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Betsy Charles is a 2003
graduate of Washington State University College of
Veterinary Medicine. She developed an interest in
lameness and equine imaging while working closely with
Dr. Bob Schneider, a pioneer in equine MRI. Her senior
thesis summarized an AQHA project investigating the use
of MRI in furthering our understanding of navicular
disease.
After graduation from veterinary school, she completed a
one-year internship at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in
Bonsall, CA, a large referral hospital specializing in
equine medicine and surgery. During this internship, she
continued to pursue her interest in equine radiology by
working with Dr. Norm Rantanen. |
After a year in the field, she was given the opportunity to
narrow her focus and became the supervising veterinarian at
Equest Diagnostic Imaging Center, a clinic solely devoted to
equine imaging and lameness. This has allowed her to combine
her love for equine imaging with leadership as it applies to
veterinary medicine.
Her passion is to make a difference in equine veterinary
medicine for both horses and the practitioners who care for
them by becoming a leader in the field. To that end, she is
currently pursuing a master’s degree in organization
leadership from Biola University. This is her second year
facilitating at the VLE.
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 Richard
M. DeBowes is a Professor of Surgery and the Associate Dean
for Veterinary Development and External Relations in the College of
Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (WSU). Rick also
currently serves as the Director of the Professional Life Skills
Program. Rick holds a Masters Degree in Veterinary Surgery from
Washington State ('82) and a DVM from the University of Illinois
('79) as well as BS degrees from Illinois and Massachusetts. He is a
Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, a former
chair of Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University (94-99) and
Washington State University (00-06) a member of the AVMA House of
Delegates, an active contributor to organized veterinary medicine
(KVMA, WSVMA, ACVS, AAEP, Vet Partners), a former Regent of the ACVS
and a past president of several national veterinary organizations
including the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC)
and the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC).
Although formally trained as an equine clinician/surgeon and engaged
for most of a 30 year career as a veterinary clinical educator and
academic surgeon, Dr. DeBowes has spent much of the past 9 years of
his career focusing on promoting change within the profession and
within student and program needs in Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
and specifically, how best to equip students with the skills they
need for success and continued professional growth based on the
KPMG, Bayer Brakke and PDI studies. Rick has written over 100
manuscripts and 30 book chapters for publications and has presented
over 400 invited presentations to colleagues across four
continents. His greatest love is being a father. His hobbies are
boating/sailing, scuba, flying, and target shooting. An avowed ESTJ
(Myers Brigg), his most important personal values are honest,
compassion, and empathy. He lives with his wife Pam and their two
children Andrew and Laura (Lollie).
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 Suzanne
M. Kurtz, PhD was a Professor of Communication,
joint appointed in the Faculties of Education and Medicine,
University of Calgary from 1976 through 2005. Effective
January, 2006, she joined the faculty of Washington State
University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is
The Nestle-Purina Professor of Clinical Communication and
Director of the Clinical Communication Program for
veterinarians and veterinary students. Focusing her career
on improving communication practices in health care and
education and on developing evidence-based curricula and
methods for teaching and learning communication skills, she
has worked with a variety of groups: medical and education
students, residents, practicing physicians, nurses, allied
health professionals, patient groups, veterinarians and
students of veterinary medicine, teachers, and
administrators in health and education.
For 28 years she directed the undergraduate communication
curriculum in Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine and continues to
consult nationally and internationally at all levels of
medical education regarding the specifics of setting up
effective communication programs for medical and veterinary
students, residents, faculty and staff. In 1998 she began
working with colleagues in the Ontario Veterinary College to
pioneer communication programs for veterinary medicine. In
the years since then, Dr. Kurtz has been an initiator and
organizer of four International Conferences on Communication
in Veterinary Medicine and has worked with academic
institutions and individual practitioners to enhance
veterinary-client-patient communication.
