Conference Speakers

The AVCA Conference features over 20 experts in the veterinary field. Don't miss the opportunity to learn new practices and techniques.

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Speakers

Kim Adie

Dr. Kim Adie, MHSc, DC, cAVCA, earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1994 and completed her Master of Health Science at Ontario Tech University in 2025, with a thesis focused on the impact of chiropractic care on canine mobility and gait symmetry. She completed her post-graduate animal chiropractic training at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre (VCLC) in 2007 and holds certification through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Dr. Adie currently serves as Co-Director of the VCLC, a role she has held for the past 15 years. She leads curriculum development, teaches post-graduate animal chiropractic education, and helps shape the future of the profession through leadership, education, and a commitment to advancing animal musculoskeletal health. She also operates FullStride Animal Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, providing chiropractic care to companion and performance animals across Central Ontario.

In practice for over 30 years, Dr. Adie has devoted the past 17 years exclusively to animal chiropractic care. She has presented on topics related to canine chiropractic care and mobility at the VCLC and other continuing education events for chiropractors and veterinarians.

In addition to her teaching and clinical roles, Dr. Adie volunteers as Board Chair for the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes, supporting animal welfare initiatives at the community level. She also serves as Special Topics Advisor on Animal Chiropractic for the Ontario Chiropractic Association, supporting professional advocacy and education initiatives.

Committed to evidence-informed care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high professional standards, Dr. Adie remains passionate about advancing the role of chiropractic in supporting animal health and mobility. She shares her life with four dogs—three Australian Kelpies and a beloved 14.5-year-old sport mix—and a bossy cat named Daisy, who keeps everyone in line.

Topics:

Canine Advanced Technique: Exploring Clinical Challenges, Innovations, and Hands-On Mastery

Chelisa Atkinson

Chelisa Atkinson is the manager of the animal focused branch of Rezzimax called Rezzipet. She received her bachelor's degree in Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science with an emphasis on Bioveterinary Science, as well as a minor in chemistry from Utah State University in 2021. She has volunteered, interned, and worked at multiple veterinary clinics in two states, including working for over three years at a clinic that provided acupuncture and AVCA certified veterinarian chiropractic care. She also learned from notable naturopath, herbalist and veterinarian, Dr. Patrick Jones of the Homegrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine.

She started Rezzipet in the fall of 2022 with a focus on vagus nerve stimulation for the overall well-being and healing of dogs, cats, and horses after her father, Sharik L Peck, PT, MRC had seen great results with using vibrational resonance and vagus nerve stimulation in a clinical setting with people and with animals. Having grown up around animals, and people using resonant vibration tools, Chelisa took the information she learned in the university, in the veterinary clinics, and her love of all animals to build up protocols for their well-being. Her goal is to make these accessible for people, practitioners and owners alike, to provide a better future in health for themselves and their pets. Chelisa has presented at and organized Holistic conferences centered around vagus nerve function and efficiency applied to both humans and pets.

Topics:

Stimulating Cranial Nerves for Balancing Mind and Body

Renold Bleem

I received my Doctor of Chiropractic degree April 1995 from Logan University. I was raised on an organic dairy farm in southern Illinois and have been a rural chiropractor for 31 years. I graduated from Options in February 2019. Since then I have taken instruction and began instructing with Advanced Animal Chiropractic CE. I have a busy human and animal practice that provides chiropractic care to central Illinois for humans and animals.

Topics:

Intro to Farm Animal Adjusting: Getting your foot in the barn. Barn Culture/Showing and Adjusting.

