Immune Thrombocytopenia: ACVIM Consensus Update and Diagnostic Strategies

Dr. Kidd received a Bachelor of Science in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her DVM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM). After a few years in private general small animal practice, she returned to the UW-SVM for residency training and board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in small animal internal medicine. After serving as a Clinical Instructor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the UW-SVM, Dr. Kidd pursued research training at the Vector-Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, under the mentorship of Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt. There she obtained a PhD in Immunology with a minor in Molecular Biology. Her PhD research centered on the molecular characterization of spotted fever rickettsiosis in dogs. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute studying mechanisms of thrombosis in pro-inflammatory states. After her fellowship, Dr. Kidd worked for 15 years at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, where she has been a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine with Tenure since 2020. Dr. Kidd’s clinical and research interests include vector-borne disease and the role of undetected infection in immune-mediated diseases, mechanisms of thrombosis in pro inflammatory states, and clinical reasoning. She has enjoyed collaborative clinical research projects investigating the pathophysiology of immune-mediated and vector-borne disease with internal medicine specialty practices in Southern California, North Carolina State University, Colorado State University, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Kidd is the recipient of the Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence, The North Carolina State University Monica Menard award for Pathobiological Research, and The Zoetis award for Veterinary Research Excellence. As a Clinical Instructor at the University of Wisconsin some special clients established the “Mac the Miracle Dog Scholarship” for veterinary students in Mac’s and Dr. Kidd’s honor to “acknowledge a special presence and excellent bedside manner with patients and their families.” Dr. Kidd served on the Morris Animal Foundation Scientific Advisory Board from 2017-2020. She is currently an Associate Editor for Infectious Disease for the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She served as Co-Chair for the 2019 ACVIM Consensus Statement for the Diagnosis of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs and Cats and currently serves as a Co-Chair and Domain Chair for the 2022 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Consensus Statement for the Diagnosis and treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia in Dogs and Cats. Linda lives in Carlsbad, California with her husband, dog and three cats. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, running, hiking, walking, going to the beach and anything having to do with enjoying nature and the outdoors.

Dr. Shannon Sura is the diagnostics medical education lead in point-of-care platforms with Zoetis. She earned her DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, and her marketing focused MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carry School of Business. She has more than 20 years of knowledge and experience having worked as an associate veterinarian, private practice owner, medical director, and a professional services veterinarian with various companies. Dr. Sura maintains her clinical connection when employed in industry by working as a relief veterinarianin both general practice and emergency medicine. Dr. Sura’s passion in practice is education that increases efficiency and proficiency within the hospital and promotes service marketing to help drive better value to increase uptake of gold standard recommendations.

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.