National Veterinary Associates has a new CEO. Meanwhile, veterinarian staffing company IndeVets has announced a new senior vice president of clinical leadership with more than 13 years of experience. And last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appointed the founding dean of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine at Rowan University to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Continue reading to learn more about each of these individuals.

Matthew Edson, DVM, MBA, CVPM, MRCVS, member of New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

Matthew Edson, DVM, MBA, CVPM, MRCVS (Image courtesy of New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association)

Edson has been appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA) recently announced. Edson, who owns a mixed animal practice in South Jersey, is the founding dean of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine at Rowan University in NJ. From 2019 to 2021, he served as NJVMA president. During this time, he played a central role in helping veterinary personnel be categorized as “essential personnel,” which allowed practices to remain open under safe conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Murphy also appointed him to the New Jersey One Health Task Force, and he has been involved in leadership roles with the American Veterinary Medical Association.

As an advocate for the advancement of veterinary medicine, education, and public health, Edson was named a Top Veterinarian by 

 in 2017 and was voted Best Veterinarian in Burlington County by 

 readers from 2018 to 2022. From 2022 through 2025, Edson also appeared on the 

 Health Care Power 50 list, which features top influencers in health care in NJ.

“NJVMA congratulates Dr Edson on this prestigious appointment and looks forward to his continued contributions to the veterinary profession and the greater medical community,” the NJVMA wrote in the news release announcing Edson’s appointment.

Christina Moore, DVM, MBA, senior vice president of clinical leadership, IndeVets

Earlier this month, the veterinarian staffing company IndeVets promoted Moore to senior vice president of clinical leadership. Moore, who has more than 13 years of experience in the veterinary industry, will lead the company’s clinical leadership team and spearhead hiring and veterinarian-support initiatives across the US in her new role.

Moore first joined IndeVets in 2023. During this time, she contributed to the development of programs that foster collaboration, growth, and mentorship among veterinarians.

“Christina’s leadership has fostered a culture where excellence in care and professional fulfillment go hand in hand,” Michael Raphael, CEO and co-founder of IndeVets, said in a company news release.

 “She is exceptionally well-positioned to lead the next chapter of clinical excellence at IndeVets.”

John G. Bruno, CEO, National Veterinary Associates

John G. Bruno (Image courtesy of National Veterinary Associates)

Bruno was appointed CEO by National Veterinary Associates’ board of directors on September 8. In his most recent position, Bruno was president and chief operating officer for Xerox, the printing and digital document solutions company that invented the modern photocopier. Bruno will continue as a member of the Xerox board of directors and take on the role of chair for its new Integration Committee.

Since 2014, Bruno has been a board member at the multinational financial technology company Global Payments. Prior to Xerox, he served as CEO of data analytics services and chief operating officer of Aon plc.

"It's an incredible honor to be selected by the board to lead NVA at this exciting moment in its journey," Bruno said in an organizational release.

"I'm energized to work alongside this talented team to deliver modern, tech-enabled pet health care that's compassionate, scalable, and clinically excellent. Together, we'll help pets and the people who love them enjoy more quality years together."

Former NJVMA president Dr Matthew Edson appointed to New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. News release. New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. September 22, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://njvma.org/former-njvma-president-dr-matthew-edson-appointed-to-new-jersey-state-board-of-veterinary-medical-examiners/

IndeVets names Dr Christina Moore senior vice president of clinical leadership. News release. IndeVets. September 11, 2025. Accessed Sepember 26, 2025.

National Veterinary Associates names John G. Bruno chief executive officer. News release. National Veterinary Associates. September 8, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://www.nva.com/newsroom/national-veterinary-associates-names-john-g-bruno-chief-executive-officer

Articles

New leadership moves, recognition, and achievement.

Paws and profits: Founding dean of Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is appointed to NJ State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and more

Cats and dogs experience pain in many forms, from the obvious discomfort of acute injuries or surgery to the persistent, more challenging symptoms to identify of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis. Pain may also result from injury, inflammation, or musculoskeletal disease. As veterinary professionals, it is our responsibility to help caregivers and clinical teams recognize these symptoms, differentiate normal behavior from pain-driven behaviors, and implement timely interventions that improve welfare, mobility, and quality of life.

