Annual Conference Technician Track Speakers
After a successful career in private practice, Dr. Danny Walker served as a professor of animal science at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT-M). Dr. Martin owned two private practices in Jackson, Tenn., for 32 years, specializing in feline medicine and heartworm disease. In 2010, he joined the design team for UT-M’s Veterinary Technology Program and managed the development of 10 clinical courses and more than 100 externship sites. During his career at UT-M, Dr. Martin participated in a variety of scholarly activities, co-authored published articles and made numerous community and professional presentations focusing on animal care and motivational topics in veterinary medicine. Dr. Walker earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from UT-M before completing his DVM at Auburn University in 1979.
Courtney Burbage is an LVT and has been part of the Auburn University Emergency and Critical Care team since 2013 as well as supervisor of the Small Animal ECC since 2023. Her interests include geriatric and hospice care, emergency and critical care and teaching technical nursing skills.
Dr. Pete Christopherson is a former Professor of Pathobiology at Auburn University. He earned his DVM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed a combined clinical pathology residency and graduate training program at Auburn. Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he later earned a PhD in veterinary hemostasis. He subsequently joined the Auburn CVM faculty and served as director of the clinical pathology and hemostasis laboratories until 2024.
Dr. Sue Duran is a consultant for Gates Healthcare Associates, Inc., in Veterinary Pharmaceutics and a former 43-year member of the Auburn CVM faculty, where she retired as Professor and Director of the Large Animal Pharmacy in the Department of Clinical Sciences. She has taught more than 2,200 continuing education programs on pharmacology, pharmacy law, the opioid crisis, compounding and the development of sustained release medications.
Thea Partin is an LVT and CNMT working in diagnostic imaging at the Auburn University CVM. Her career experience includes work in both animal and human hospitals. In addition to her technician credentials, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and an associate’s degree in Nuclear Medicine. She is preparing to take the imaging specialty boards in the near future.
Dr. Mark Pelham is Senior Professional Services Veterinarian for the Gulf Coast Region of Alabama and Mississippi with Merck Animal Health. In that role, he participates in various educational activities such as lecturing at veterinary conferences, association meetings, veterinary schools and practices.
After graduating from the Auburn CVM, he started a career in small animal medicine and surgery. He has been practicing for more than 27 years, which has given him valuable clinical experience in understanding the needs of his clients. Dr. Pelham has also served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps since 2009. He has been deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His passion is for work with service and working dogs. He collaborates with military and law enforcement K9 handlers to teach them Tactical Emergency Critical Care for their line of duty.
Katie Ray is an LVT working in large animal anesthesia at the Auburn University CVM. She earned an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technician degree in 2022. She has worked with a wide variety of animals including primates, lions, giraffes, tigers, hogs, horses, zebras, camels, pigs, kangaroos and goats.
Missy Streicher has been a veterinary technician for over 30 years with the last 25 dedicated to dermatology, first in a private practice setting and then at Auburn University. She has served on the organizing committee for the Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Technicians and has held a VTS in Dermatology since 2015, when the ADVT was recognized as a technician specialty by NAVTA (North American Veterinary Technician Association).