Speakers

Teresa DeFrancesco, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC Raleigh, North Carolina Dr. Teresa DeFrancesco is Associate Professor Cardiology and ICU Critical Care at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her DVM from New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. The vast majority of her research is clinically oriented. Recently she has been focusing on understanding feline heartworm disease and delay of progression to heart failure in dogs with degenerative valvular disease. Dr. DeFrancesco’s sessions are sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim.

Erika Pratt, DVM, DACVECC Portland, Oregon Dr. Pratt is manager of the Veterinary Medical Team for Pfizer Animal Health. She received her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Before joining Pfizer in 2003, Dr. Pratt was the medical director of a large twenty-four hour non-profit emergency and critical care hospital. She has been actively involved in the education of fourth year veterinary students, interns, and residents in emergency and critical care. Dr. Pratt’s sessions are sponsored by Pfizer.

Sandra Diaz, DVM Blacksburg, Virginia Dr. Sandra Diaz is Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her DVM at the Universidad Santo Tomas in Santiago, Chile. Her research areas are disorders of hair and hair growth, canine and feline allergic disorders and feline and canine otitis. Dr. Diaz’s sessions are provided by Gold Sponsor Novartis.

Ernest E. Ward, Jr., DVM Calabash, North Carolina Dr. Ernest Ward is the owner of E3 Management, a NC-based consulting firm and owner of Seaside Animal Care, a national Practice of Excellence Award Winner. He is an Editorial Advisory Board Member for Veterinary Economics. Dr. Ward is a 1992 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He has appeared on the Rachael Ray Show, Animal Planet, NBC Nightly News, CNN and numerous television and radio talk shows nationwide. He was awarded the “Speaker of the Year” award for the 2004 North American Veterinary Conference, and has spoken at every major North American Veterinary Conference. He is a certified personal trainer, USA Triathlon accredited coach and qualified and competed in the inaugural Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2006. Dr. Ward’s sessions are sponsored by IDEXX.