Leadership

Our 2025-26 Executive Board and Leaders

To get where our profession needs to go, it takes a dynamic group of people leading the way. Get to know our leadership team.
Executive Board
Shantel Julius

DVM, CCRP, CVA, CVSMT, CVFT

President

University of Minnesota CVM
Class of ’11

Owner of Julius Rehabilitation & Integrative Veterinary Services, LLC in Minnesota.

Currently lives in Columbus, OH where she owns and operates a house-call complementary-only practice.

Grace Buchanan

DVM, CVA

President-Elect

NC State CVM
Class of ’11

Owner of Hunt Country Equine, a 3 doctor ambulatory practice in North Carolina.

Jennifer Kareklas​

DVM, CVA, FAAVA​

Vice-President

Cornell University
Class of ’06

Currently lives in the New York area and is an integrative small animal veterinarian at Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital in North Greenbush, NY.

Bonnie Wright

DVM, DACVAA​

Immediate Past President

University of Colorado CVM
Class of ’95

Owner of Mistralvet-Veterinary Anesthesia Teaching and Support.

Carol Gifford

DVM, CVA, FAAVA

Secretary/Treasurer

Tufts University
Class of ’03

Member since 2001
Currently lives in Columbus, OH where she owns and operates a house-call complementary-only practice.

Tara Harrison

DVM, MPVM, DACZM, DECZM, CVA​

Director (2025-2027 2nd term)

Michigan State University’s CVM
Class of ’00

Associate Professor of Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Teela Jones​

DVM, MVetSc, DACVAA​

Director (2024-2026 1st term)

Western University of Health Sciences CVM
Class of ’14

She works at Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Nancy Martin

MS, DVM, CVA

Director (2025-2027 1st full term)

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Class of ’91

Jennifer Smallwood

DVM, MS, CVA, CCRP, CVFT, CVCH

Director (2024-2026 1st full term)

Texas A&M CVM
Class of ’03

Owner of Integrative Veterinary Wellness in Texas.

Shyvonne Mathias

DVM, MS, CCRT, CVAT

Director (2025-2027 1st term)

Ross University SVM
Class of ’17

AAVA House of Delegates to AVMA
Matthew E. Fricke

DVM, CVA, ANT-C

Delegate (2025-2029)

Washington State University
Class of ’94

Currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, and practices at McKenzie Animal Hospital.

Bonnie Wright

DVM, DACVAA

Alternate Delegate (2025-2029)

University of Colorado CVM
Class of ’95

Owner of Mistralvet-Veterinary Anesthesia Teaching and Support.