The WSVMA Power of Ten Leadership Academy introduces its newest class of 2022-23. They held their introductory meeting on Weds., Nov. 9 in Bellevue. Nine members have signed on to participate this year, and they’re joined by team leader Dr. Kristi Wubben. They’ll spend the next 11 months learning about leadership, communication, and organized veterinary medicine while gaining self-knowledge and confidence, which will help bring them greater satisfaction in their career and personal lives.
We present this year’s class:
Dr. Kristi Wubben, Team Leader
Mountain View Veterinary Hospital, Vancouver
Dr. Wubben grew up in Ridgefield, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University in 2008 with her B.S in Biology and in 2012 with her DVM from WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. After years of working in general practice at Mountain View Veterinary Hospital she found her true passion of animal rehabilitation. This led her to pursue specialization in her career and in 2020 Dr. Wubben received her certification in Canine Rehabilitation Therapy from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Wubben is now the lead veterinarian in the Rehabilitation Center at Mountain View Veterinary Hospital. She is also passionate about the human-animal bond, organized veterinary medicine and leadership development. She has been the curriculum coach for the WSVMA Power of Ten since 2019. When not working, Dr. Wubben enjoys spending time outdoors with her family hiking, skiing, gardening, and going on adventures.
Dr. Mandy Craven
Clover Valley Veterinary Services, Port Orchard
Dr. Amanda (Mandy) Craven graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2018. She completed a rotating equine private practice internship at Bend Equine Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. She recently completed a 3-year residency (July 2022) at Cornell University in Large Animal Internal Medicine. Amanda Craven is an associate veterinarian at Clover Valley Veterinary Services in Port Orchard, Washington, where she enjoys practice with equine, small ruminants, and camelids. In her spare time, she enjoys trail riding with her two horses, KC and Truman, and plans to start endurance riding in the spring.
Dr. Taylor Foster
Poulsbo Marina Veterinary Hospital, Poulsbo
My name is Taylor Foster and I am a 2020 graduate from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine (GO COUGS!). In school I served as an officer in SAVMA and VBMA. I work as a small animal general practitioner in Poulsbo, Washington. I am passionate about feline medicine, reducing patient fear in the clinic, pain management, neurology, and staff well-being. If you are looking for me at work, I can be found taking pictures with any cat or chihuahua that walks through the door, showering my assistants in words of affirmation, or singing my favorite tracks from ‘Hamilton’ in the surgery suite. I share a home with my cat, Pablo, and my newly adopted one-eyed pug, Toast. My hobbies include traveling, going to see musicals and comedy shows, cooking, ignoring hiking invites from Dr. Treat, and training Toast to not embarrass me in public.
Dr. Felicia Hellen
Afford-a-Vet Animal Clinic, Kent
Dr. Felicia Hellen grew up in Spokane, WA. She attended Washington State University for her undergraduate degrees, where she met her husband. She is a 2019 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine – she did her clinical rotations at Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Her passions include dentistry and nutrition – with a budding interest in geriatric and senior care. Outside of her work she is kept very busy with her family that include her husband, children including two furbabies – Jinora and Ty Lee – both Australian Cattle Dog mixes. They enjoy camping and hiking – really anything outside. She also enjoys painting, baking, reading, and playing video games.
Dr. Hilary Koenigs
WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman
Dr. Hilary Koenigs grew up and currently resides in Spokane, WA. She completed a BA in biology at Vassar College before returning home to earn her DVM from WSU in 2017. She spent several years in small animal practice and research before transitioning to her current role as Director of the Paraprofessional Program at WSU. Her clinical interests include behavior, nutrition, and hospice, as well as finding innovative solutions to improve well-being in the profession. Outside of work, Hilary enjoys baking, volleyball, hiking, and playing with her adorable cat, Cosette.
Dr. Michelle Knerr
Companion Animal Clinic of Yakima, Yakima
Dr. Michelle Knerr’s passion for animal health care ignited while growing up on her family’s ranch in Lewistown, Montana. She earned her DVM from Ross School of Veterinary Medicine, on the small Caribbean Island of St. Kitts. Michelle is now the new owner of a small clinic in Yakima, Washington. She is excited to see her vision for the clinic to come forth. One of her goals is to teach her clients the importance of dental care for their animals. To find balance in her life, she loves to spend time outdoors with her wife, daughter and their house of animals.