Wendy Coren

Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster Pa graduated 1976
New York Chiropractic College, Greenvale, NY graduated 1980
Director Coren Chiropractic Care 1980-2009
Founded RealEyes Communications Inc /president 1997-2006
Serving on Board of Directors Parker Chiropractic 2000-2005
Partner Central Norwalk Complete Physical Therapy 2000-2003
Patent approved for ePavlov training software 2003
CEO Equalign Chiropractic Systems Inc 2006- current
Co- founder Equalign Chiropractic Systems LLC with David N Lundquist, DC and Dustin S Coren, DVM. 2006
Providing performance care for the performance athletes, equine and human as well as canine ranging from casual participant to recent Olympic medalists

Topics:

Comparison of Equine and Canine Fascia and its Relevance
Canine adjusting techniques by size and attitude

Anna Crane

Dr Anna Crane is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Board certified in functional neurology, with certifications in Animal Chiropractic and Animal Osteopathy. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Equine Science and in Human Biology, and a Master of Science in Animal Science. With 40+ years of experience in the equine industry, Dr. Crane has become focused on educating horse owners and veterinarians alike, on the nuances of the nervous system. A lecturer, both nationally and internationally, elucidating the principles and complications of neuroplasticity, along with therapeutic uses. Dr. Crane is also fascinated with research into unusual modalities, such as energy healing, and the theoretical applications of quantum mechanics to neurology and consciousness as a whole. Additionally, she runs New England Animal Chiropractic, based outside of Boston, Mass. Her practice is focused on enhancing abilities of both performance animals as well as neurologically compromised patients.

Topics:

Biotensegrity, Nociception and the Brain; the Fascial Connection
The Neuro Exam – Applicable Information for the Animal Chiropractor??

Karen Gellman

Dr. Karen Gellman holds DVM and PhD degrees from Cornell University in animal locomotion biomechanics. She has advanced training and certification in veterinary acupuncture and veterinary chiropractic, and has practiced these and other holistic modalities since 1995. Dr. Gellman has taught in multiple professional CE venues, lecturing on posture, biomechanics, and holistic therapies to veterinarians in North America and Europe. She has been a featured speaker at annual conferences for AHVMA (2014), AVCA (2021), IVCA (2015), IVAS (2012), Danish Veterinary Chiropractic Association (2013-2014), Wild West Veterinary Conference (2010), Norwegian Veterinary Chiropractic Association (2020), Hawaiian State Veterinary Association (2022), New York State Veterinary Medical Society and more. With Dr. Judith Shoemaker and Elizabeth Reese, she founded “Postural Rehabilitation”, a professional education venue approved by AVCA. Her lectures are featured on The Equine Documentalist.

Dr. Gellman is research director of Maximum Horsepower Research, a private research group with Dr. Judith Shoemaker and Elizabeth Reese. Maximum Horsepower was awarded a grant by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation to study equine posture in 2014. This ongoing research was featured on the cover of Biology Open in April 2022 along with a peer reviewed article: “Standing Horse Posture: a longer stance is more stable”. She also has published many veterinary education articles in IVCJ and elsewhere, including the AKC Canine Health Foundation, where a series of articles she wrote with Dr. Shoemaker received top prize from Dog Writers Association of America.

She practices holistic veterinary medicine in New York State, and for on-line distance consults. She will launch an on-line educational program on holistic oncology for pets in 2023, and hopefully relaunch an on-line version of Postural Rehabilitation soon afterwards. Her company Plena Curae Botanical Solutions LLC makes high quality pain supplements for pets and horses, sold only through professionals.

Topics:

Where the rubber meets the road: Hooves!
Giving the best start in life: Juvenile Interventions

Donna Gigliotti

Donna Gigliotti, DC, an AVCA Certified Doctor, obtained her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 1992. She then went on to become an AVCA Certified Animal Chiropractor in 1996. She continued to advance her animal chiropractic knowledge and skill base by completing the first 700 hour Advanced Animal Neurology class in 2007. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of anatomy, physiology and chiropractic with both large and small groups. She has developed Tissue Talk™ Methods which is a multi-faceted approach that utilizes the skills of observation, listening and gentle touch techniques to remove strains and trauma as revealed by the bodies tissues thus allowing the body’s inherent innate intelligence to restore itself to optimal function.

