OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Bio for Dr. Pardo:
Dr. Mariana Pardo is a trailblazing force in the world of veterinary medicine, exemplifying the transformative power of dedication and education. In 2009, she embarked on her journey at Universidad Mayor, Chile, where she laid the foundation for her remarkable career.
Her pursuit of excellence led her to the University of Georgia and the University of Florida, where she honed her skills through not one, but two emergency and critical care internships. Driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge, she then pursued her emergency and critical care residency at Cornell University.
Dr. Pardo is more than just a skilled practitioner; she is a bilingual ambassador for knowledge and change. As an international speaker, she bridges the gap between cultures, sharing her expertise far and wide. Her prolific contributions extend beyond the lecture hall; she has authored multiple articles and book chapters, leaving an indelible mark on the field.
In a digital age, Dr. Pardo has leveraged the power of social media through her platform @criticalcareveterinarian, bringing accessible continuing education to a global audience. Her dedication to teaching is not just a profession; it's a calling. She is on a mission to give back to the Latin American community, generously participating in numerous continuing education programs.
However, Dr. Pardo's influence extends beyond her professional achievements. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine, and her commitment is evident in her role as a member of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
In 2024, Dr. Pardo's life journey led to the inspiration to create Global Instruction for Veterinary Empowerment or GIVE, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has the mission of creating global veterinary advancement by empowering sustainable specialty-level care in areas where these services are not available or cost-prohibitive.
Dr. Pardo's journey is an inspiring testament to the heights one can reach through unwavering dedication, education, and a deep commitment to making veterinary medicine more inclusive and accessible for all.
Mariana Pardo BVSc, MV, DACVECC
(She/Her)
President & Founder
Erik Zager, DVM, DACVECC is a board-certified Emergency and Critical Care specialist, managing partner, and department head of the Emergency and Critical Care services at Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency (PASE).
Dr. Zager attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor of arts in animal behavior. He went on to Cornell University for his doctor of veterinary medicine. After earning his DVM in 2013 he completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the New York City Animal Medical Center. He followed his rotating internship with a specialty internship in emergency and critical care at Tufts University in Massachusetts. He returned to Cornell University for his 3-year emergency and critical care residency. Following his residency, Dr. Zager moved to Hong Kong to set up a critical care department at one of Asia’s few veterinary specialty hospitals. After 3 years in Hong Kong, Dr. Zager returned to the USA to help found Philadelphia Animal Speciality and Emergency.
Dr. Zager has a passion for teaching, presenting at veterinary medical conferences throughout the country. His other professional interests include the treatment of heat stroke, sepsis, endocrine emergencies, intoxications, and the use of focused ultrasound in the critically ill.
Erik Zager DVM, DACVECC
(He/Him)
Vice President & Treasurer
Dr. Leah Jackson, VMD
UPENN SAS ’99 and VMD ’03 grad, VIRMP accredited medical/surgical internship, 5 years experience working with board certified surgeon, USDA accredited, ultrasound training at Universal, surgical/ultrasound/endoscopy training at CSU TMI, ER training at VEG
20y experience in GP, urgent care, ER, dentistry, surgery, endoscopy, ultrasound, client experience and medical operations in both private and corporate practice.
10+y experience as leader, private coach, and organizational coach in Medical Operations. Formal leadership training in communication, EQ, engagement, conflict management, feedback, and development (Situational Leadership, Sally Ryan coaching, RP Coaching, and L&D lecturer at VEG).
Currently Fractional Head of Vet Med at Juno Vet; consultant for Guardian Veterinary Specialists; Coach and owner of VMD Coaching and Consulting, Inc.
Leah Jackson, VMD
(She/Her)
Secretary
Alyssa is the Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of EVT (Empowering Veterinary Teams®) where she oversees the content development, clinical skills training, and overall vision of the company. She co-founded EVT to provide training programs, RACE-approved CE , training materials & coaching/learning opportunities for veterinary practices, as well as content development and training directives for veterinary industry service providers.
