speakers


	Speakers

	George Flentke George Flentke, PhD, received his BS in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1982, his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988, and did his post doctoral research in Biochemistry/Medicinal Chemistry from 1988-1990 at Tufts University in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology. He has numerous publications and is currently employed as a scientist in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to many years of lagomorph care and fostering, George is the Chapter Manager of the Wisconsin House Rabbit Society. His pharmacology knowledge combined with his knowledge of rabbits has been of tremendous benefit to those seeking information on drugs that are beneficial for rabbits. Click here to read more about George Flentke.
	Joy Gioia Joy Gioia is simply a person who loves all animals and has dealt with them all of her life. She raised her first orphaned cottontails when she 10 years old using a home-made formula. She also raised many orphaned kittens; worked with and trained companion dogs; owned horses for 30 years and trained an unbroken, wild mustang taking him to a grand-national championship in the Spanish Mustang Registry. Joy spent six years in wildlife rehab, working with a wide variety of animals and birds and serving as a shift supervisor, cottontail and ICU specialist, training instructor, and board member of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. Joy has been a national House Rabbit Society Educator since 1998 and co-chapter manager for the Missouri House Rabbit Society since 1999. She fosters a large number of abandoned domestic rabbits and, with the volunteers of MO HRS in St. Louis, has helped over 1000 rabbits since 2000 and helped over 700 find new homes. She maintains several "sanctuary" cases (those unable to find homes due to health or behavioral issues), and stays abreast of the latest medical findings on rabbits to help care for those in her trust. In 2005, she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the national House Rabbit Society.
	Steven Glaeser, D.V.M. Dr. Steven Glaeser grew up in Texas and attended Texas A&M University from 1981-1984. He transferred to the University of Minnesota in 1984, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science in 1987 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1989. Dr. Glaeser gained valuable practice and emergency experience at animal hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rochester, New York, and the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Since joining Everything Pets Animal Hospital in 1999, he expanded his practice scope to include rabbits and small mammals. Through his affiliation with the Missouri House Rabbit Society, he has had extensive, daily exposure to all aspects of rabbit medicine, surgery, and dentistry. Dr. Glaeser has also been a speaker at the St. Louis Rabbit Expo 2005, sponsored by the Missouri House Rabbit Society.
	Heather F. Hilvert, D.V.M. Dr. Heather F. Hilvert completed her undergraduate studies at Arkansas State University. She received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She was distinguished there with awards of excellence in avian medicine and emergency and critical care. Her medical training was tailored to fit her special interest in avian and exotic animal medicine. She completed externships under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins in San Diego, California, Dr. Tom Chlebecek in Kailua, Hawaii, (both of whom are well known nationally for their knowledge of rabbits) and Dr. David Kersting in St. Louis, Missouri. In June of 2002, she accepted an associate position at Bird Medicine and Surgery in Chesterfield, Missouri. Dr. Hilvert’s clinical practice is primarily devoted to rabbit and bird patients. She has an eight year old New Zealand White rabbit, Chester, who continues to serve as an inspiration. Dr. Hilvert and her husband, John, have two daughters, Grace and Faith.
	Susan Kelleher, D.V.M. Dr. Susan Kelleher graduated from the University of Tennessee - College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. She worked for a year in a small animal practice in Miami, Florida, before moving to Hollywood Animal Hospital, a large referral center in Broward County, Florida. Dr. Kelleher spent almost three years building an avian and exotic practice at the Hollywood Animal Hospital before opening her own clinic in June 1999. She currently owns and practices at Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital in Pompano Beach, Florida. This practice caters exclusively to avian and exotic patients. She regularly has veterinary students from the U.S. and abroad visit for preceptorships. It is in this capacity that she fulfills her love of both practicing medicine and teaching. Dr. Kelleher is an active member of the House Rabbit Society of Florida. She is very involved in rabbit rescue, sees more rabbits than any other veterinarian in southern Florida, and performs the majority of spay/neuters and other medical procedures on their rescued rabbits.