Dr. Gigliotti believes that every living organism strives to function at its optimal level and as close to the original blueprint that it was born with and in alignment with universal intelligence. This allows each being the opportunity to carry out their life’s plan and function at their optimal capacity. As a result of her unique education, she is able to share this with both animals and humans in her practices and thru teaching. Many times bridging the gap between the humans and animals.

Advanced Certifications include: AVCA Certified Animal Chiropractor, Advanced Animal Neurology, Advanced SOT and Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Techniques, Certified Nimmo Receptor, Tonus Technique, Neurofascial Release Technique, Advanced Jaffe Mellor Technique, Advanced BioMagnetic Pairs Practioner, ISSA Certified Person Fitness Trainer, CCFT Certified Canine Fitness Trainer.

Topics:

Low Force Adjusting Techniques Lab
Lumbar Spine - so much to know
Be your best and watch your practice soar

Brett Guist

Dr. Brett P. Guist is an Assistant Professor at The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) and leads the Disabiity and Rehabilitation curriculum at CMCC. In addition to this chiropractic degree from CMCC, he has a Masters of Sports Science and Rehablitaiton from Logan University.

He is also part of the Disability and Rehabilitation Committee with the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). He has published articles on force modulation, post-concussive syndrome, and been involved with systematic reviews for the WHO to inform clinical practice guidelines on the treatment of low back pain.

He has presented workshops at previous AVCA conferences and has been involved with research using force sensing technolog during the treatment of animals.

Topics:

Integrating video replay from your mobile device into your practice for patient analysis and patient education

Amy Hayek

Amy Hayek is a veterinarian, author (Predicting Animal Wellness, 2019), and co-founder of All Creatures Every Spine who knows firsthand how fragile life can be—she almost died, an experience that reshaped her approach to health and wellness. Blending chiropractic, neurology, and nutrition, she teaches that waiting for illness is a choice—and one we can no longer afford.

As co-founder of A.C.E.S. and creator of Insider’s Edge, Amy empowers practitioners to predict, shape, and optimize wellness while building thriving practices. Her mission is simple: stop treating disease and start creating health.

Topics:

The Tongue as a Regulator of Whole-Body Movement: Integrating Airway, Autonomics, Pelvic Function, and the Upper Cervical Spine in Humans and Horses
The Four Centers of Balance for the Horse
Is your practice doomed to be buried with you? The Art of Scaling an Animal Chiropractic Practice.

Steven Hebrock

Steve Hebrock, a Certified Master Hoof Care Professional, began his hoof care odyssey in 1993 after acquiring his first horse. He soon became frustrated by what he perceived to be illogical ideas and practices that dominate traditional hoof care, and his engineering background prompted him to begin an intense study of trimming, shoeing, and movement theory. Mr. Hebrock spent many years as a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio, where he taught hoof care and farriery; equine marketing and facilities management; and a number of engineering and technical classes. Mr. Hebrock now focuses his time and energy on his hoof care practice, ongoing hoof research, and his educational outreach efforts via "Enlightened Equine,” a blog dedicated to bringing science to horse management and hoof care. Mr. Hebrock holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin (2015), and is a certified hoof care professional and booting specialist in the Association for the Advancement of Horse Care Practices (AANHCP) and in Liberated Horsemanship. He is a former certification exam instructor, workshop leader, and field instructor for the AANHCP, and is currently an advanced trimming instructor and field instructor for Liberated Horsemanship, which regularly conducts hoof trimming training clinics both domestically and internationally for students from all over the world.

Topics:

Creating & Maintaining the Healthy Equine Digit
A Properly-Balanced Equine Hoof Trimming Practicum
An Inside Look: Dissection of the Equine Lower Limb & Foot

Donald Howard

I am a graduate from WSUn1968, DVM Degree. I entered private equine practice in 1968 to date. I am a Charter member, Past President of Northwest Equine Practioner Association, Salem, Oregon. I became certified IVAS in 1997, studied through Options for Animals and received AVCA Certification 1999. I served on the AVCA Board from 2000, to 2004 and chaired Certification for three years. I am now semi-retired limiting my practice to Veterinary Acupuncture and Chiropractic Medicine. I currently live in Prineville with my Lovely Wife Joan 49 years. We have 2 children, Jodi, and Holly. They are both married. We have 3 Grandchildren, Nathan, Adam, and Olivia.