Chronic pain affects more than comfort. It can interfere with eating, elimination, drinking, grooming, mobility, and social interactions, disrupt gastrointestinal function, delay wound healing, increase infection risk, elevate cardiovascular parameters, and contribute to anxiety, fear, fatigue, or depression. Unrecognized pain can also strain the human-animal bond and increase stress and compassion fatigue among veterinary teams.

Observation begins before handling. How a patient enters the room, moves, or rises from a resting position can reveal compensatory movements, asymmetry, or reluctance to jump, climb, or turn. A critical thinking approach to handling, including utilizing feline-friendly, fear-fear, and low stress handling techniques is essential because fear, stress, and adrenaline can temporarily suppress an animal’s perception of pain, masking discomfort. For example, a dog that was limping at home may not exhibit that symptom once in the exam room. This highlights the importance of observing the patient’s baseline behavior in the home environment and gathering caregiver input to accurately identify chronic pain.

Fear Free techniques such as using a touch gradient allow clinicians to identify sensitive areas, tailor handling, and enhance diagnostic accuracy. Gentle palpation of joints, muscles, and the spine, combined with careful evaluation of range of motion, can uncover discomfort that might be missed in a cursory exam. Pain scoring tools, including the Glasgow CMPS, Feline Grimace Scale, and Colorado State Pain Scales, provide consistency and structure.

A touch gradient is a term used to describe how to touch our canine and feline patients to minimize fear and stress during veterinary procedures. It emphasizes continuous hands-on contact, acclimating to touch intensity, identifying sensitive areas, and considering individual patient needs. Handling begins with the least sensitive areas and progresses to more sensitive regions. For example, a patient with a severely inflamed ear would have that area examined last. This approach minimizes stress, prevents fear escalation, and allows observation of body language changes that indicate discomfort before procedures like injections or blood draws.

Stress complicates pain recognition. Anxiety or prior negative experiences may suppress pain behaviors, making pain symptoms harder to detect. Even with low-stress techniques, many patients arrive anxious, making continuous observation critical. Behavior remains the most reliable indicator of pain.

Small shifts in posture, movement, facial expression, and coat condition frequently reveal discomfort and provide valuable diagnostic information.

The 2022 AAHA/AAFP (now known as the Feline Veterinary Medical Association) Pain Management Guidelines emphasize that behavior is the most reliable indicator of pain.

Common signs of chronic pain noted during exams:

Altered posture: hunched, “statue-like,” or stiff stance

Reluctance to rise, sit, lie down, jump, or climb

Stiff, deliberate, or shortened movements

Tail changes: tucked, awkward, or low carriage

Facial tension or grimacing: muzzle tension, squinted eyes, whiskers pulled back or straight, ears rotated back, lowered head

Avoidance or defensive behaviors when touched and/or approached

Increased or localized muscle tension; skin rippling or twitching

Head turns, displacement behaviors, or shifting weight

Escalating fear or anxiety: lip licking, whale eye, dilated pupils, freezing

Vocalizations: growling, hissing, yelping, meowing

Sudden changes in demeanor when specific areas are palpated

Odd coat patterns: rippling, clumping, directional changes, mats, rough patches, overgrooming

Can exhibit aggressive behavior, both defensive and offensive, with handling

Caregiver observations are invaluable, as many chronic pain signs are most apparent at home. Caregivers can identify baselines and detect changes from baseline in daily activities, such as jumping, grooming, greeting, or play. Open-ended questions encourage detailed feedback. Below are examples of open-ended questions.

“Walk me through a typical day for your pet, what activities do they still enjoy?”

“How is your pet interacting with family members, other pets, and their environment?”

“What changes have you noticed in how your pet moves, jumps, climbs, or rests?”

“Are there activities your pet used to do that they’ve stopped, if so, which ones?”

“What changes have you noticed in eating, drinking, or grooming routines?”

“What new or unusual behaviors have you noticed?”

“When was the last time your pet increased anxiety, irritability, or avoidance?”

“How are the interactions between them and the other animals and people in the home?”

“What behaviors, if any, concern you or cause you stress?”

Video recordings of pets at home can provide valuable insight into gait, movement, and behavior that may be masked in clinic visits.

Chronic pain management is more than medication. Environmental modifications can reduce strain and improve quality of life, such as:

Low-sided litter boxes or multiple locations for cats

Nightlights for older pets with vision or mobility challenges

Framing these adaptations as “quality of life tools” helps caregivers see them as proactive support.

