DVM Program

Harrah's Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center
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May 17-18, 2025
Jeffrey Applegate
DVM, DACZM
Saturday, May 17
Exotics
Sponsored by:
Lisa Barber
DVM, DACVIM-Oncology
Saturday, May 17
Oncology
Sponsored by:
Alexandra Crooks
VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Sunday, May 18
Cardiology
Sponsored by:

Alexandra (Alex) Crooks, VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology) is an Assistant Professor of Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania She obtained her VMD in 2016 from the University of Pennsylvania. She stayed at the University of Pennsylvania to perform a small animal rotating internship followed by a residency in cardiology, which she completed in July 2020. After working in privative practice for 2 years, she returned to the University of Pennsylvania as a cardiology lecturer prior to beginning her faculty appointment. Her research interests include utility of cardiac biomarkers and management of congestive heart failure. She is also interested in diagnosis and treatment of canine myocardial disease, particularly arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. She lives with her husband (a human cardiologist), 6 month old son and Lab Pit mix. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking in the Wissahickon, indoor cycling, and exploring new restaurants in Philadelphia.

Mark Epstein
Mark E. Epstein
DVM, Dipl. ABVP (C/F), DVPP
Saturday and Sunday , May 17-18
Anesthesia/Pain Management
Sponsored by:

Dr. Epstein is the Senior Partner and Medical Director of TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals, a small group of AAHA-accredited practices in the Charlotte & Gastonia NC.  He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline) and is a past-president of ABVP.  He recognized as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and is a past-president of IVAPM; he is currently President of the IVAPM Research & Scholarship Foundation.    Dr. Epstein chaired the AAHA Senior Care Guidelines Task Force and co-Chaired the 2015 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines Task Force.  He is a recipient of the 2022 Viticus Small Animal Educator of the Year Award.

Anna Gelzer
Dr.Med.Vet, PhD, Dipl ACVIM & ECVIM (Cardiology)
Sunday, May 18
Cardiology
Sponsored by:

Anna Gelzer earned her veterinary degree in 1992, followed by a doctorate at the University of Bern, Switzerland in 1994. She pursued a small animal internship at UGA, and a residency in cardiology at Cornell (Dipl ACVIM/ECVIM since 1998). In 2010 she habilitated (PhD) at the University of Bern.   She taught at Cornell, University of Liverpool, and is currently a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In these positions she trained veterinary students and numerous cardiology residents.  She authored over 100 manuscripts, abstracts, and a book on arrhythmias. Her passions are arrhythmias and cardiac electrophysiology and her research efforts have focused on improving arrhythmia diagnosis and management in companion animals, by way of clinical trials and developing novel interventional treatment options using catheter ablation.

Jessie Markovich
TBD
Sunday, May 18
Nutrition
Sponsored by:
Adam Rudinsky
TBD
Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18
Gastrointestinal
Sponsored by:
Nancy Zimmerman
DVM, MS, DACVS
Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18
Surgery
Sponsored by:

Dr. Nancy Zimmerman graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.  She completed a small animal surgery residency at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and accepted a position as an associate DACVS at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in Texas.  Dr. Zimmerman founded the first full-time US specialty surgery locum practice and enjoyed varied adventures working in university veterinary teaching hospitals and private referral centers across North America.  During that time, Nancy discovered her passion for helping others learn and began teaching continuing education courses at regional, national and international venues.  Nancy joined Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine as a founding Faculty member and served in many roles during her 5-year tenure.  Family ties and the beautiful green hills and river valleys of the Alleghenies, lured Nancy to return to her homebase in Pennsylvania.