Dr. Gruen completed her veterinary degree at the University of Illinois. She came to North Carolina State University for an internship followed by a residency in veterinary behavior. She completed a Masters in Veterinary Public Health and became a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. After a few years on the faculty at NCSU, she decided to pursue a PhD with a focus on understanding the behaviors associated with pain in cats with naturally-occurring arthritis. She then spent two years at Duke University, where she co-directed the Canine Cognition Center, and has now returned to North Carolina State University as an Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine.

Alex Lynch graduated from the University of Bristol veterinary school, England in 2009 with honors. After a period in general and specialty practice in the UK, he moved to Tufts University in North Grafton, MA, to undertake further clinical training in emergency and critical care. He became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2015. Following his residency, he joined the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida as a Clinical Faculty member in ECC. He joined NCSU in July 2017. In addition to his clinical duties, he undertakes research with a particular interest in coagulation and transfusion medicine.

Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant (CABC), has reached more pet owners over the past few decades than any other pet journalist in America. He is the host of two nationally syndicated radio shows, Steve Dale’s Pet World and The Pet Minute (together heard on more than 100 radio stations, syndicated Black Dog Radio Productions, since 2005). He’s also a special contributor at WGN Radio, Chicago, and program host of Steve Dale’s Pet World (since 1997), and host of Steve Dale’s Other World, a general talk show (2020). He formerly hosted the nationally broadcast Animal Planet Radio. He’s currently a writer and contributing editor for CATster, columnist for DVM 360 where he also serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board. He’s also a columnist for the Journal of National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Steve is Chief Correspondent at Fear Free Happy Homes.

Kara Burns, LVT, Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) (Nutrition) is a licensed veterinary technician with master’s degrees in physiology and counseling psychology. She began her career in human medicine working as an emergency psychologist and as a poison specialist dealing with human and animal poisonings. Kara is the Founder and Past President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians.

Dr. Easley is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar and Advanced Urinary Procedures and Extracorporeal Therapies Fellow at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Gieger earned her DVM from Louisiana State University, and is board certified in three medical specialties: Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology. She worked in a mix of both private specialty hospitals and university-based veterinary teaching hospitals before joining NC State. Aside from bringing a wealth of cancer-related expertise to our clinic, Dr. Gieger also has a variety of interests and hobbies outside of work, including reading, fashion and home decorating, crafting cocktails and cooking.

Dr. Tamara Grubb received her DVM from Texas A&M University. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia with a strong focus in pain management, she owns an anesthesia/analgesia and continuing education consulting practice that serves both small and large animals. Dr. Grubb is also an educator and President-Elect of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) as well as the co-author of two books, including Veterinary Anesthesia & Pain Management for Nurses & Technicians.

Dr. Simpson is an adjunct assistant professor at NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine and regularly lectures on feline-friendly handling techniques to students. Dr. Simpson has also given lectures to veterinary technicians, and she has been an invited speaker at the North Carolina Veterinary Conference. Dr. Simpson is dedicated to providing compassionate and gentle handling techniques, which she believes have resulted in better veterinary care for her patients.

Dr. Simpson is also very passionate about feline pain management. She has been involved in many studies on feline osteoarthritis with the Integrated Pain Management Service at NCSU and has coauthored several papers. Dr. Simpson also made significant authorship contributions to the AAHA Pain Management Guidelines that will be released later this year.Description goes here

Dr. Lenin Arturo Villamizar-Martinez is an Assistant Professor in Dentistry and Oral Surgery at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, director of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Residency Program, and Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College since 2019. He completed his veterinary degree at De La Salle University, Bogotá Colombia, in 2003. His clinical and research interests include maxillofacial trauma, oncology surgery, and diagnostic imaging of the dental and maxillofacial structures and the temporomandibular joint.