Caregiver education improves chronic pain detection and promotes early intervention. Effective strategies include:

Sharing videos of pets walking, eliminating, and engaging in favorite activities.

Providing handouts, blogs, or social media posts highlighting signs. 

Demonstrating cooperative care medication techniques. 

Setting expectations for reassessment and adjustment of multimodal pain plans

Discussing benefits and side effects of medications.

Establish a baseline for mobility, behavior, and daily function as well as a pain score

Use ongoing reassessment through video, diaries, pain scores, and caregiver reports

Employ multimodal interventions (pharmacologic therapy, rehab, acupuncture, environmental support)

Regularly adjust care plans as conditions progress

Chronic pain is not subtle once we educate ourselves and foster caregiver understanding and engagement. Animals constantly communicate discomfort through behavior and body language; we simply need to observe and interpret it. By assessing body language throughout the exam and actively involving caregivers in recognizing and managing pain, veterinary professionals can uncover discomfort that might otherwise remain hidden. This collaborative approach not only enables earlier recognition and more effective pain management but also promotes caregiver compliance and ultimately improves the quality of life for the animals entrusted to our care.

Fear Free. Fear Free Pets. Fear Free Pets. https://fearfreepets.com

Gruen, M. E., Hellyer, P. W., & Rodan, I. (2022). 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 58(2), 55–76. 

Kucera, T. Chirrups and Chatter. Accessed September 24, 2025.  https://chirrupsandchatter.com

Kucera, T. [@chirrupsandchatter]. Instagram profile. Accessed September 24, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/chirrupsandchatter/ 

Learn how to identify subtle behavioral changes, work with caregivers, and use a multimodal approach to manage pain effectively.

Pain in plain sight: Recognizing chronic pain in the exam room

Photos courtesy of Schwartzman Animal Medical Center

The author Feliza Lopez, LVT, VTS (ECC), at left, with Rochellie Cortés-Martínez, LVTg, CVT, MBA.

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme—

Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

—has given me space to reflect on how identity, heritage, and leadership shape the way we move through our profession. As a first-generation American, I grew up carrying fragments of my Ecuadorian culture but not always the full story of my roots. That experience pushed me to think deeply about identity and belonging, and what it means to create your own sense of heritage while working in a profession where representation is still limited. This reflection continues to influence how I approach leadership, advocacy, and community-building.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve built my career at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) of New York, where I now serve as senior director of surgery and anesthesia. I am proud to be the first Latinx licensed veterinary technician director at AMC, as well as a veterinary technician specialist in emergency and critical care. I serve on multiple committees and recently accepted the honor of joining the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine, helping shape the future of our profession at the state level. Along the way, I’ve been recognized with AMC’s Technician of the Year award and have had the privilege of lecturing nationally and internationally.

These milestones are meaningful, but they matter most because they allow me to open doors for others—making space for the next generation of veterinary leaders to see themselves reflected in this profession.

My colleague and new friend, Rochellie Cortés-Martínez, LVTg, CVT, MBA, walks a different but equally powerful path. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rochellie has always carried a strong sense of identity and belonging. Her journey has never been about searching for heritage—it has been about advancing the veterinary technology profession itself. With more than 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and advocacy, she now serves as director of the veterinary technology department at Universidad Ana G. Méndez’s pioneering School of Veterinary Medicine, where she leads academic innovation, mentorship, and program development. Her focus is on pushing a profession forward—fighting for recognition and support of veterinary technicians in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Where my story has been about piecing together identity, hers has been about elevating a calling that has long been undervalued. Together, our experiences reflect 2 sides of the same truth: honoring the past while inspiring the future.

I was reminded of this during a recent panel on Latinx people in leadership, where I spoke candidly about identity and leadership. I didn’t expect people to cry. And truthfully, it’s uncomfortable when others call me an inspiration—I don’t always know how to hold that. But I’ve come to understand that those reactions aren’t about me alone. They speak to something bigger: the collective recognition of stories that have too often been left untold, and the relief of finally hearing them spoken out loud.

That same collective spirit connects me to the Latin American Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (LAVECCS). Speaking at their conference in Chile last year, I felt the power of our shared heritage across borders. Delivering lectures fully in Spanish was especially challenging, as I had learned the language later in life. But I did it. And in that moment, I felt the weight and pride of bringing my whole self—heritage, language, and profession—into a space where it mattered deeply.

