2025 Speakers

Dr. Chamorro received his DVM from the National University of Colombia in 2003. Shortly after graduation, Dr. Chamorro joined a private dairy practice in Bogota, Colombia and practiced dairy production medicine for 4 years. In 2007, Dr. Chamorro moved to the United States for an internship in Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Kansas State University. After finishing his internship in 2008, Dr. Chamorro joined the faculty at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Food Animal Internal Medicine resident. After completing his residency and achieving board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2011, he accepted a position as a Clinical Instructor of food animal medicine and surgery at the Department of Clinical Sciences of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. During this time, Dr. Chamorro completed a PhD program in immune responses to respiratory viruses in cattle. After seven years at Auburn University, Dr. Chamorro accepted a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Livestock Medicine and Field Service at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Dr. Chamorro returned to Auburn in 2019 and rejoined the faculty at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Brent Credille completed his doctorate at the University of Georgia in 2008, an internship in Livestock Medicine & Surgery at Colorado State University in 2009, a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Georgia in 2013, and a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia in 2014.  He is a board-certified Large Animal Internal Medicine Specialist and was a faculty member in and Director of the Food Animal Health & Management Program at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for 11 years prior to taking a position at Durham Veterinary Clinic in Greensboro, GA in October 2024.  Dr Credille has expertise in bovine respiratory disease, as well as management of beef stocker calf health. He also has a particular interest in medical and surgical disorders of livestock and is passionate about helping livestock producers optimize the productivity and profitability of their operations.

Dr. Heins is an associate professor in Beef and Swine Production Medicine at the University of Georgia. A production veterinarian at heart, Dr. Heins also routinely consults concerning pigs of all classes including commercial, exhibition, research, and pet pigs. He received his DVM and Master's of Food Animal Medicine at the University of Georgia and spent 6 years in private practice prior to returning to UGA as a food animal clinician.

Dr. Brigetta Hughes received her DVM from the University of Tennessee and Masters in Avian Medicine from PDRC at the University of Georgia, and is board certified by the American College of Poutry Veterinarians. She has 15 years of commercial poultry field experience in addition to private practice and teaching experience. The past 9 years she has busy in diagnostic lab work seeing many poultry cases every day. She is currently the director of the Mitchem Sparks Diagnostic Lab in Boaz, AL and Affiliated Professor for the Department of Pathobiology at Auburn University. She serves as the vice chair for the Small Flock Committee of the American Association of Avian Pathologists.

Dr. McDaniel grew up on her family farm close to Irwinville, Georgia. After attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for two years; she received a dual major in Animal Science and Biology at the University of Georgia. She then acquired a M.S. in Equine Nutrition from the University of Georgia. After working on a farrow-to-to finish swine operation in Winterville, Georgia, she moved to Auburn University where she received her DVM in 1997. After graduation from veterinary school, she accepted a position at Branch’s Veterinary Clinic in Tifton, Georgia where she practiced mixed animal medicine for 24 years. She also started a large animal ambulatory practice, MCD Veterinary Service, where she provided large animal services to clients on a part time basis from 2020 to 2021. She came on board with the University of Georgia as an associate clinical professor in the Department of Population Health, Food Animal Health and Management Program in November 2021.

Dr. Michael Pesato is originally from Ohio. He completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Mississippi State University then went on to complete an internship and residency with the Section of Field Service at the University of Pennsyvlania’s New Bolton Center. He became board certified with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners with a speciality in Food Animal Practice in 2019. Following his time at Penn Vet, Dr. Pesato spent 3 years on faculty at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. His primary interests include small ruminant practice and food animal education. He is passionate about educating students, colleagues, and clients alike concerning all things small ruminant!

