Dr. Kristin Welch is the founder of DVM STAT Consulting. Her love of teaching, passion about all things veterinary medicine, and dedication to the field of Emergency and Critical Care led to DVM STAT Consulting - a platform for education that reaches far wider than was previously possible. Dr. Welch loves solving complicated cases, decoding clinical data and most of all, helping her veterinary colleagues succeed in their drive to provide the highest caliber medicine possible to their patients.  

A 2005 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine with Honors, she received the Small Animal Clinical Proficiency Award and the Wade O. Brinker Orthopedic Surgery Award.   Following an Internship in Medicine and Surgery at University of Pennsylvania in 2006, she completed a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Tufts University in 2010.  She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.  Dr. Welch relocated after residency to Charleston, SC where she helped grow the Southeast’s first VECCS Level I Emergency and Critical Care certified hospital as the Chief of Emergency and Critical Care.  Most recently, she cofounded a private specialty and emergency hospital in South Carolina.

Dr. Welch enjoys complicated anesthetic cases and patients with multiple metabolic, endocrine, cardiac, respiratory and other comorbidities.    She is proficient in mechanical ventilation and interventional procedures including tracheal stent placement.   She is proficient in diagnostic abdominal, thoracic and cervical ultrasound and enjoys upper GI endoscopy and endoscopic foreign body retrieval.  Dr. Welch has an equal love for Internal Medicine and ECC. Dr. Welch has a strong interest in trauma and fluid resuscitation, transfusion medicine and metabolic and respiratory emergencies. 

Dr. Welch has been an active lecturer since 2006 and loves teaching. She has been an adjunct lecturer for the Veterinary Technology program at Trident Technical College. She also teaches internationally though the online platform VetScope. She has published in the Journal of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and Clinical Veterinary Advisor. She is on the Veterinary Professionals’ NextGen NEXTBOARD as an advisor to the new generation of veterinarians.

Dr. Bell obtained her undergraduate degree in Biology from Arizona State University in 2011 and earned a DVM from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2015. She went on to complete a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, followed by a three-year emergency and critical care residency at Tufts University. She completed her residency in 2019, and earned board certification the same year as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Dr. Bell’s clinical and research interests include transfusion medicine, coagulation, acute kidney injury and sepsis. She enjoys complex cases and working closely with other doctors as a team to provide the best care for her patients. She is proficient in mechanical ventilation and has an interest in extracorporeal therapies and hemodialysis. Dr. Bell believes in a team approach and does her best to help families understand and manage their beloved pets’ conditions.

Dr. Bell lives in Maine with her wife, and outside of the clinic enjoys hiking, reading, travel, cooking, and wine tasting along with exploring everything that New England has to offer. She has a 9 year old Shepherd mix, Molly Jane, 4 year old Great Dane, Oberon, and 17 year old cat, Cannoli.

Dr. Nystrom received his undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University before completing his veterinary medical degree from the University of Tennessee. After spending a year in Massachussetts for a rotating internship, he returned to the University of Tennessee for an ECC internship and ECC residency. His current interests include electrolyte derangements and vasopressor therapy.

Dr. Nystrom has always loved animals and followed in his mother’s footsteps when he chose veterinary medicine. His favorite part of being a veterinarian is seeing animals close to death being discharged from the hospital and back home with their owners.

He was born and raised in Cary, NC, and considers himself a true local. In his spare time, Dr. Nystrom enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his wife and three children (2 daughters, 1 son).

Dr Lisa Murphy is originally from Galway, Ireland and completed her veterinary training in University College Dublin, Ireland. She emigrated to the US in 2013 and trained for board certification in veterinary emergency and critical care in New Jersey. She completed her residency in 2019, and earned board certification the same year as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Her interests include cardiovascular and endocrine emergencies.

Dr. Becca Walton is from Southern California and attended vet school at Western University of Health Sciences. She completed her rotating internship at University of Minnesota and went on to pursue an Emergency and Critical Care Residency at North Carolina State University. She finished her ECC residency and became board certified in 2016. From there, she joined Iowa State University as a Clinicial Assistant Faculty in Emergency and Critical Care, where she remained until 2022. Becca recently moved back to Southern California and practices at VCA West Los Angeles. Becca loves all aspect of ECC, however, her special interests include respiratory emergencies, mechanical ventilation, therapeutic plasma exchange and endocrine emergenices. She loves the opportunity to consult and work with clinicians all over the country!