In August, I traveled to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny perform his album 

 The concert was a tribute to Puerto Rico, to identity, to place—and to the tension of wanting to stay even when circumstances push you away. 

I couldn’t help but think of my own family’s story. My grandfather, Esteban López, was once a medical student with dreams of becoming a physician. He never got to fulfill that career; instead, he was forced to leave medical school behind and immigrate to the US to start over. My parents continued that journey, becoming US citizens, entering the workforce, and carving out a path that allowed me and my siblings to pursue education and fulfilling careers.

In many ways, my professional life is an homage to my grandfather’s unfinished dream. Although he never became a doctor, I like to believe that every milestone I’ve reached in veterinary medicine—every patient cared for, every lecture delivered, every door opened for others—is part of carrying his legacy forward.

For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a commemoration—it’s a call. A reminder that finding your roots matters, and so does lifting an entire profession onto the stage it deserves. My journey and Rochellie’s may look different, but they meet in the same place: honoring the past, filling the gaps, and building a future where we all belong.

Reflecting on Hispanic Heritage Month, the author reflects on how identity, heritage and leadership shape veterinary careers.

Collective heritage: Honoring the past, inspiring the future

Advancements in veterinary anesthesia could lead to saving the lives of diving mammals kept in captivity. Darvall, a producer of veterinary anesthesia solutions based in Sydney, Australia, has developed an innovative ventilator that enabled surgeons to successfully achieve cataract surgery on 2 sea lions at Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary (CCWS) in New South Wales, Australia.

Cataracts are an increasingly common challenge in sea lions, an endangered species, as they are living longer when housed in sanctuaries and therefore develop age-related eye disease. If left untreated, blindness in sea lions can quickly lead to starvation due to their inability to hunt.

The surgeries, performed on Miri (60-kg female) and Ozzie (200-kg male), were led by an international team of veterinary experts in ophthalmology and marine mammal anesthesia, in partnership with CCWS staff and SeaWorld technical specialists. Both sea lions recovered smoothly, regaining vision and quality of life.

Understanding mechanical ventilator types

The first of its kind in marine mammal anesthesia, the novel ventilator used for the surgeries is compact and portable. It is designed to replicate the unique breathing pattern of diving mammals and has proven crucial in maintaining safe and stable anesthesia during complex procedures. According to Darvall, traditional anesthesia systems rely on bulky equipment and high volumes of compressed gas.

“Inhalant anesthetics are potent greenhouse gases, so we do worry about the impact of those gases in our environment…. Even though we think about inhaling anesthetics as being gas or eliminated [into] and affecting the air, [they] do have an effect on the water, as well,” Tatiana Henriques Ferreira, DVM, PhD, MSc, DACVAA, said in a 

 at the 2025 North American Veterinary Community SkillShop in Orlando, Florida.

Darvall’s new ventilator is the size of a backpack and delivers a sustainable solution that reduces inhalant anesthetic use by up to 5 times, lowering both environmental impact and operational cost, according to the company. “Having a system that can both mimic the natural breathing cycle of marine mammals and run independently off bottled driving gas represents a step change. The new ventilator makes these high-risk procedures safer, more sustainable, and far more accessible,” Colin Dunlop, BVSc, DACVAA, founder and CEO of Darvall, said in a news release.

For CCWS, a not-for-profit conservation and education center, the milestone underscores the power of innovation and collaboration. “It was a privilege to be part of a world-first. Cataract surgery in sea lions is a massive risk, but Darvall’s ventilator proved safer, simpler, quieter, and more portable than anything we’ve used before. This gives our animals the best chance, and it’s exciting to think this one-of-a-kind machine could help other marine animals around the world,” Tiga Cross, managing director at CCWS, said in the release.

The successful use of Darvall’s ventilator with sea lions represents a breakthrough for veterinary medicine and conservation efforts, according to the company. Company officials surmised that further development and validation of this technology could transform the anesthetic care of dolphins, seals, and other diving mammals worldwide.

Marine animal health secured through landmark sea lion surgery using Darvall ventilator. News release. Darvall. September 25, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. 

https://gk.news/darvall/press-release/marine-animal-health-secured-through-landmark-sea-lion-surgery-using-darvall-ventilator/

Ferreira TH, Crossley KC. Environmental considerations for inhalant anesthesia. 

. July 14, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/environmental-considerations-for-inhalant-anesthesia

Darvall, a producer of veterinary anesthesia solutions based in Sydney, Australia, has developed an innovative ventilator that enabled surgeons to successfully achieve cataract surgery on 2 sea lions.