Topics:

Horses don't talk or do they? The laboratory

Annette Langlois

Dr. Annette Langlois, DC, cAVCA, earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in 1987. She completed her animal chiropractic training through Options for Animals in 1997 and has been practicing animal chiropractic care ever since. She holds certification through the AVCA, where she is recognized as a lifetime member.

Dr. Langlois is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre (VCLC), established in 2005 in Ontario, Canada. In her role, she oversees program development, teaches post-graduate animal chiropractic education, and remains dedicated to upholding high professional standards and advancing the field of animal chiropractic. She also maintains a clinical practice serving companion and performance animals.

In addition to her educational and clinical work, Dr. Langlois currently serves as a Council Member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, contributing to the regulation and advancement of the chiropractic profession at the provincial level.

With nearly three decades of experience in animal chiropractic care, Dr. Langlois is committed to practical, compassionate, and clinically grounded care. She has presented educational sessions at the VCLC and remains actively involved in animal chiropractic education.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Langlois shares her home with her cherished 14-year-old rescue dog, who keeps her grounded and inspired.

Topics:

Canine Advanced Technique: Exploring Clinical Challenges, Innovations, and Hands-On Mastery

Ron Leick

I have a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky in Animal Science, and received a DVM degree from Ohio State University in 1975. I was in mixed animal practice with an emphasis on broodmare work. I started the AVCA classes in 1998 under Dr. Sharon Willoughby. I became Acupuncture certified by IVAS in 2000, and Chi Institute certified in Chinese Herbology. Beginning in 2002, my practice focus shifted to chiropractic and acupuncture exclusively.

Topics:

Horses don't talk or do they? The laboratory

Sandra B Leonard

Dr Leonard has been a DVM since the 90’s. After several years in general practice, she pursued acupuncture training (CVA) to address certain pet needs regular medicine seemed inadequate for. This led to Chinese Food Therapy (CFVT) to address issues the acupuncture wasn’t clearing up. Then she decided to learn chiropractic (CAC) instead of referring her patients elsewhere for that. She should have learned chiropractic first, as that was so much more satisfying with its immediate improvements in the patient. After a few years doing house calls with these modalities, she decided to open an integrative practice to save mileage on her car. Her clinic offers both holistic and traditional medicine but her recommendations are tailored to owner preferences and patient lifestyle, with an emphasis on striving to make a pet its healthiest self. She has also done dog agility for over 30 years, exclusively with sight hounds, and now makes regular forays to national competitions in two different types of agility. Her current younger whippet made finals in 2025 at the AKC Agility Invitationals in Orlando and won monetary prizes, making the two of them officially professional athletes on ESPN. Because of these dual interests, she frequently provides chiropractic services at local agility trials and has become a keen observer of how dogs use their bodies doing different skills, and how they compensate when their bodies aren’t working as they should.

Topics:

Body Stresses and Dynamics of Canine Sports

Nancy Loes

Nancy Loes, DVM (U of MN) MBA (U of Dallas) is a general practitioner with many years of both private practice and industry experience, where her responsibilities ranged from caring for pets and their pet parents to the mentorship of veterinary students, the development of training and informational materials to speaking at local, national and international continuing educational events. Currently the Veterinary Liaison for Standard Process, she aligns herself with the Standard Process mission of “Changing Lives” through the science and goodness of whole food-based nutrition, for both pets and people.

