2026 Speakers
Program in progress!
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Dr. Lee Jones is a Senior Beef Professional Services Veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Duluth, GA. Prior to that, he was Associate Professor with the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and Extension Veterinarian where he provided veterinary services to South Georgia farm clients including herd health and reproductive services

Dr. Amelia Woolums’ education began with her DVM from Purdue University followed by an internship at Kansas State University, a residency at Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and a PhD from the University of California-Davis. Her first faculty position was at the University of Georgia where she was for 17 years at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2015 she has been a professor at College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University where she is the Mikell and Mary Cheek Hall Davis Endowed Professor of Beef Cattle Health and Reproduction in the Department of Pathobiology. She has received numerous awards most recently the Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award in 2023 from the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists. Dr. Woolums is Past President of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology and the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases. She is an editorial board member for Animal Health Research and Reviews and has been an ad hoc reviewer for 24 journals. She has presented over 40 abstracts at CRWAD since 1995, when she began her career as a PhD student at University of California Davis in Dr. Laurel Gershwin’s laboratory. In her career, she has mentored 32 graduate students and an additional 34 professional students doing research experiences. She also has mentored 10 veterinary medicine faculty. She has been involved in writing and revision of large animal medicine, veterinary microbiology and immunology books. She has helped develop the next generation of veterinary practitioners through the courses she has taught in food animal medicine and microbiology.

Dr. Rodrigo Bicalho, CEO of FERA, is a renowned expert in veterinary medicine and animal health, recognized for his innovative contributions to the industry. He spearheaded the development of FerAppease at FERA, leading the company's efforts in innovation and research-driven product development.

Dr. Jason Shumaker hails from Mississippi and obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University. During his time at Mississippi State, he pursued a Master's degree in Dairy Production Medicine. Dr. Shumaker's professional journey led him to the Texas Panhandle, where he spent 12 years as a solo practitioner. Initially focusing on dairy herd health, his practice gradually transitioned to primarily managing heifers and overseeing specialized backgrounding operations. Leveraging the diagnostic approach and expertise of Newport Labs, Dr. Shumaker developed several successful preventive health programs for his clientele. In 2018, he joined Newport Labs and currently serves as the manager of the cattle technical service team. He remains dedicated to his passion for understanding and preventing diseases in young cattle, with a particular focus on stocker beef and dairy replacements.

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. Edmondson is a native of Elmore County where she grew up on a commercial cattle farm. She received a BS in microbiology from Auburn University in 1997 and DVM from Auburn University in 2001. She worked in a mixed animal practice in rural Alabama for 2 years before returning to Auburn University to complete a residency in food animal theriogenology. Dr. Edmondson completed her residency and MS in biomedical sciences from Auburn University in 2006 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 2005. She joined the faculty at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and was promoted to professor in 2018. In September 2018, Dr. Edmondson left Auburn University to join the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as an Associate State Veterinarian. Dr. Edmondson and her husband, Jason, a beef nutrition specialist, have two children, Wyatt and Laken. They have a farm where they raise Angus and SimAngus cattle, horses, and a few chickens.

Dr. Scully is currently an associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery in the department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2005, Dr. Scully left her home in Ireland and a career in public relations to pursue a veterinary career. She graduated with her DVM in 2011 and completed a food animal rotating internship in 2012 at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. During this time, she realized her ultimate goal was to become a theriogenologist. Dr. Scully completed her Theriogenology Residency, a Master of Veterinary Sciences at Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She achieved board certification in Theriogenology in 2016. Small ruminant advanced reproductive techniques, pain management in food animals and preventative medicine for goats are her specific areas of interest. Her research has focused on sterilization of feral horses, the effects of in utero androgen exposure on ram lambs and small ruminant semen collection methods. Her future research will focus on pain management in food animals, porcine blood typing, small ruminant parasite prevention and the bovine ocular microbiome. She has published in the field of ruminants, small animal, equine reproduction and has an appreciation for all aspects of theriogenology. Dr. Scully attributes all of her success to the mentors she has had in her life and is eager to serve others in a mentorship capacity.

Bio coming soon ...

Dr. Geoffrey Williams is an Associate Professor at Auburn University, and Director of its Bee Center. Geoffrey received an undergraduate degree in animal biology at the University of Alberta (Canada), and then studied Nosema ceranae biology and management for his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University (Canada). Prior to joining Auburn in 2016, he was a research associate studying honey bee pesticide-parasite interactions and tropilaelaps mites at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and Chiang Mai University (Thailand). He is currently Vice President of the global honey bee association COLOSS and an apiculture subject editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology. He is also the recipient of several awards acknowledging his contribution to apiculture and agriculture, including the Apiary Inspectors of America Researcher of the Year, the Alabama Farmer’s Federation Rittenour Award for research, and the Auburn University College of Agriculture Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, as well as graduate student awards from the Entomological Society of Canada, American Association of Professional Apiculturists, and the Eastern Apiculture Society of North America.

Dr. Robert Rust grew up in a small farming town in northern Kansas where his love of the outdoors and veterinary medicine began. The family had a row crop and cattle operation as well as raising greyhounds for the racetrack. His father, along with his uncles, owned a car dealership where much time and learning were spent developing his work ethic and business principles. Dr. Rust graduated high school and attended Kansas State University where he graduated with a degree in wildlife biology. After working for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for several years, he took a position with a group of counties in Northern Kansas doing environmental projects. Ten years later, he realized that his passion for veterinary medicine was still alive and submitted his application to vet school. Upon graduating with a DVM from Kansas State, he became an associate in a couple of different clinics before starting his own clinic with his wife and children in Wamego, KS. The last six years, Dr. Rust has spent his time in various technical service roles in industry, specializing in the development of autogenous vaccines for the cattle industry.

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, a busy mixed-animal practice in Greensboro, GA, in October 2024. In that position, he is responsible for overseeing the health of small and large animal patients in a rural area. Dr Credille has interests and expertise in small animal internal medicine, pain management, bovine respiratory disease, and 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. Chance 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). He is currently the Director of the Auburn Veterinary Emergency Response Team (AVERT) that formed in 2023. Dr. Armstrong’s research interests include understanding infectious causes of infertility, optimizing evaluation of fertility and refining urogenital surgery techniques.