Dr. Manhart received her undergraduate degree in cell and structural biology from the University of Illinois. She then went on to earn a Masters degree in veterinary pathobiology from the University of Illinois, and her research focused on chemotherapeutic drug resistance in dogs. She then worked as a research associate at Northwestern University, where she studied a protein involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. After realizing that research was not her “forever” career, she attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and subsequently worked as an emergency veterinarian for several years. With the goal to pursue advanced training, she completed a specialty internship in emergency and critical care in Pittsburgh, PA, then an emergency and critical care residency in Gaithersburg, MD.

After working as a full time criticalist for several years, Dr. Manhart opened a locum critical care business that she has continued through present day. She also worked as the Head of Veterinary Services for the AVMA Trust, providing support to veterinarians through claims review and global outreach, prior to joining the DVM STAT team.

Dr. Manhart’s primary interests are coagulation disorders, traumatic brain injuries, cardiovascular disease, polytrauma and endocrine disorders.

Dr. Manhart is originally from the Chicago area and returned home after living in many other areas. She loves the outdoors, horses, skiing, swimming and spending time with her son, husband, three dogs and cat.

Dr. Kelly Wessberg was born and raised in Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for both her undergraduate studies and veterinary school. Dr. Wessberg obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1994 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. Following veterinary school, Dr. Wessberg completed a one-year small animal internship at a private practice in Mesa, Arizona. She then went on to complete a residency in cardiology at California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles, under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Ettinger. She obtained her board certification in the specialty of cardiology (ACVIM- Cardiology) in 2004. After her residency, she remained on staff at California Animal Hospital.  Dr. Wessberg moved back to the Midwest in 2005 to be closer to family and has practiced as a cardiologist in the Chicagoland area since that time.  She is excited to provide assistance with cardiology cases to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity due to a variety of reasons, including lack of cardiologists in certain locations and long wait times for in-person consults.

Dr Simon Swift graduated from Cambridge University and started working in mixed animal practice before moving to exclusive small animal practice.  He rapidly developed a fascination for cardiology and passed the RCVS Certificate in Cardiology in 1990.  He became the advisor for the UK cavalier King Charles spaniel club from 1990 to 2014 when he moved to the USA advising them on degenerative valve disease.  He became a partner in large small animal practice in Manchester accepting referrals in cardiology.  He obtained his European diploma in cardiology after and alternative residency program at Liverpool University before moving into private referral practice in the UK. In 2013 he joined the Faculty of University of Florida.  Dr. Swift is immediate past Service Chief of Cardiology at University of Florida, Associate Editor of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a Medical Director. He is leading the development of an open heart program to perform mitral valve repair surgery in associate with the team at the Jasmine Clinic in Japan lead by Dr Uechi.  He enjoys teaching students and residents and helping clients and referring veterinarians. 

Dr. Bill Draper earned his BS in Biological Sciences from North Carolina State University and his DVM from Ross University.  He was an associate in a Small Animal General Practice in Illinois for a time before matriculating to Texas A&M University for his Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship.  He then completed a Neurology Specialty Internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego.  Dr. Draper completed his residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in 2012.  Dr. Draper joined the veterinary staff at the VCA Animal Specialty Center of South Carolina as Chief of the Neurology/Neurosurgery service in August of 2012 and became Medical Director in 2019. 

Dr. Draper is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Neurology sub-specialty.  He has completed the requirements for his Neurosurgery Certificate of Training and is permitted to perform the Cervical Disk Arthroplasty (CDA) surgical correction for Cervical Spondylomyelopathy (Wobbler Syndrome). Dr. Draper lectures locally, nationally, and internationally at conferences and at academic institutions.  

Dr. Draper goes home to his lovely wife Charla, 2 daughters, 2 sons, Marbles and Bob Ross the family cats, Pete the farm dog, and their horses Bea, Bella, and Kaz. He enjoys traveling, golf, homebrewing, and watching collegiate athletics in his spare time.

Dr. Tamulevicus grew up in New Jersey. She graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Prior to attending veterinary school, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College, followed by a Master of Science degree from Rutgers University. After graduating from TUSVM, she did an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey, and then completed a three-year residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Kansas State University in 2008. Since then, Dr. Tamulevicus, who became board-certified in Internal Medicine in 2010, has been practicing clinical medicine mostly on the east coast. She has strong interests in all aspects of internal medicine, and particularly enjoys complex endocrinology cases; immune diseases; gastrointestinal diseases; and infectious diseases. She has also been performing ultrasounds for most of her career. 