Topics:

Brain Health and Veterinary Chiropractic: Supporting Cognitive Vitality and Physical Health

David Lundquist

Graduated National College of Chiropractic 1982 and moved to Winter Haven, Florida where he ran a successful practice. He was a principle speaker for Parker Chiropractic Seminars from 1988 to 2004 after logging more than 100 seminars. Dr Lundquist married Dr Wendy Coren and after earning our AVCA degrees we began Equalign, a performance care practice designed to care for the equine athletes, both human and equine.

Topics:

Equine Extremity Adjusting

Bill Ormston

Dr. O began speaking about Animal Chiropractic at the annual AVCA conventions in 2004 and it has become one of the highlights of his year. It was in 2009 at the AVCA convention that he would meet the woman who would rock his world. Dr. Amy Hayek continues to challenge and frustrate him more than anyone he has ever met. She also allows him to reach levels that he never thought possible.

Dr. O explains to people that Dr. Amy has forgotten more stuff than he will ever know. She doesn’t always like the way he translates (dummy down) her information so that he can understand it. This allows him to own the information so that he can then explain it to other people. The clients in their practices have always responded positively when Dr. Amy and Dr. O have asked them to enter their animals into a study. That is how the data for the canine movement study, the canine whiplash study, and the dachshund study were gathered. Dr. Amy and Dr. O continue to utilize their client base in the advancement of animal chiropractic. Each animal they adjust teaches them something new and exciting. Dr. O is looking forward to many more years of animal chiropractic, both adjusting and teaching others how to adjust.

He and Dr. Amy practice at All Creatures Every Spine in Meridian, Tx and run Animal Chiropractic Education Source.

Topics:

Chiropractic and the Immune System
Chiropractic as a Lifestyle, Not Just a Treatment
The Adaptation Model of Disease

Siobhan Pakenham

Dr. Siobhan Pakenham is a chiropractor and AVCA-certified animal chiropractic practitioner with nearly two decades of clinical experience and a passion for bridging human and animal care. She graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 2006, where she served as President of the Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) Club and earned certification in the technique. In this role, she lectured and led hands-on laboratory sessions, developing a strong foundation in teaching and clinical communication.

Dr. Pakenham has been in private practice since 2007 and is the founder of a successful solo practice in New Jersey, established in 2014. Her practice is rooted in individualized, results-driven care and is approaching its 12-year anniversary. She is also an active member of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors. In 2022, Dr. Pakenham expanded her clinical focus to include animal chiropractic, completing Parker University’s Animal Chiropractic Program and earning AVCA certification in 2024. She has since integrated animal care into a busy human practice, developing efficient systems for scheduling, workflow, and client communication.

Dr. Pakenham is actively involved in community education and outreach. She has presented on animal chiropractic to retirement communities, pet groups, and local veterinarians, helping increase awareness and collaboration within the veterinary community. Her work focuses on practical strategies for building and integrating a mobile animal chiropractic practice, with an emphasis on systems, sustainability, and the effective use of social media to grow and serve a diverse patient base.

Topics:

Building a Mobile Animal Chiropractic Practice While Running a Human Clinic: Systems, Scheduling, and Social Media

Sharik Peck

Sharik is the Founder and CEO of Rezzimax® LLC, a Utah corporation. Sharik obtained his degree in physical therapy from University of Utah in 1994 and later, a Master’s degree in Counseling from USU. He spent the last 30 years helping people and animals eliminate pain from their lives. Sharik suﬀered a stroke, broken neck, broken back, and years of chronic pain. These experiences provided an intense desire to help many others in chronic pain.

Years ago, Sharik awoke with a distinct impression that vibration can be used to aid in healing the nervous system. He dove into clinical research and found limitations with existing vibration sources. Not finding the right tool, Sharik decided to create it, bringing about Rezzimax®. Since the launch of version 1.0 in early 2016, Rezzimax® is now enjoyed by nearly 20,000 users in over 68 countries. Initial research performed at BYU shows the Tuner has great potential for the treatment of headaches and jaw pain. Still, the initial success was just not good enough. We knew perfecting the Tuner could help many more individuals learn to live our motto: “Tune Out Pain. Tune Into Life.”