Along with numerous articles, her publications include two
widely recognized companion books co-authored with JD
Silverman and J Draper entitled Teaching and Learning
Communication Skills in Medicine and Skills for
Communicating with Patients (Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford,
England and San Francisco – originally published in 1998,
revised 2nd editions published in 2005).
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 Kathleen
L. Ruby is a licensed
professional clinical counselor with
more than twenty years experience in the
counseling and educational fields. She
has been the head of WSU's College of
Veterinary Medicine Counseling, Wellness
and Professional Skills development
department on the veterinary school
faculty for the past eleven years. In
this capacity, she has counseled
veterinary students and faculty, served
as a faculty member teaching
professional skills, and developed and
conducted programs and workshops related
to professionalism, communication
skills, stress management, life balance,
and leadership within the college, and
throughout the profession. In addition,
Dr. Ruby is co-editor-in-chief of a new
journal devoted to veterinary team
professional skills called the
Exceptional Veterinary Team (EVT).
She is a frequent speaker at state
veterinary associations and practice
venues. With a background and training
in individual and organizational
psychology, human development and
leadership, Dr. Ruby brings a unique mix
of people-skills, psychological
insights, and programmatic ideas to the
profession of veterinary medicine. Her
special research interests include the
psychology of high achieving individuals
and the development of emotional
competence in medical professionals.
In addition to her professional life, Dr. Ruby has two beautiful daughters;
Rachael who is attending vet school and Andrea who is finishing up her
registered nursing degree. Her husband, Wayne, is a family practitioner in a
large medical practice. Her favorite activity is to walk with Sadie, Otis and
Pepi, the family dogs down by the pond on their country home.
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Dr. Jeff Thoren is the
founder of Gifted Leaders LLC. His personal mission is to
bring joy and fulfillment to individuals and to transform
organizations into renewed workplaces by emphasizing
effective leadership and nurturing a positive and motivating
team culture.
This passion for leadership and effective organizational
culture has developed over a 25-year professional career
including experience in both private and corporate sectors.
An International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coach
trained at the Adler School of Professional Coaching, Jeff
has a strong interest in liberating personal and
organizational potential, particularly through coaching
relationships with individuals and teams.
A graduate of Washington State University with a bachelor's
degree in Veterinary Science (1981) and a Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine Degree (1984), Dr. Thoren worked as an
associate veterinarian in small animal practice in western
Washington from 1984-87. In 1987, he left private practice
to serve as a Professional Service Representative with
Hill's Pet Nutrition. He stayed with Hill's until 1994 when
he joined Novartis Animal Health as the Regional Technical
Manager for the Pacific Sales Region before moving to
Greensboro, NC as Associate Manager of Professional Services
in 1995. He became Manager of Professional Services in 1998.
From October 2000 until June 2005, Jeff served as the
Director of Professional Recruitment and Development for
Pet's Choice, Inc., a family of 46 community veterinary
hospitals and specialty practices in five U.S. States. His
primary goal there was to help transform Pet's Choice into
an employer of choice within the veterinary profession.
Facilitators/Co-Facilitators
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 John
& Fay Batchelder. John is the Executive Director and Fay
is the Program Director at Ross Point Camp and Conference Center in
Post Falls, Idaho. John and Fay Batchelder have been in the camp and
conference field for approximately 19 years, and actively involved
in team building and outdoor adventure for 17 years. John has a B.S.
in Zoology.
Previous to camping they toured with an International
Drama Group performing plays and leading drama and communication
workshops. John traveled with the group for 6 years traveling
through the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and
Fay was with the group for 3 years. It was there they met and were
married. They have three children, Zachary, Rachel, and Joel. They
love camping, climbing, skiing, motorcycles, music ….life!
