The American Heartworm Society was founded in early 1974 by a group of veterinary practitioners and scientists concerned about heartworm disease. Since then, the Society has continued to thrive and grow. Active membership is open to all veterinarians and scientists with interests in any aspect of heartworm disease. Membership as a Subscriber or Student Member is also available to other individuals interested in keeping abreast of the latest developments in this area.
The American Heartworm Society is governed by an Executive Board made up of veterinary practitioners, academicians and researchers. Executive board members are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the Society and volunteer hundreds of hours of time in the Society’s service. Only members in private clinical practice may serve as President. To reach any of our board members, send an email to info@heartwormsociety.org.
The American Heartworm Society is an international organization, with members from five continents and 13 countries.
Officers
President
Jennifer Rizzo, DVM, is an Emergency Veterinarian at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, and Founder of IntrovetTM (formally Lone Star Veterinary Academy).
Immediate Past President
Chris Duke, DVM, is co-owner of Bienville Animal Medical Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Vice President
Chris Adolph, DVM, MS, DACVM (Parasitology), is a Veterinary Specialist (Parasitology) at Zoetis based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Secretary/Treasurer
Angele Bice, DVM, is the owner of Summerville Pet Clinic in Summerville, South Carolina and also practices shelter medicine part-time at Dorchester Paws and the Charleston Animal Society.
Editor
Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), is a tenured Associate Professor of Parasitology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Research Chair
Charles Thomas (Tom) Nelson, DVM, is Medical Director at the Animal Medical Centers of N.E. Alabama, based in Anniston, Alabama.
Symposium Program Chair
Andrew Moorhead, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), is an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia and is Director and Primary Investigator of the Filariasis Research Reagent Resource Center in Athens, Georgia.
Executive Board Members
Marisa Ames, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and AHS Triennial Symposium Program Co-Chair.
Blue Brawner, MS, DVM, is the owner of PetVet Animal Health Center in Auburn, Alabama.
Elizabeth Clyde, DVM, is the owner of Clyde’s Animal Clinic in Mattoon, Illinois and the Animal Family Vet Care Center of Paris in Paris, Illinois.
W. Mark Cousins, DVM, DABVP (Feline Medicine), retired after 43 years of practicing feline medicine and as the owner of The Cat Practice Veterinary Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Uri Donnett, DVM, MS, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), is Chief Veterinarian at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison, Wisconsin.
Aliya Magee, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), is the Cardiology Section Chief and Assistant Professor of Veterinary Cardiology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Ex-Officio - Non-Voting
Dr. Melissa Bourgeois, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Virology, Immunology), is Director of Veterinary Insights and Medical Affairs at Merck Animal Health and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Doug Carithers, DVM, is Director of Applied Research and Publications at Boehringer Ingelheim in Duluth, Georgia.
Lisa Young, DVM, is Clinical Leader in Pet Health Parasiticides at Elanco Animal Health in Greenfield, Indiana.
John W. McCall, MS, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, Georgia.
Paola Dominguez-Lopez, CVT, is a veterinary technician with the Veterinary Community Outreach Program at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.
AHS Association Management Team
Sease Management, LLC serves as the Association Management Team of the American Heartworm Society. Please contact the following persons for specific needs:
Lisa Scott, AHS Executive Director
Partner, Sease Management, LLC
Director of the Association Management Team
Sponsor Contact, Triennial Symposium Coordinator, General Information
lisa.scott@heartwormsociety.org
Sonya Hennessy, AHS Association Manager
Partner, Sease Management, LLC
Financial Inquiries, Membership, Heartworm University
sonya.hennessy@heartwormsociety.org
Public Relations
Sue O'Brien
SKO’Brien Communications
obriensuek@gmail.com
