2024 Small Animal Continuing Education Series

Ilektra Athanasiadi, DVM, Dr Med Vet, MS, DACVR–Radiation Oncology
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology

Animal Cancer Care and Research Center

"Common Radiation Side Effects: Etiology and Management"

Dr. Ilektra Athanasiadi received her DVM from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece in 2006. Following her graduation, she worked for two years at a referral small animal clinic in Athens Greece. She then completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Hannover Germany in 2011. Subsequent to the Internship she worked for nearly three years in the Small Animal Clinic of University of Zurich, Switzerland. She undertook her doctoral studies while being appointed as a clinical oncology fellow in tandem at the same university. She then joined the Animal Oncology and Imaging Center in Zug, Switzerland where she worked under the supervision of two Radiation Oncologists (Dipl. ACVR-RO) and one Medical Oncologist (Dipl. ACVIM). Afterwards, she completed a residency in Radiation Oncology and earned a Master’s degree at Purdue University in 2019.

Dr. Athanasiadi joined the Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department at Virginia Tech University as a tenure track Assistant Professor in 2019. She is an active member of the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center in Roanoke Virginia. Her research interest is in One Health/Translational Medicine. She has been the principal investigator or co-investigator in clinical trials and translational projects which include using radiosensitizers and radioprotectors. She investigates advanced diagnostic modalities (MRI, CT) and modern radiation delivery techniques (VMAT, IMRT, IGRT) and how these advancements in technology affect radiation treatment planning, outcomes and radiation side effects. Furthermore, a significant component of her research work involves establishing animal models for radiation therapy experiments an designing and executing in vitro and in vivo radiation experiments.

Christina Vezza, DVM
Resident, Neurology

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

"Seizures in Small Animal Patients – A Review of The Basics"

Dr. Vezza is from Long Island, New York and graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences. She went to Auburn University for veterinary school. After veterinary school, she participated in a rotating internship and Neurology internship prior to starting her residency in Neurology at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Outside of neurology, Dr. Vezza enjoys indoor plants and cooking.

Micha C. Simons, VMD, MVEd
Associate Professor, Small Animal Surgery

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

"Wound Management: What’s in Your Toolbox?"

Dr. Micha C. Simons is an associate professor of small animal surgery focusing on soft tissue procedures. Before joining the college, Dr. Simons was an education fellow and then an associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at Lincoln Memorial University's Center for Innovation in Veterinary Education and Technology, where she also earned her Master’s of Veterinary Education. Dr. Simons graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and interned at Long Island Veterinary Specialists and the University of Missouri before completing a small animal surgery residency at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Levittown, Pennsylvania. She has also worked as a clinical assistant professor of small animal surgery at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Ivan Ravera, DVM, MS, PhD, ECVD Diplomate, EBVS
Assistant Professor, Veterinary Dermatology

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

"Canine Atopic Dermatitis: When Treatment is Not Working"

Dr. Ravera was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1982. He obtained his DVM degree in Argentina in 2006. He traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to start his residency program in veterinary dermatology in 2008. In 2011 he obtained a master’s degree in advanced Immunology. In 2012 he started his Ph.D. entitled “Deconstructing Canine Demodicosis”. In 2015 he obtained his Board certification in veterinary dermatology from the European College of Veterinary Dermatology and received his Ph.D. degree. After working in private practice, he got a position at a private University as an Assistant Professor in Valencia, Spain. In 2022 he moved to the US to work as an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University and after two years, he decided to move to Virginia to work as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. He is the Chair of the Education Committee of the Latin American College of Veterinary Dermatology and a funder member of the VetDermSustain Group.

Giulio Menciotti, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA
Assistant Professor, Cardiology

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

"Management of Refractory Heart Failure"

Dr. Giulio Menciotti obtained his DVM degree from Padua University (Italy) in 2012. Shortly after, he started his Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) and graduated in 2017 with a thesis focused on three-dimensional echocardiography. He continued his training with a residency program (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Cardiology) and his Master’s Degree at the VMCVM, where he is now working as an Assistant Professor. His main research interest involves echocardiography with a special focus on the use of three-dimensional echocardiography in canine and feline patients.

Mark D. Freeman, DVM, DABVP–Canine/Feline Practice, CVA
Clinical Associate Professor, Community Practice

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

"The Facts of Therapeutic Laser in Small Animal Practice"

Dr. Mark D. Freeman has been a member of the clinical teaching faculty in the Community Practice service of the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine for over 12 years. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture, and has utilized Therapeutic Laser for more than 10 years.