Veterinary technology

Dr. Cindy Cravens is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and practiced for 11 years in small animal private practice before returning to Mizzou as director of the bachelor of science in veterinary technology program. She works with veterinary students as a general practitioner in the Community Practice service at Mizzou's Veterinary Health Center and teaches veterinary anatomy and physiology and clinical math for veterinary technicians in Moberly Area Community College's veterinary technology program. She also spends time with workgroups that focus on raising the profile of the veterinary technology profession and emphasizing the importance of team-based patient care delivery. As director of the BSVT program, she focuses on curricular development, fair and appropriate transfer of veterinary technology credit to Mizzou and methods for improving non-traditional student success. Dr. Cravens is passionately committed to providing access to quality advanced veterinary technology education and establishing national standards for scope of practice and skills utilization aligned with the level of education in the profession.

Stephanie Gilliam earned her associate’s of applied science in veterinary technology from Jefferson College in 2005. She began working at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) Veterinary Health Center as the neurology/neurosurgery technician in 2007. She earned her certification in canine physical rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee in 2008 and her bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology from St. Petersburg College in 2011. She earned her veterinary technician specialist certificate in neurology from the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians in 2013. She earned her master’s degree in biomedical sciences with an emphasis in veterinary sciences through the University of Missouri in 2019. She is currently the director of the veterinary technology program at Moberly Area Community College. She teaches clinical veterinary neurology and small animal physical rehabilitation.

Dr. Tamara Hancock is a graduate of Iowa State University and is a board-certified veterinary clinical pathologist. She earned a master’s degree in veterinary patholobiology and a PhD in learning, teaching and curriculum at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou). She teaches clinical pathology in the didactic and clinical Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum and teaches communications and professional skills in various courses within the College and across Mizzou’s campus. She oversees the assessment of students in the College and coordinates activities within academic affairs. Her research focuses on the social context of learning, becoming and the belonging of veterinarians.

Marie Kerl earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University and master’s degrees in public health and business administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou). She completed specialty training at the Animal Medical Center in New York, and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Her duties include ensuring the highest quality veterinary care through education and support of hospital teams by providing medical guidance within our hospitals. Additional professional activities include online teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and veterinary disaster response. Dr. Kerl has received the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award from the students at Mizzou, and the Ira Zaslow Service Award from the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.

Dr. Keith Branson graduated from Kansas State University in 1985 and practiced in a mixed animal practice for four years. Dr. Branson then completed an anesthesia residency at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined the faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine where he taught clinical anesthesiology until his retirement as an anesthesiology assistant teaching professor.