Sarah Batchelder. Sarah has
been a fulltime Firefighter and Paramedic for the Washington Twp
Fire Dept. who provides the Fire and EMS service for Dublin,Ohio a
city on the NW corner of Columbus. She has been there for the last
10+years. She has a bad habit of working Part time as a FF/EMT-P as
well, for the City of Marysville on her off days. Too much of a good
thing and all... Sarah has been involved with team building
alongside John and Fay since they were directors at a nearby camp in
Ohio many years ago. She has been with the VLE and COLE since 2004.
Sarah was born to a marvelous Mother and hardworking Father,
who proceeded to try and replicate the perfection they had obtained
with her, and ended up with 5 boys for their efforts. Needless to
say Sarah’s outlook on life is somewhat skewed. She enjoys traveling
and trys to see everything on the road less traveled. She is an avid
self made renovator from necessity most times, ski patrols in the
winter (obviously) and keeps her sanity in the summer on a
motorcycle. She is the proud yet perplexed Alpha of her pack which
consists of Sadie, an 18mo. old English mastiff and the old girl,
Abby, a Lab/Rott. mix. She also provides shelter to a rabbit who
answers to the name of Jeffery on occasion.
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 Kelly
Farnsworth graduated from Washington State University in 1993.
He completed an equine ambulatory internship at The Ohio State
University and completed an Equine Surgery residency and Masters
degree at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, which is
part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine.
Dr Farnsworth is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary
Surgeons. Dr. Farnsworth is currently an Assistant Professor of
Equine Surgery at Washington State University, College of Veterinary
Medicine. His clinical and research efforts have been concentrated
in minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy, and lower limb lameness. |
 Carolyn
Wyatt is a licensed psychologist who joined the
Counseling and Wellness Deparment in the summer of 2005
after working for more than 20 years in her own private
psychology practice. Having grown up in a family of
veterinarians (father, uncle and brothers) she is familiar
with some of the rewards and challenges of the profession.
Her primary role in the veterinary college is that of
counseling students about the wide range of issues and
problems they deal with in their school and personal lives.
She also conducts workshops and presentations that address
common student problems such as learning difficulties, study
skills, relationship and communication problems, and job
search strategies.
Ron Cott, DVM; Associate
Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs and Director of
Development; College of Veterinary Medicine; University
of Missouri; Columbia, Missouri
Dr. Ron Cott is currently the Associate Dean for Student and
Alumni Affairs and Director of Development at the College of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia. He
received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the
University of Missouri in 1973. After spending three years
in the Army he entered into private companion animal
practice in the Kansas City, Missouri area for the next
twenty-five years. In 2001 he was appointed Associate Dean
for the College of Veterinary Medicine and in 2008,
additionally appointed Director of Development. Currently
he is course director/instructor for the College’s
“Fundamentals of Veterinary Business management” course and
teaches business in the clinical Community Practice
rotation. Dr. Cott also is a faculty member of the Bayer
Animal Health Communication Program, a program designed to
teach communications in a variety of areas found in
veterinary medicine. He provides consulting services for
private practices in the areas of practice management and
communications.
After more than thirty years of commitment to organized
veterinary medicine, local, state and national, he served in
the House of Delegates of the AVMA as the delegate
representing the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association
(MVMA)until retiring from that position in 2009. He has been
recognized as the “Veterinarian of the Year” for the MVMA,
“Alumnus of the Year” for the College of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Missouri, and has received the
University’s “Gold Chalk Award” in recognition of
outstanding achievements in the education, training and
development of graduate-professional students.
Upon the recognition of the Human Animal Bond theory in
veterinary medicine and its importance to the profession Dr.
Cott placed an emphasis on that subject while in practice.
As that concept grew and surveys revealed the need for
non-technical skills within the profession he developed
strong interest in that area of the profession. He has been
heavily involved with organized veterinary medicine and its
efforts to develop ways to incorporate non-technical skills
into the profession. Knowing that these skills help make a
veterinarian successful he has been active in implementing
them into the academic setting so that new graduates are
prepared as they enter practice and the profession. He
served on the SKAs committee, a sub-committee of the NCVEI,
which was one of the original committees in organized
veterinary medicine that promoted the importance of the
non-technical skills in the veterinary profession. Dr. Cott
founded the Veterinary Enrichment & Teambuilding (VET)
Orientation Program for the College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri in 2005. Dr. Cott is married to Jane
Cott, his wife of 37 years, and has two children and three
grandchildren. Family and veterinary students – his passion
for life.