Alyssa graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BS in Marine Biology which led her to the education/conservation track. Ultimately her desire to learn and do more led her to transition to the veterinary field where she attained an AS in Veterinary Technology from Manor College and added CVT to her credentials.
She has 20 years of veterinary experience and has worked in numerous sectors of the industry. Throughout her tenure she has held multiple leadership roles including Lead Veterinary Technician, Adjunct Professor and Education & Development Coordinator.
As her career has shifted along with EVT Alyssa is also thrilled to be a member of the Board of Directors for Pawsibilities VetMed, an advisor for BlendVet, and the Director of MentorVet Tech as well as a co-founder & the Director of Veterinary Strategy for nûrtûr.
Throughout the past few years, Alyssa has worked with many amazing teams in our profession all over North America, spoken at multiple national conferences, co-authored a guidebook, written a textbook chapter & several articles, and has also been featured on multiple podcasts.
Alyssa Mages BS, CVT
(She/Her)
Bio: Aaron Massecar, MA, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council. After completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Guelph in 2011 and then teaching for 5 years, Dr. Massecar transitioned to veterinary medicine where he believed he could have a greater impact than what could be done in academic philosophy. His first work in veterinary medicine was with Texas A&M where he helped to build the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy and the Veterinary Innovation Summit. He later started working on telemedicine with the Veterinary Innovation Council in 2017. While at VIC, he helped to build educational programs for the North American Veterinary Community and later became the Senior Vice President of Learning at the NAVC. A couple of senior executive positions with Colorado State University’s Translational Medicine Institute and the Veterinary Emergency Group, Dr. Massecar is now back at the Veterinary Innovation Council and helping to drive awareness across the industry in domains such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence. Aaron and his wife live in Colorado with their three dogs and two cats.
Aaron Massecar, MA, Ph.D
(He/Him)
Dr. Jodi Boyd received her D.V.M. from Ontario Veterinary College before pursuing additional training in shelter medicine at Cornell University. Her drive to advocate for people and their pets led to work in a variety of animal welfare organizations across the United States. She loves being a voice for homeless shelter animals and providing solutions, through community outreach and access to care, for owners that experience barriers to veterinary care for their beloved pets. Her passion for teaching and helping the next generation of veterinarians find their joy has been a common thread throughout her career, and led her to her current role at Colorado State University. She enjoys guiding students through the "grey areas" of veterinary medicine, focusing on the "why," and being there for "aha" moments in learning. Beyond her professional life, Dr. Boyd likes to travel and experience new cultures, find zen on the yoga mat, and spend time with her husband and fur family!
Jodi Boyd DVM
(She/Her)
Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, is the chief veterinary officer for dvm360® — an MJH Life Sciences® company — who oversees content strategy and development and is the brand voice and personality for dvm360®’s multimedia channels. As a charismatic leader, he brings wit, humor, and authenticity to animal health care as the host of a new web-based talk show, dvm360 Live!™, The Vet Blast Podcast, continuing education webinars, and live media broadcasts.
Christman also has been in private practice and shelter medicine for 18 years and is currently a member and treasurer of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. He received his DVM degree from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa, and his MBA from Aspen University in Denver, Colorado.
Adam Christman DVM
(He/Him)
Dr. Tandi Ngwenyama, DVM, DACVECC, is a clinician educator in emergency and critical care at Oregon State University. She is dedicated to enhancing the teaching process through evidence-based methods. Driven by a deep curiosity about learning mechanisms, she empowers students to become effective learners. Dr. Ngwenyama champions inclusive pedagogy to create welcoming learning environments for students of all backgrounds. Her goal is to prepare students as skilled clinicians, adaptable learners, and responsible global citizens while upholding high-quality patient care.
Thandeka Ngwenyama DVM, DACVECC
(She/They)
Dr. Luis Tello graduated with honors from the University of Chile in 1987, he began his faculty career in radiology and nuclear medicine before moving to small animal medicine. In addition to penning three books on emergency medicine, Dr. Tello enjoys traveling around the world lecturing in front of international congresses and providing continuing education through seminars and programs in more than 49 countries.
Luis Tello MV, MS, DVM
(He/Him)