	Christine Moritz, D.V.M. Dr. Christine Moritz completed her undergraduate studies at Texas A & M University from 1981 – 1984 where she majored in Animal Science. In 1984, she was accepted as one of two curator’s scholars to the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. She was also appointed Freshman Class President by the Dean’s office. In 1988, she graduated with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from UMC and won an award for excellence in internal medicine. After graduation, Dr. Moritz spent two years in clinical practice in west St. Louis County. In 1990, she then accepted a position at the National Animal Disease Center where she studied Leptospirosis in swine, a disease that causes reproductive failure in that species. In 1991, she took a position at Coble Animal Hospital, an AAHA member hospital in Springfield, Illinois. Then in October 1993, she and her husband, Dr. Christopher Moritz, started Everything Pets Animal Hospital. Today, twenty percent of the practice is comprised of lagomorphs (rabbits). In August 2005, Dr. Moritz and her partners, Christopher Moritz, D.V.M. and Steven M. Glaeser, D.V.M., purchased the Creve Coeur Animal Hospital practice and merged the practices into the newly renovated Creve Coeur Animal Hospital building. In addition to her duties at Creve Coeur Animal Hospital, she and her husband are raising their three children Katie, Will and Tim while caring for their two dogs, Camden and Mallory.
	Christopher Moritz, D.V.M. Dr. Christopher Moritz completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he majored in Fisheries and Wildlife from 1981-1984. In 1984, he was accepted to the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. He was elected to lead the class as Senior Class President in 1987, and graduated in 1988 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UMC. After graduation, Dr. Moritz practiced for two years at Kirkwood Animal Hospital, gaining valuable experience in small and exotic animal internal medicine and surgery. In 1990, he took a position at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, studying Brucellosis, a disease that affects both cattle and humans. In 1991, he took a position in Springfield, Illinois, gaining further private practice experience. In October 1993, he returned to St. Louis, with his wife Dr. Christine R. Moritz, and started Everything Pets Animal Hospital. Everything Pets Animal Hospital (now Creve Coeur Animal Hospital) has been providing veterinary care for the Missouri House Rabbit Society since 1998. Today, twenty percent of the practice is comprised of lagomorphs (rabbits). Dr. Moritz has been a regular speaker at the annual St. Louis Rabbit Expo sponsored by the Missouri House Rabbit Society. In September 2004, Dr. Moritz and his partners, Christine R. Moritz, D.V.M. and Steven M. Glaeser, D.V.M., purchased the Creve Coeur Animal Hospital practice and merged the practices into the newly renovated Creve Coeur Animal Hospital building. In addition to his duties as a staff veterinarian, he serves as the Hospital Director.
	Robin Rysavy, DMA Robin Rysavy has been involved in domestic rabbit rescue and care for over 20 years. In 1995, her conviction to save domestic rabbits was so strong that she founded the House Rabbit Society of Missouri- Kansas City, a chapter of the nationally known House Rabbit Society. Robin follows the rabbit medical world intensely, and has co-authored the medical book "Rabbit Health 101" which was reviewed by Noella Allen, DVM. Robin’s other love is music. She has a Master of Arts degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music, CUNY (1985), and earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts from UMKC in 1997. Her specialties are concert piano and flute. She teaches as well as performs. Occasionally, Robin combines the love of rabbits with her music and holds concert recitals to raise funds for the Missouri House Rabbit Society.
	Susan Smith, Ph.D. Susan Smith, Ph.D. is Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications on the functions of nutrients and dietary agents as they affect the developing and adult animal. She has trained numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, as well as one D.V.M., and her research program is supported by both federal and private non-profit organizations. Dr. Smith received her B.S. in biochemistry from Purdue University, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was a post-doctoral research fellow in physiology at Harvard Medical School. In 1990 she joined the faculty at the UW-Madison. Dr. Smith has had house rabbits for nearly 40 years, and she and her husband manage the Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, where over 300 rabbits have passed through their foster home since 1994. She has written on rabbit nutrition for the textbook "Rabbit Production," the magazine "Rabbits USA," and numerous websites and newsletters for rabbit rescue organizations such as HRS. She greatly enjoys the opportunity to use her nutritional and scientific knowledge to improve the health of companion rabbits.