David is a UGA graduate ( BSA - Biological Science and Animal Science, DVM, MS), and then practice general large animal medicine for 2 yrs. He returned to school at Va Tech (Clinical Instructor-Ambulatory) and Texas A&M (Resident–Theriogenology), and UGA (Asst Professor-Ambulatory). He returned to Large Animal Private Practice for 3 years, then moved to Auburn University in 1990. While at AU, David worked in Food Animal Ambulatory, combined General Ambulatory, and Theriogenology/Ambulatory, from 1990 – 2004. From 2004 until 2010, David worked for Fort Dodge / Pfizer Animal Health, and taught large animal nutrition at AU CVM. He returned to AU as Project Veterinarian and later Farm Director/Project Veterinarian for the AU Equine Source Plasma Project (2010-2014), and Director of the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Lab System (2014-2018). He retired from full time work mid 2018. After retiring he worked part time in the Parasitology Section of the D-Lab system, for Several Pharmaceutical Companies (BI, Zoites, Bayer), and taught Parasitology for St Matthews University School of Vet Med. He is a Diplomate of the ACT (1986), Diplomate of the ACVIM- subspecialty Large Animal Nutrition (1992), and Diplomate of the ACVM- Subspecialty Parasitology (2011), holds a MS from UGA in Ruminant Nutrition, MAG from AU in Entomology (fly’s in cows and horses), Certificate for the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Course, PIADL (2015) David has over 600 scientific publications, book chapters, abstracts, proceedings, and extension bulletins. He has 5 Teaching awards , was food animal speaker of the year at NAVC 2 times, and WSVC 3 times, was the 2017 UGA Alumni of the year from Academia, the 2006 AM Mills Award for contributions to Veterinary Medicine from UGA, and the Auburn CVM 2023 El Toro award for contributions to food animal medicine. He was a member of the National Academy of Science/National research Council’s Small Ruminant NRC Committee in 2005-2007. His wife Jayne (Married 1974) have 3 children, 3 children, in laws’, 6 grandchildren, 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 goats, 6 chickens, 3 cows, 1 donkey, and a cat.

Bio coming soon

Dr. Mohammadreza Ehsan earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in August 2013 from Azad University, Garmsar Branch. Following his graduation in 2013, he chose to focus more on the poultry medicine and completed his residency program in poultry diseases at University of Tehran, Iran. He then decided to continue his journey at Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia, where he pursued a PhD with Dr. Naola Ferguson-Noel on Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry. During his PhD program, he received a couple of prestigious awards, including the Reed Rumsey Award (2021) and A.S. Rosenwald Student Poster Award (2020) from the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP). After earning his PhD in August 2021, he worked as a contract avian pathologist at California Animal Health and Food Sciences in Turlock. In 2022, he returned to the Southeast, where he currently serves as a veterinary diagnostic specialist at Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn, AL.

Dr. Hennebelle received her Bachelor of Animal Science Degree at Berry College, her DVM from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) from the University of California Davis. She was appointed as Georgia’s State Veterinarian in July 2021. Dr. Hennebelle oversees the Animal Health Division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture while managing staff veterinarians the state’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program, and animal disease investigations as they arise.

Dr. Nick Brown joined Huvepharma in 2019 where he has spent his time providing technical support and supporting research trials for Huvepharma’s poultry health products after graduating from UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As part of this curriculum, he gained experience with commercial poultry integrators, primary breeders, allied health companies, and diagnostic laboratories. His areas of interest include anticoccidial field research and broiler breeder management.

Maggie was born and raised in Opp, Alabama, home of the world-famous Rattlesnake Rodeo. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science (2013) and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2018) degree from Auburn University. She then spent three years working with Elanco as a poultry technical consultant in the Southeastern US. Understanding the importance of both knowledge and experience, she returned to school (and crossed enemy lines) to strengthen her skills as a poultry veterinarian. She completed the MAM (Master of Avian Medicine) residency at the UGA Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center in December 2022. In August 2023, she earned diplomate status in the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. She currently owns AMT Poultry Health Consulting, LLC where she provides veterinary technical support for the commercial poultry industry. While she is no fan of rattlesnakes, she remains proud to call south Alabama home. She and her husband are the proud parents of two little boys and three rescue dogs.

Dr. Christemberry graduated from College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn in 1985 . He practiced for six years in mixed animal practice and in South Alabama. Dr. Christenberry has worked with USDA, FSIS for four years in meat and poultry inspection. He received Master of Avian Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia. He worked as a production veterinarian for Perdue Farms for ten years in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and South Alabama. He was Director at the Alabama State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Hancville, AL for five years, Technical services veterinarian for Phibro Animal health for 12 years, and currently is the director of the Alabama State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Elba, Alabama.

Dr. Armstrong is a native of southeast Alabama and an Auburn University Alumni. He received his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Auburn University. Upon graduating veterinary school, Dr. Armstrong enjoyed mixed animal practice in Okeechobee, Florida. Dr. Armstrong returned to Auburn University to complete a residency in Theriogenology and became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 2015. Following his residency, Dr. Armstrong joined the faculty in the Livestock Section at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Louisiana State University.  Dr. Armstrong left LSU to practice as an associate veterinarian in a large animal exclusive veterinary hospital in Elgin, Texas.  Dr. Armstrong returned to Auburn University in 2022 as a clinical associate professor in the Farm Animal Theriogenology Section. He provides veterinary care for all livestock species and reproductive management of horses. Dr. Armstrong enjoys all aspects of bovine practice and has special interest in lameness, surgery, and fertility evaluation.  Dr. Armstrong co-authored the 2nd edition of the Bull Breeding Soundness Manual and has shared his passion for evaluating bull fertility at numerous national and international meetings. Dr. Armstrong is an active member of the Louisiana State Animal Response Team providing disaster relief during hurricane’s Harvey (2016), Michael (2018), Laura (2020), and Ida (2021).  Dr. Armstrong’s research interests include understanding infectious causes of infertility, optimizing fertility evaluation and refining urogenital surgery techniques

