This episode is sponsored by Blue Buffalo. Watch the full video version of the podcast episode here.
Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFC-V, is an award-winning small animal veterinarian with over 20 years of clinical experience, previous practice owner, industry consultant, educator, media expert, co-owner of Veterinary Ownership Advocates, and CEO of VANE (the Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs). She is committed to supporting innovation in the animal health space and mentoring and supporting young founders and practice owners.
Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, is an Ohio native and graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. While attending Cornell, she earned numerous awards, including the Dermatology Service Award for her aptitude in clinical dermatology and her research on Malassezia otitis externa. After graduation, she completed an internship at VCA Berwyn and Aurora Animal Hospitals in Chicago where she was awarded the Intern Abstract Award for her presentation on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Griffin returned to Cornell University in 2007 for a residency in dermatology and, after completing her residency-training program, served one year as an instructor of dermatology teaching fourth-year clinical students as well as lecturing to underclassmen on bacterial, fungal, and immune-mediated skin diseases. Griffin became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in August 2010 and joined the Animal Dermatology Group. She has a special interest in fungal and immune-mediated skin diseases as well as feline and equine dermatology. She enjoys lecturing to fellow veterinarians, mentoring residents, and teaching the veterinary students who extern with her. Griffin also stars in the Nat Geo WILD television series, “Pop Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya,” which highlights the challenging and mysterious cases she encounters in veterinary dermatology. Griffin always strives to care for her patients as if they are her own pets and loves building a long-lasting relationship with their pet parents. Outside of work, Griffin enjoys spending time with her family and pets. She is happily married to Forrest Cummings, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), a veterinary internal medicine specialist, and they have 3 children - Caden and boy/girl twins, Coby and Carter. They have two cats, Donut and Peach Coffee, and two dogs, Guri and Magic. She loves traveling, entertaining and working out.
Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD, is an Upstate NY native who grew up in the hallways of Cornell's vet school. She tried her hand at vocal performance (opera) in undergrad at Indiana University and in spite of having a blast singing all day long, she decided that her first true love, animals, offered a more stable and satisfying career. She graduated from Cornell's vet school in 2012 and then completed a large animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia. Mixed animal general practice kept her busy for the next few years where she also found herself falling in love with dermatology. She made her way back to Cornell and completed a dermatology residency after which she stayed on as faculty. When not ooing and aaahing over the grossest skin you can find Julia playing with her three bully-breed dogs (the squish!), singing in a rock cover band, or riding any horse that she can sit on.