The Rezzimax medical devices are produced at Freeform Polymers FDA certified facility in Utah! It also received the Coolest Thing Made in Utah Award in 2020. Producing our invention in Utah benefits 9 local companies and over 700 local jobs! The Tuner Pro has preset continuous play programs to tap gently into the nervous system. Our Tuner Pro tools have "scraping" wings to allow sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue, to eliminate pain, increase blood flow and restore motion. This “gua sha” massaging technique combined with our patented algorithms provides one of the most gentle and effective ways to get you or your pet into an advanced healing mode.

Topics:

Stimulating Cranial Nerves for Balancing Mind and Body

Huma Pierce

Dr. Huma Pierce is a Chiropractic BioPhysics physician, biomechanics educator, and founder of Lucky and Loyal, a canine mobility and rehabilitation company focused on functional movement preservation in aging and neurologically compromised dogs.

Over the past seven years, Dr. Pierce has worked extensively in canine biomechanics, compensatory gait analysis, mobility support systems, and caregiver driven functional monitoring for dogs experiencing age related deconditioning, hind limb weakness, IVDD related decline, orthopedic compensation, and neuromuscular instability.

Her work combines principles from human biomechanics, postural compensation analysis, proprioceptive observation, and practical mobility preservation strategies to help improve quality of life and functional independence in aging dogs. Dr. Pierce has collaborated closely with dog owners, rehabilitation professionals, and veterinary teams to better recognize subtle early changes in movement patterns that are often overlooked during progressive decline.

Dr. Pierce recently exhibited at the STAAR Conference, where veterinary rehabilitation professionals responded strongly to her clinically focused biomechanics discussions surrounding gait compensation, neuromuscular adaptation, and functional mobility preservation.

Her educational focus emphasizes practical clinical observation, caregiver communication, and evidence informed biomechanical reasoning applicable to animal chiropractic and rehabilitation settings.

Topics:

Recognizing Functional Deconditioning and Compensatory Gait Patterns in Aging Dogs: A Biomechanical Approach for Animal Chiropractic Practitioners

Luis Saldana

Luis Saldana, owner and lead marketing strategist at Web Theory Designs, has over 20 years of IT, web development and digital marketing experience. Luis has created, developed and managed web marketing projects for organizations like Whirlpool, a Fortune 500 company, to smaller thriving startups from across the country. Prior to his work in the Internet Marketing industry, he worked in fast paced, high demand, IT departments providing technical expertise for some of the largest natural gas trading and marketing corporations in the United States. He graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and is passionate about self-improvement, digital marketing technology, and providing strategic roadmaps for growing businesses.

Topics:

The Anatomy of a High-Ranking Website: Best Practices for SEO Success

Judith Shoemaker

Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM, is an internationally known practitioner and educator in complementary veterinary medicine and therapy. Dr. Shoemaker is a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia and is licensed to practice in over 14 states. Dr. Shoemaker was awarded AHVMA Practitioner of the Year in 2012. Dr. Shoemaker's equine and companion animal veterinary practice focuses on complementary medicine and holistic therapy — integrating chiropractic, acupuncture, and other alternative modalities for treating elite athletes in canine and equine competition, service dogs, search and rescue dogs and family companions. Dr. Shoemaker has extensive post-grad professional training in orthopedics, reproduction and myriad integrative therapies. She was certified by AVCA and IVAS over 30 years ago, and has taught extensively in both Diplomat and CE programs for these organizations. Drs. Gellman and Shoemaker are co-founders and principle instructors, along with Elizabeth Reese CTAT, for Postural Rehabilitation for Horses and Dogs, a professional CE program, which provided approved AVCA CE from 2005-2014. They were awarded an AHVMF research grant in 2013 to study posture in horses, and are in the process of publishing those results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Topics:

Where the rubber meets the road: Hooves!
Giving the best start in life: Juvenile Interventions