Dr. Walz is a graduate of Kansas State University (DVM) and Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (PhD-Biomedical Sciences). She has been a veterinary anatomic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries at the Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn since 2012, and she became the director of the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System in 2018. Her primary diagnostic and research interests involve infectious diseases of food animals.

Bio Coming Soon

Dr. Elizabeth Mackey is a 2006 graduate of University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also completed an internship in Exotic, Wildlife and Zoological medicine in 2008.  Dr. Mackey is the previous owner of Mackey Exotic Animal Clinic, where she provided clinical care as well as consulting services for an exotic animal distribution company. Currently, Dr. Mackey is serving as Executive Director of the Avian Veterinarians.  She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, the Past President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and a past President of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Tony Frazier was appointed State Veterinarian on July 1, 2001. Dr. Frazier is a 1988 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he worked in a mixed animal practice in Cullman, Alabama. In 1990, he returned to his hometown of Brewton, AL and opened a private practice. In 1995, Dr. Frazier accepted a position with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as a Veterinary Medical Officer. Dr. Frazier is a member of the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, the Southern Animal Health Association, and the United States Animal Health Association. Dr. Frazier serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association, and the Beef Committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation. Currently, Dr. Frazier serves as the President-Elect of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, as President of the Southern Animal Health Association, and President of the USAHerds user group. Within the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Dr. Frazier is responsible for the Animal Health Section, Meat Inspection Section, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Poultry Programs. Dr. Frazier has served as PTO President for W.S. Neal Elementary School, Brewton, AL and is a member of the Cornerstone Community Church which is also located in Brewton. Dr. Frazier has been married to wife, Patty, for thirty-one years, and they have three children; Nathan, Madeline, and Samuel.

A native of North Carolina, Dr. Grogan received her undergraduate degree and DVM from North Carolina State University. Deciding poultry medicine was her focus, she completed the MAM at the University of Georgia. She held numerous veterinary positions in the poultry industry including roles in technical service, regulatory and consulting. She began a part-time role at UGA PDRC in 2008 to develop instructional materials for the online MAHM degree program, eventually administering much of that program. The call of academia and service to the GA poultry industry prompted her to return full-time as a Clinical Associate Professor at PDRC in 2017. In addition to her diagnostic role at PDRC, she also serves as Graduate Coordinator for the MAM and MAHM programs.

Dr. Hoerr, Founder and Pathologist, learned about chickens while gathering eggs on his uncle’s farm in Indiana. He also admired a local veterinarian who ran a private diagnostic lab for poultry and swine. These early-life experiences helped to shape a veterinary career in poultry diagnostic investigation and research. After three decades in government and university labs, he shifted to private pathology practice to support domestic and international poultry production through Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology, LLC.

Dr. Steve Roney earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and a Master’s of Avian Medicine Residency from the University of Georgia in 1987. During Dr. Roney’s 40 years in poultry medicine, he has worked in technical services with both vaccine and pharmaceutical allied companies around the world. He has also worked more than nine years as a production veterinarian with two different broiler integrators where he was in charge of all aspects of poultry health programs for the companies. Dr. Roney is the former national Senior Coordinator of the USDA’s National Poultry Improvement Plan in Conyers, Georgia, a cooperative Industry-State Federal Program devoted to elimination and control of specific diseases of poultry breeders as well as administration of the Notifiable Avian Influenza program. He recently retired from full time, but remains part-time, as a Clinical Associate Professor of Avian Medicine at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center with the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, where he previously served as graduate coordinator and director of the PDRC diagnostic laboratory. Dr. Roney has authored or co-authored twelve scientific articles and has given more than 150 scientific presentations at professional meetings throughout the world. He is Board Certified by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Roney currently has a private consulting business providing poultry health services to the US and international poultry industries. He also serves in global veterinary missions with projects in India, Africa, Cambodia and Peru. He and his wife Melissa, of 45 years, have one adult daughter and two grandsons, 16 and 9 years old.