Dr. Charlene Morotti
NW Indian Fisheries Commission
I am Charlene Morotti, a 2021 graduate from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health. I am currently the second veterinarian at the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission in the fish health department. Prior to my current position I held a full-time position with ShotVet, a nationwide small animal pop up vaccine clinic. During that time, I was an independent contract veterinarian for VetCo, which I still maintain, and for Kitticcino Charities, a non-profit low-cost clinic. During veterinary school my primary focus was aquatic medicine with the goal to go into food production fish medicine. Ultimately, I would love to work in the salmonid industry in Europe. Outside of veterinary medicine I am a horse girl and hope to purchase a standardbred mare next year to compete in endurance riding. I also love to swing dance, pole dance, CrossFit, hike, and kayak. I am a fur mom to a black cat that thinks he is a black lab and an older female German Shepard that keeps me on my toes.
Dr. Kristen Peagler
Univ. of Wash. Dept. of Comparative Medicine, Seattle
Kristen Peagler is from Lithonia, Georgia. She received her B.S. from Presbyterian College in 2017 where she played Division 1 soccer. After graduating from Presbyterian College, she attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary medicine and graduated in 2021. During her time at the University of Georgia, she became the first veterinary extern at NASA under the guidance of NASA’s Chief Veterinarian and was the first veterinary student to complete NASA’s Aerospace Medicine Clerkship. Peagler is currently a second-year resident in the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of Washington and will return to NASA for an internship this coming spring. She hopes to make significant contributions to the field of aerospace medicine as it pertains to laboratory animal medicine upon completion of the University of Washington’s residency program. Outside of her lab animal interests, Peagler has been heavily involved in her community and has helped educate future generations of veterinarians of all ages. Peagler’s interests include aerospace medicine, neurology, musculoskeletal diseases, and translational research. She enjoys fishing, hiking, all things space, herpetology, and is currently completing flight school training here in the Seattle area.
Dr. Jenna Post
Kitsap Veterinary Hospital, Port Orchard
I am new to the Pacific Northwest, moving to my dream area of the U.S. after growing up in the Midwest and time spent abroad. For undergraduate studies, I went to Purdue University in Indiana where I studied Biochemistry. I then attended the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Scotland for my veterinary degree. I am passionate about all species- big and small, domestic and wild but am currently companion animal only at this time. I have a strong pull towards leadership and became the medical director at my clinic this year and am helping start a Not One More Vet Chapter for Western Washington. In addition to leadership, my professional interests are working with fearful and anxious patients, geriatric medicine, and pain management. I feel my ‘why’ to be in vet med is to be a part improving wellbeing and helping make veterinary medicine more sustainable for those who work in this field so we can take care of the pet community to the best of our abilities–now and for years to come. Outside of work I enjoy photography, exploring the outdoors, DIY, and of course spending time with my husband and being cat parents to our four fine felines.
Dr. Jacqueline Treat
Perrinville Animal Hospital, Edmonds
Dr. Jackie Treat is originally from Tacoma, WA and received her DVM from Washington State University in 2020. She is a general small animal practitioner but especially loves to work with cats and has a special interest in feline behavior. During veterinary school, Dr. Treat was president of the WSU Chapter VBMA, founded the Veterinary Law and Ethics Club, and served as Liaison for SAVMA and WSVMA. She additionally participated in the AVMA Fly-in to represent veterinarians and veterinary students in Washington DC, travelled to Gainesville, FL for veterinary disaster relief training, and served as a mentor for the WSU CVM incoming student retreat, COLE. Leadership has always been a passion of Dr. Treats and she is always looking for ways to contribute to her profession both in the clinic, and as a whole. Dr. Treat’s passion project is Vets Outdoors, an annual backpacking veterinary retreat held on the Olympic Coast which focuses on wellness and community. She co-leads this retreat with past WSVMA President Dr. Gary Marshall along with several Power of 10 alumni! Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Treat loves to enjoy the outdoors. She enjoys hiking with her shepherd mix “Cricket”, climbing mountains, doing yoga, and going on camping adventures with her husband, Nick. At home Dr. Treat is most happy with a good book, a glass of wine, and her cat “Pudgy” on her lap or having a dinner party with friends.
Members wanting information about the Power of Ten Leadership Academy, either for themselves or for a colleague, contact either Candace Joy at [email protected] or Dr. Kristi Wubben at [email protected].