Dr. Tamulevicus is married to a veterinarian, and they have five crazy cats - Chadwick, Rosalita, Cassandra, Eli, and Mr. William. Dr. Tamulevicus’ personal interests include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, yoga, hiking, music, traveling, reading, and discovering new craft beers.

Dr. Garcia obtained her DVM degree from Colorado State University and completed a one year rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at the West Los Angeles Animal Hospital in California. She became board certified in Internal Medicine after completing her residency training at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Dr. Garcia’s areas of interest include gastrointestinal, hepatic, and endocrine disease. She currently works in a busy referral practice and when not seeing patients, enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and attempting to learn how to meditate.  

Dr. Mauro earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, after which she spent several years compiling research regarding marine mammals in Alaska, South Carolina, and San Diego. She later earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University. 

Dr. Mauro accomplished both a rotating internship in Washington D.C. and a specialty internship in Houston TX, prior to completing a small animal Internal Medicine residency at Kansas State University. Dr. Mauro was also trained in acupuncture through the Chi Institute.

Her professional interests include all types of medicine related diseases however, she has a keen interest in endocrine disease, feline medicine, gastrointestinal disease, and acupuncture/integrative modalities. Dr. Mauro enjoys consulting with veterinarians and is excited to have the opportunity to consult with veterinarians by phone. 

In her free time, Dr. Mauro enjoys being outdoors in the sun and near the water. Scuba diving, water sports, running, and hiking are some of her favorite activities, as well as swimming, cooking, and traveling. If you don’t find Dr. Mauro keeping busy outdoors she is bound to be enjoying an afternoon at home with her cat Bob.

Dr. Kris Kruse is a graduate of Oregon State University.  Following graduation, she spent a year in private mixed-animal practice in Seattle, WA before starting her advanced training at North Carolina State University where she completed a residency in anesthesia and a PhD in pulmonary physiology.  She is board certified as a Specialist in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by the ACVAA.  From 1992-2006 she was an Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin teaching anesthesia, and served as Section Head for the anesthesia service, as well as managing her own nationally funded research lab.  She currently resides in Reno, NV and works in the SF Bay Area for Sage Veterinary Centers.  Dr. Kruse is an Anesthesia consultant on Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and regularly teaches anesthesia CE to veterinarians and technicians.  She enjoys working directly in-clinic and remotely through tele-consulting to assist veterinarians and their staff advance safe scientific evidence-based delivery of anesthesia and analgesia to their patients.

Originally from Alaska, Dr. Heidi Shafford obtained her DVM from Colorado State University
in 2000 and attained board-certification by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2005. Following graduate work (PhD awarded in 2007) and a postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Shafford started working with private practice and research teams to improve anesthesia safety and patient comfort. For over 16 years she has operated an independent anesthesia specialty consulting practice in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Shafford provides anesthesia care for
high-risk patients, leads in-clinic workshops for teams, and lectures to veterinary professionals. She is particularly passionate about elevating anesthesia care for cats.

Dr. Shafford is excited to be expanding her reach by working with DVM STAT to enhance anesthesia safety for more patients than previously possible.

Dr. Taylor earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1998.  Mark's professional experience spans various roles, including general practitioner, head of the emergency department at the largest specialty hospital in South East Florida, and mobile ultrasound practitioner along the Atlantic coast. He completed a residency in clinical nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic University in 2006, subsequently serving as a consultant to Fresh Pet and Rayne Clinical Nutrition. During his tenure as a clinical nutritionist and mobile sonographer in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland, Mark assumed the role of interim director for Sound Technologies. He completed his Diagnostic Imaging Residency through Vital Rads and Texas A&M and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology.  

Proficient in all diagnostic modalities, he harbors a particular interest in neuroimaging, echocardiography, and abdominal ultrasounds, enriching the DVM STAT team with his extensive knowledge and expertise. Dr. Taylor is available for radiology review, ultrasound interpretation and advanced imaging including CT and MRI interpretations. STAT services are available. 

Dr. Kreig Embriano grew up in New England and received his Bachelor of Science at the University of Connecticut, followed by his veterinary degree from The University of Pennsylvania. His post-veterinary training includes a rotating small animal internship, a diagnostic imaging internship, a part-time diagnostic imaging externship, and two years of small animal emergency medicine and surgery. He graduated with a Master of Science and completed a radiology residency at Auburn University in 2022. Dr. Embriano and his wife have a busy life with four cats and a focus on traveling, soccer, hiking, biking, podcasts, and tasty cuisine.