2026 Speakers

Dr. Petra Černá, PhD, Dipl.ACVIM, MANZCVS, CertAVP, MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB

Dr. Černá is an ACVIM and ECVIM diplomate in Small Animal Internal Medicine and RCVS Recognized specialist in Feline Medicine. She graduated from the University of Veterinary Sciences in the Czech Republic in 2018 where she also obtained her first PhD in 2023. After completing two internships in the UK, she completed Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Colorado State University, USA in 2023 and her second PhD focusing on feline infectious peritonitis in 2025. Dr. Černá gained the Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the Medicine of Cats. She was also awarded the ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour with Distinction. Dr. Černá has particular interest in feline medicine and is focusing her research on feline infectious diseases and especially FIP and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Patty Lathan, DVM, DACVIM-SAIM

Dr. Patty Lathan is a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University. She earned her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, then completed an internship at Mississippi State University and a residency in small animal internal medicine at Purdue University. Dr. Lathan specializes in endocrinology, specifically adrenal function testing, diabetes mellitus, and the mitigation of side effects of glucocorticoids. She is currently past-president of the Society for Comparative Endocrinology.

Dr. Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD

Dr. Julia Miller is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist who loves all creatures great and small and has had many interests in life! She was an opera major at Indiana University, became a certified farrier after graduation, and then went on to earn her veterinary degree from Cornell University. Initially, she wanted to be an Equine Podiatrist so she completed a large animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia. Her passion for preventative medicine sent her into mixed small and large animal general practice for several years before returning to Cornell to complete her dermatology residency.

She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatologists in 2019 and stayed on at Cornell as an assistant clinical professor in the section of Dermatology where she was awarded the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award. She is now enjoying private practice life surrounded by horses and bourbon in beautiful Louisville KY. Dr. Julia has a special interest in the management of chronic otitis externa, and all things related to large animal skin disease (especially horses).

Dr. Joseph Bruner, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Joseph Bruner received a DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 1992, after which he completed a small animal rotating internship at the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a residency at Purdue University. While working in a specialty practice in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Bruner acquired board certification in small animal internal medicine from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1999 and established the Greater Cincinnati Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services as a regional multispecialty practice serving the veterinary community in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. After a 25-year career in private practice, Dr. Bruner returned to academia to explore his passion for teaching and advanced specialty diagnostics and care. His academic interests are centered on diseases of the respiratory tract and diagnostic medicine. He is a member of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society and lectures internationally on many topics of small animal internal medicine.

Dr. Kate Myrna, DVM, MS, DACVO

Dr. Kate Myrna has a BA from Vassar College and received her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. She completed a 1-year internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and went on to complete a 1-year specialty internship under the mentorship of Dr. Nancy Cottrill in Small Animal Ophthalmology at Angell Animal Medical Center - Western New England. Dr. Myrna then completed a Residency in Comparative Ophthalmology and obtained a Master of Science in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Myrna is interested in comparative ophthalmology, corneal wound healing and ocular analgesia.

Michelle Krasicki-Aune, MBA, BS, CVT, FFCP-V

Michelle's veterinary career began at 15 years old when she worked as a kennel hand in a Chicago-area clinic, working her way up to becoming a on the job trained veterinary technician and then, earning her bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology from North Dakota State University and Certified Veterinary Technician status in 2003. Continuing her education, she earned a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on Veterinary Business from the Minnesota School of Business. She has been a Fear Free Certified Elite professional since 2019 and a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant and Coach since 2020.

Kathryn Carman, MSc, LVT, VTS (Clinical Practice - Canine/Feline)

Kathryn graduated from San Juan College with her AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2015 and her Masters Degree in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing from the University of Glasgow in 2021. She obtained her VTS in Clinical Practice (canine/feline) in 2024.

Kat currently organizes and manages the surgery department at VCA Braelinn Village in Peachtree City, Georgia and supports the technician and assistant supervisors for Atlanta area VCA Hospitals. These jobs combine her love of veterinary medicine and her love of teaching and allow her to nerd out with a wide variety of technicians and assistants, especially on the topics of pain management, anesthesia, wound care, and the growing education and career opportunities for technicians and assistants. In addition to her role as President for the GVTA, Kat serves on the Advisory Council for San Juan College, multiple committees for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice, several Task Forces, and helps to facilitate a Journal Club at her home hospital. Her husband encourages her to have some hobbies outside of veterinary medicine, so she also enjoys traveling, crafting, hiking, reading and writing. She has 2 dogs (Browning and Cricket), and 1 chinchilla (Mr Meesqueaks).

Tami Lind, RVT, VTS (ECC)

Tami Lind is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Purdue University, with over a decade of clinical, supervisory, training, instructional, and publication experience in academic and professional settings. Recognized educator and presenter with strong contributions to curriculum development, technician mentorship, and veterinary clinical education.

Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, LATG, VTS (Dentistry)

Mary received her VTS (Dentistry) in 2006, recertifying in 2025. Her background includes veterinary dental research, practice management and dental technician in general practice. She's currently an adjunct at two veterinary technology programs and the president and founder of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education; teaching dentistry to veterinary teams, using practical and easy to master methods. Mary was named the VMX Speaker of the Year in 2024, NAVTA Veterinary Technician of the Year by NAVTA in 2020, won the AVDT's Excellence in Dentistry Education in 2019. Mary is a textbook author, speaker, and wet lab instructor at numerous state and national conferences.

Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SPHR

With over three decades of experience in the veterinary profession, Heather Prendergast brings a rare combination of clinical know-how, management expertise, and a deep passion for developing thriving teams. Having spent more than 20 years in small animal practice, she understands the daily realities of veterinary teams - and how to lead them toward lasting success.

Heather is the author of two cornerstone texts in the veterinary industry: Practice Management for the Veterinary Team (now in its 4th edition), used in veterinary technology programs across the U.S. Review Questions and Answers for Veterinary Technicians (currently in its 7th edition), a trusted study companion for thousands of VTNE candidates. As the founder of Synergie Veterinary Consulting Group, Heather leads a powerhouse team of credentialed veterinary technicians, CVPMs, DVMs, and talent strategists who specialize in building emotionally intelligent leaders, improving operational efficiency, and transforming veterinary culture from the inside out. When she's not consulting, lecturing, or writing, Heather teaches Practice Management courses with the Appalachian State University Veterinary Technology Program. She also gives back to the profession through leadership and committee roles with NAVTA and VetPartners. Heather recently served as President of the Viticus Group (formerly WVC) and continues her service as Treasurer, further demonstrating her commitment to elevating veterinary medicine at every level.

Kerry Plemmons - Professor of Practice, Daniels College of Business

Kerry Plemmons has 30 years of entrepreneurial experience with success in launching and running small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. and Mexico, and another 20 years as an academic and consultant, University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. As an executive with Starbucks, Plemmons opened stores in the western U.S. and Canada, ran several test-market innovations, and led operations for a couple of hundred stores. Before Starbucks, he partnered in creating the Pour la France! Restaurant chain in three states and Mexico. He also ran a nightclub in Aspen, CO in the 1970's. He is co-founder of Colorado Global Strategists, LLC. Plemmons is most proud of his role as the Treasury for the Board of Directors for the Human Animal Bond Association. Plemmons is a published author with his book, "Juxtapositions: Comparing Mild to Wild Success - Irreverently". Juxtapositions looks at whole organizational success, where a kind and gentle revolution might create a strong cultural focus, when imagination leads to strategies that are implemented because they align with the organizational mission, and the individuals are rewarded and recognized so the imaginative strategy process gets repeated.

Michelle Krasicki-Aune, MBA, BS, CVT, FFCP-V

Michelle's veterinary career began at 15 years old when she worked as a kennel hand in a Chicago-area clinic, working her way up to becoming a on the job trained veterinary technician and then, earning her bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology from North Dakota State University and Certified Veterinary Technician status in 2003. Continuing her education, she earned a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on Veterinary Business from the Minnesota School of Business. She has been a Fear Free Certified Elite professional since 2019 and a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant and Coach since 2020.

Kathryn Carman, MSc, LVT, VTS (Clinical Practice - Canine/Feline)

Kathryn graduated from San Juan College with her AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2015 and her Masters Degree in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing from the University of Glasgow in 2021. She obtained her VTS in Clinical Practice (canine/feline) in 2024.

Kat currently organizes and manages the surgery department at VCA Braelinn Village in Peachtree City, Georgia and supports the technician and assistant supervisors for Atlanta area VCA Hospitals. These jobs combine her love of veterinary medicine and her love of teaching and allow her to nerd out with a wide variety of technicians and assistants, especially on the topics of pain management, anesthesia, wound care, and the growing education and career opportunities for technicians and assistants. In addition to her role as President for the GVTA, Kat serves on the Advisory Council for San Juan College, multiple committees for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice, several Task Forces, and helps to facilitate a Journal Club at her home hospital. Her husband encourages her to have some hobbies outside of veterinary medicine, so she also enjoys traveling, crafting, hiking, reading and writing. She has 2 dogs (Browning and Cricket), and 1 chinchilla (Mr Meesqueaks).

Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SPHR

With over three decades of experience in the veterinary profession, Heather Prendergast brings a rare combination of clinical know-how, management expertise, and a deep passion for developing thriving teams. Having spent more than 20 years in small animal practice, she understands the daily realities of veterinary teams - and how to lead them toward lasting success.

Heather is the author of two cornerstone texts in the veterinary industry: Practice Management for the Veterinary Team (now in its 4th edition), used in veterinary technology programs across the U.S. Review Questions and Answers for Veterinary Technicians (currently in its 7th edition), a trusted study companion for thousands of VTNE candidates. As the founder of Synergie Veterinary Consulting Group, Heather leads a powerhouse team of credentialed veterinary technicians, CVPMs, DVMs, and talent strategists who specialize in building emotionally intelligent leaders, improving operational efficiency, and transforming veterinary culture from the inside out. When she's not consulting, lecturing, or writing, Heather teaches Practice Management courses with the Appalachian State University Veterinary Technology Program. She also gives back to the profession through leadership and committee roles with NAVTA and VetPartners. Heather recently served as President of the Viticus Group (formerly WVC) and continues her service as Treasurer, further demonstrating her commitment to elevating veterinary medicine at every level.