 Jana
Davidson (ENFP extraordinaire) Currently holds the
position for AVMA GHLIT as the Director of Student Services.
Jana earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from
Oklahoma State University (’90) and holds current securities
and insurance licenses from the State of Florida.
She spends most of her time traveling throughout the year to
visit with students at campuses, conventions and leadership
training sessions across the nation to assist anyone in the
process of finding financial balance and planning for the
future.
Formerly, Jana spent her first career in medical research
and also taught research skills to medical students at the
university level. More recently, she worked with young
families in her financial planning practice, teaching
efficient spending and risk management techniques for
business and personal needs. Her primary goal is to provide
the right information and understanding to help others make
intelligent decisions about their future.
Jana’s personal time is found either in Florida with her
favorite dog, Phoebe, or visiting many friends and family
(including my VLE family) across the nation and abroad. Fine
dining, wine tasting and music, seeing new things and
meeting new people is a passionate pastime she plans to keep
doing until she’s done and seen it all.
 Aubrey
J Lavizzo is a 1970 Tuskegee University DVM and
long-time Denver CO small animal practitioner who has owned
his practice since 1973. In 2006, he designed and built an
American Animal Hospital Association-accredited hospital,
The Center for Animal Wellness, which provides externship
opportunities for Colorado State, Penn, Mississippi State,
Mizzou, Kansas State and Oklahoma State vet students. Dr.
Aubrey serves as VP of the Colorado Veterinary Medical
Foundation board, co-chairs the Colorado Alliance for
Cruelty Prevention. He is an advisor to the Pet Health
Network, the creator of The Children’s Museum of Denver’s
educational program “Ready, Vet, Go!” (an interactive
veterinary exhibit) and former consultant to the museum.
Aubrey is also the creator of the H-O-P-E program of the
Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation.
Servant Leadership is the foundation upon which Aubrey
has built his life. He proudly serves on the Admissions,
Orientation and Mentorship Committees of the Colorado State
University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences and is the Admissions Committee’s Practitioner
Diversity Representative. In the fall of 2009 he will
co-lecture the CSUCVMBS class, “Perspectives in Veterinary
Medicine.” A.k.a. ‘Dr. Zo,’ Aubrey was the first recipient
of the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary
Technicians ‘Advocate Award’ for his support of Colorado’s
CVTs in 2006, and in 2008 he was honored with a Colorado
Veterinary Medical Association ‘President’s Award’ for his
support and mentoring of veterinary students and recent
veterinary grads. Aubrey is featured in career planning on
the AAHA student website.
Aubrey is married to Gayle Brooks Quick. He is the proud
father of four sons and the beaming grandfather of Laila
Michelle Mascotti Lavizzo. Gayle and Aubrey are avid Denver
theater-goers. In the spring and early summer, the
consummate ENFP (Myers-Briggs) allows his ISFP to enjoy the
solitude of backpacking, hiking and photography in the
wilderness areas of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. His grandest
adventures have been two 7-day rafting/camping/hiking trips
down the Colorado River through 188 miles of the most serene
place on planet Earth, the Grand Canyon.
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Coordination/Print Materials
 Karen
Hornfelt. Clinical Communication and Leadership Program
Coordinator
- worked 27 years in K-12 education
- two years at the College of Veterinary Medicine
- Covey Trainer for 5 years
- Studied art
- Published illustrator
- Hobbies: Camping, fishing, backpacking, wildlife
photography, gardening
- Married 35 years w/ one daughter, one dog and one cat :)
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