Novel ventilator is used to perform eye surgery on sea lions

Dechra introduced the Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC), a sustainability tool for veterinary perioperative care, at the 2025 World Congress of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (WCVAA) in Paris, France. The checklist, adapted from the 

, a tool used in human medicine, is designed to help veterinary teams reduce waste and improve sustainability during anesthesia and surgery in equine and companion animal care.

In an announcement introducing the tool, Dechra said VGTC brings together equine and companion animal perioperative guidelines in a checklist with evidence-based content. The checklist was created over the course of 18 months by an “international expert working group” and was independently reviewed by “specialists worldwide.” According to the company, the checklist received endorsements from the following veterinary organizations

Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists

The charity partner of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), RCVS Knowledge

The idea for the checklist came from Lizzie Barker, MRCVS, MBBCh, technical marketing expert at Dechra, who came across the human medical version during her studies. According to Dechra, Barker reached out to specialists at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and realized there was a demand for a similar tool in veterinary medicine. Thereafter, a cross-specialism collaborative team was created.

“The VGTC is a milestone in advancing OneHealth principles and sustainability in veterinary care,” Barker said in the Dechra announcement.

 “By uniting our profession under a common set of green perioperative practices, we can make a tangible difference for both animal and environmental health.”

According to Dechra, the tool’s launch was one of the main focus points at the 2025 WCVAA, which took place September 15-19.

In a news release, Dechra said it will roll out an internal training and awareness campaign following the VGTC’s launch. The company also has plans to initiate an education project in collaboration with AVA and RCVS Knowledge.

Dechra supports launch of World’s First Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist. News release. Dechra. September 17, 2025.

The tool brings together equine and companion animal guidelines.

Veterinary sustainability checklist for perioperative care is launched

In this episode of Vet Watch, our host Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, welcomes Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, to talk about 

From protection to poison: What went wrong

Moving on to endoparasites, those that kind of live inside of our pets, the American Heartworm Society, states heartworm is considered at least regionally endemic in each of the contiguous 48 states. Thus, all dogs and cats in the lower 48 really should be on prevention. So what are the most common drugs that we use for those and are those safe?

: Yeah, so the most common ones are going to be the avermectins or the macrocyclic lactone. So those are like ivermectin, Moxidectin, in those types of that class of drug usually have a wide margin of safety when they're used appropriately, as prescribed. Typically, what we see more of an issue is becoming the horse paste, the ivermectin horse paste, which is much more concentrated than the dog or cat heartworm preventative, or maybe the owner has dewormed their horse. Maybe the horse spit some of it out. The dog came in and ingested that. Because they were, of course, helping when all of that was going on. Or maybe they're using something for livestock, for cattle, and a very concentrated formula they either gave some orally or placed them along the back to help with that. 

Again, thinking that 1 or 2 drops isn't going to hurt anything, but they're at extremely high concentration compared to what is given for a dog or a cat. And so these are ones that we'll start to see some significant neurologic signs as well. We'll see significant lethargy, ataxia. We can see tremors and seizures in our patients as well. For that, and with those, a lot of times pet owners, they think, you know, a 1.87% concentration for a horse paste, it sounds really low. It sounds extremely low, but we're dosing our dogs and cats in micrograms, and cattle the concentration of 1% which is 10 milligrams per mil. Again, when we're dosing micrograms for that small animal patient, 1 or 2 drops can really be potentially life-threatening.

It seems simple, but looking at the species that it's labeled for is a key thing for pet owners.

Absolutely, if it doesn't show that your species is on the label, specifically, don't use it. Consult your veterinarian first to see if it is something that can be used, especially when we're talking about our exotic pets, our pocket pets. Most labels are going to just talk about dogs or cats or the livestock labels will talk about which, you know, which livestock it's approved for, but certainly check with your veterinarian before giving anything. 

And it's always disheartening to see when somebody gave a product because they were trying to save money, and then they have thousands of dollars in medical bills because of what has happened when they had good intentions, and certainly the best of intentions, for helping that particular animal, but always ask before you before you treat.

Sometimes expensive is cheap and cheap is expensive.

Videos

On this episode of Vet Watch, our host Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM and Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, break down the world of veterinary toxicology, offering essential insights and practical advice for clients pet toxicology consultationand veterinary professionals alike.