David Starmer

Dr. David Starmer is a Director of Education at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). He is the past Education Coordinator for CMCC’s simulation lab and was an instructor in the departments of Clinical Diagnosis, Clinical Education, and Chiropractic Therapeutics at CMCC. His primary instructional roles were teaching technique, therapeutic modalities, and providing students with clinical simulations. Along with completing a chiropractic degree at CMCC, he has earned a master’s degree in Health Studies from the University of Athabasca, as well as completing a certificate program in health care simulation education. He is known for his leadership qualities and has served as chair of the Faculty Council at CMCC, and has served multiple terms as an elected member to his provincial regulatory college and one year as President. In addition to his instructional workload he is an active researcher involved in spinal manipulation training, and simulation education. His research activities have led to several awards, grants, keynotes, presentations, publications, and workshops internationally. His research has also contributed to the invention of a simulation training and quality assurance system for chiropractors which is now used around the world by many chiropractic institutions. After receiving a grant in 2019 to investigate the forces used in canine adjustments, Dr Starmer has been an ally for manual therapy research in animal populations. He hopes the results of this work will lead to ongoing research and funding for using force sensing technology during the treatment of animals with a focus on enhancing education, quality control, improving our understanding of dose-response relationships, or optimizing patient safety that parallels the work that has already been done in the chiropractic treatment of the human population.

Topics:

The Research Ecosystem of Animal Chiropractic: Evidence, Resources, and a Practitioner‑Driven Roadmap

Petra Sullwold

Dr. Petra Sullwold graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in 2007, followed by her animal chiropractic certification from Options for Animals in 2008 and her upper cervical knee chest certification by the Knee Chest Academy in 2013.

Dr. Sullwold currently owns and operates Mancos Chiropractic—a human and small animal practice she runs alongside her husband, Dr. Clayton Sullwold—as well as Equus Chiropractic, her dedicated equine practice.

Recognizing a need for more advanced training within the field, Dr. Petra also founded Animal Chiropractic CE. Alongside her husband and her dear friend and mentor, Dr. Jay Komarek, DC she developed this continuing education program to provide quality instruction for already certified animal chiropractors.

Beyond her time spent practicing and teaching, Dr. Petra is deeply committed to the history and philosophy of animal chiropractic. She has dedicated countless hours to the Palmer Davenport Archives, researching animal chiropractic to gain a more profound understanding of its past.

In 2018, Dr. Petra served on the Colorado Animal Chiropractic Taskforce, a pivotal group that successfully secured direct access for animal chiropractic care in Colorado. Her dedication during this legislative effort earned her the prestigious Chiropractic Achievement Award.

In her free time Dr. Petra likes to enjoy life with her husband Dr. Clayton and their 50 + animals (6 of them are cats) on their idyllic ranch in Southwest Colorado.

Her mission in life is to help people and animals find their fullest expression of life with a free and perfectly functioning nervous system through adjusting the spine and removing any interference/misalignment. Her vision is to educate certified animal chiropractors to take their adjusting skills to the next level and become masters in the animal chiropractic field. And her dream is direct access for any animal to certified animal chiropractors around the world.

Topics:

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secrets of Successful Feline Chiropractic

Clayton Sullwold

Dr. Clayton Sullwold has been in practice for over 15 years. He is a passionate chiropractor who lives his life by the indisputable Laws of Nature and the Principles of Life which he considers the basis of chiropractic philosophy. The past eight years he has worked with various neurological and chronic health conditions at his practice Atlas Specific Upper Cervical Spine Center. Cases he has had success with include: Multiple Sclerosis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Seizures, Meniere’s Disease, Migraines, High Blood pressure, Anxiety and Depression, Fibromyalgia, Dystonia, heart dysfunction, digestive dysfunction, and autoimmune disorders such as Raynaud’s, RA, Sojourns’ Syndrome, and more. He received his Advanced Knee Chest upper cervical training in 2014 and became part of the elite Blue Angels Society in September of 2019. He is an assistant instructor for the Knee Chest Society and enjoys teaching and passing along his understanding of life up to this point.

