Ditching the Itch with a Happy Skin Barrier

Dr. Linda Messinger is a practicing board-certified veterinary dermatologist in the Denver, Colorado area. She is also a consultant for Antech Diagnostics and Nutramax Laboratories. Dr. Messinger grew up on Long Island. The medical field has always fascinated her. Her love for animals and veterinary medicine began at the age of 7 when her family adopted a gray and white kitten and when she visited her grandparent’s farm in Germany. Dr. Messinger received both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Cornell University. After veterinary school, Dr. Messinger completed a one-year small animal internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and then a dermatology residency at the University of Florida. She has been board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) since 1993. Dr. Messinger has lectured on veterinary dermatology to a variety of professional and lay groups at the international, national and local level. In addition, she has authored and co-authored several scientific articles, review articles, and book chapters. To advance our understanding of skin diseases in animals and to help her patients,

Dr. Messinger has been involved in a variety of research projects and clinical trials related to veterinary dermatology. She has also been involved in the successful training of two veterinary dermatology residents. Her memberships include the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, American Veterinary Medical Association, and Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Messinger is on the ACVD Program Committee (Abstracts) for the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum. She enjoys all areas of veterinary dermatology. Her pet family includes dogs, fish and too many cats.

Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), originally from New Jersey, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing a small animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia, he finished his neurology/neurosurgery residency at Washington State University. There he developed a love for neuroimaging and the development of a novel neuronavigation device. After joining the faculty at the University of Missouri, he applied these interests to develop therapies for both animals and children with the rare neurodegenerative disorder known as Batten disease (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) and was awarded the young investigator award by the Batten Disease Support & Research Association for his work. He then moved to St Louis, Missouri, where he practiced for several years and developed the first hybrid private practice/academic neurology residency program, which continues today.

He currently practices at Charlotte Animal Referral & Emergency in North Carolina. In addition to his clinical and teaching responsibilities, Wininger owns and operates 3D Veterinary Printing, LLC, which creates anatomic models and customized surgical tools to aid veterinary surgeons and neurosurgeons around the world. He also is the founding treasurer of the Veterinary Neurosurgical Society, an active member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and adjunct professor for the University of Missouri. In his spare time, Wininger enjoys scuba diving, endurance sports, and exploring new places through their food.