicians. She has presented at LAWTE and AALAS as a public speaker and assisted VUMC vet residents with research projects and posters. Madi worked with a wide variety of lab animal species to include small rodents, dogs, pigs, sheep, non-human primates, and even frogs. In her free time, she enjoyed positive reinforcement training of the larger species to increase their quality of care, life, and welfare.
Deborah Calantropio BA, RVT, RLATG, VTS-LAM
Deborah is a Senior Veterinary Technician at Bristol Myers Squibb in Redwood City
California and has been in research for 10 years. She has worked with rodents, dogs,
swine, rabbits and non-human primates. She graduated from San Jose State
University with a BA in Psychology in 2003 and obtained her California veterinary
technician license in 2008 working in private practice and exotic emergency clinics and
a small zoo. Starting in research in 2012 she obtained her LATG and is now pursuing
her Master of Science (MSc) in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law through
the University of Edinburgh. She has presented at both district 8 and NCBAALAS as
well as a panel presentation with the Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) at the
2022 national AALAS. Deborah is currently a member of the Society for Lab Animal
Veterinary Technicians (SLAVT) and the secretary for the California Registered
Veterinary Technicians board (CaRVTA).
Jodi Ternes CVT, RLATG, VTS-LAM
Jodi Ternes CVT, RLATG, VTS-LAM
Jodi graduated from Madison Area Technical College with 2 associates in Veterinary
Technology and Laboratory Animal Technology. She worked 4 years at Covance as a
Neurotoxicology Technician in Madison working with mice and rats. In 2004 Jodi began
working for Abbott as a Veterinary Technician for rodents, ferrets, rabbits, macaques,
and dogs. In 2010 the pharmaceutical business of Abbott became Abbvie where Jodi
has been there for the last 10 years. Among my many job duties she manages the
health for our pharmacokinetic, imaging, and immunology macaque colony. After a lot
of hard work, Jodi earned her VTS in Laboratory Animal Medicine. In 2022 she spoke
with other VTS-LAM technicians in a talked called “Responsibilities, Realities, and
Rollercoasters for the Veterinary Technician in a Nonhuman Primate Facility.
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