Previously he owned and practiced at Café of Life Chiropractic for six years delivering principled chiropractic care to his community. He is passionate about animal chiropractic and in 2017-18 sat on the task force to change the Colorado State Statue on the ability for properly certified chiropractors to practice animal chiropractic. He became a Certified Animal Chiropractor in 2008 through Options for Animals school in Wellsville, KS and is certified by the International Veterinarian Chiropractic Association. He currently is an assistant instructor for Animal Chiropractic CE which offers continuing education for certified animal chiropractors from around the world.

Dr. Sullwold is an accomplished martial artist and has studied Kouburyu Karate a style of Okinawan Karate for the past 20 years and is a 4th degree black belt. In 2018 he developed the Torque & Toggle Gen 2, an upper cervical chiropractic training device.

He received Distinguished Chiropractor award in 2018 from the Colorado Chiropractic Association. He received his bachelors degree in 2001 from Doane College in Biology and Chemistry. He has served internationally through Adjustworld, a nonprofit chiropractic organization dedicated to bringing health and healing to various countries all over the world. Serving on trips to Central and South America. He graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 2007.

His hobbies include, pie baking, home remodeling, gardening, reading and writing.

Topics:

Advanced Upper Cervical Biomechanics in the Equine

Simon Wang

Dr. Wang is a Chiropractor and Associate Professor in Toronto, Canada. He completed his undergrad degree in Kinesiology at Western University and a master’s degree at the University of Waterloo in Spine Biomechanics prior to pursuing his Chiropractic degree at CMCC. Dr. Wang practices at a multidisciplinary clinic in Toronto. He teaches Biomechanics, Ergonomics and The Foundations of Spinal Manipulation and Manual Therapy and is the Chair of the Chiropractic Therapeutics department at CMCC. His research interests include: Comfort/discomfort during spinal manipulation, biomechanics of spinal manipulation, and the patient experience during a visit to a chiropractor. Dr. Wang enjoys playing games and sports with his children, travelling, eating delicious food and taking time to do nothing.

Topics:

Where are we now, and where do we need to go? Evidence-based updates to support Chiropractic treatments in humans and animals.

Jon Zeagler

Dr. Jon Zeagler has been a chiropractic physician for nearly 23 years. He graduated from Logan University in December of 2000 with his Doctorate in Chiropractic. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Louisiana Tech University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Northwestern State University. He received his certification in animal chiropractic through the AVCA in 2010.

Currently he is the owner of Trinity Integrated Health and Wellness Center in Natchitoches Louisiana where the clinic combines the use of Chiropractic, Regenerative Medicine, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Rehabilitation to help patients achieve their optimal wellness. He also owns Champion Animal Chiropractic where he has adjusted both large and small animals ranging from dogs, cats, goats and sheep to show cattle, PBR bucking bulls and horses.

Dr. Zeagler is currently serving as the Immediate Past President of the AVCA. He was President of the AVCA from November of 2020-2021. He has also helped give the AVCA Certification Exam from 2017-2023. In addition to serving on the AVCA Board, Dr. Zeagler served on the board for The Chiropractic Association of Louisiana from 2005-2009. He also served on the Louisiana State Board of Chiropractic Examiners from 2009-2021. He helped develop the National Board of Chiropractic Examiner's Parts II, III, and IV Board Exams as well as being an Examiner for the Part IV Boards at Logan University. In 2022 Dr. Zeagler was given The President's Award by the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana for his service to the chiropractic profession while serving on the state board of examiners.

Dr. Zeagler has been married to his beautiful wife Sarah for 26 years. They were married and moved two weeks later to St. Louis for him to attend Logan Chiropractic College. They have 3 wonderful boys: Cole, Brock, and Luke as well as a future daughter-in-law Addison. Dr. Zeagler enjoys fly fishing and baseball.

Topics:

The Analysis, Diagnosis, and Chiropractic Adjustments of Show Pigs