Pain Assessment to Support Patient Care, Practice Efficiency and Improved communication

Kristen Cooley is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in anesthesia and analgesia and a veterinary cannabis counselor. Her clinical work includes 15 years at the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine where she honed her passion and skill for anesthesia and pain management through managing routine and critical anesthetic cases and teaching in the DVM curriculum.

Currently, Kristen is the founder and CEO of the Wisconsin-based anesthesia consulting business, VAST, Veterinary Anesthesia Support and Training, where she helps clinics improve their practice of anesthesia and pain management through expert instruction and in-clinic training. Kristen is a published editor, author and illustrator of anesthesia-related textbooks as well as an internationally recognized and frequently sought-after speaker and award-winning instructor. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her 10-year-old twins, and a houseful of misfit pets.

Dr. Ralph Harvey is certified as a specialist by the American College of Veterinary
Anesthesia and Analgesia. He works as a consultant in practice and industry, promoting best
practices in anesthesia and pain management, including Fear Free practices and new advances in patient care. Dr. Harvey retired from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 2018, where he taught anesthesia, pain management, and related topics for 33 years. He has received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, the UTCVM Brandy Memorial Award, and the UTCVM 2011 Distinguished Alumni Non-Practice-Career Award. Dr. Harvey Chairs the Veterinary Advisory Board for BioTraceIT Corporation.

Dr. Harvey also enjoys serving the community as president of the Board of Directors for the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Knoxville Veterinary Medical Association.

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.