​Sawsan Ammar, BVSc., MS, PhD 
Dr. Sawsan Ammar completed her research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Merck resident (2023-2025) under the mentorship of Dr. John Gilleard at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Ammar earned her veterinary and Masters degrees from Sadat City University in Egypt. She then moved to the USA and earned her PhD in 2019 from the University of Tennessee, investigating Toxoplasma gondii in wild birds. 

Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVP-Anatomic
Dr. Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo completed his research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Idexx resident (2024-2026) under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Duncan at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Barrantes Murillo earned his DVM in 2016 from the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). He was a lecturer and research assistant for three years in the Pathology Department at UNA. He obtained his master’s degree in microbiology in 2020 from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). He completed a residency in Anatomic Pathology at Auburn University and became a Diplomate of the ACVP (Anatomic) in 2023. He completed his PhD at Auburn University in the Spring of 2024, and his dissertation focused on serological and molecular diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis in companion animals in the US. His research interests are arthropod-borne diseases and infectious diseases in wild animals.

Kathryn Duncan, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Kathryn Duncan completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Boehringer Ingelheim resident (2018-2022) under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Little, a leading veterinary parasitologist, current Diplomate of the ACVM, and Co-Director of the NCVP, at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Duncan became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2022. A 2018 graduate of the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Duncan worked with noted parasitologists Drs. Rick Gerhold and John Schaeffer while at UT. In addition to her clinical training at Oklahoma State, her program included parasitology experience at other veterinary colleges in North America and the opportunity to collaborate with others involved in veterinary parasitology throughout the animal health field. Dr. Duncan's current research focuses on ticks and tick-borne infections in North America. 

Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Brian Herrin completed his research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Boehringer Ingelheim resident under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Little at Oklahoma State University. He became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2016. Dr. Herrin is originally from Lindsay, Oklahoma. He earned his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from OSU in 2009 and began a dual DVM/PhD program at OSU. He received his DVM in 2014, his PhD in 2016. Brian's graduate research focused on the geographic distribution of Lyme borreliosis in North America and provided a detailed assessment of the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in humans and dogs, including the distribution changes of the tick and pathogen due to climate change. In his spare time Brian likes to be outdoors, enjoying camping and backpacking with his dog Cyrus as well as outdoor endurance racing.

Jeba R.J. Jesudoss Chelladurai, BVSc, MS, ​PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, DACVM-Immunology
Dr. Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as an NCVP resident (2014-2018) under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Brewer at Iowa State University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2018 and a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty immunology) in 2020. Dr. Jesudoss Chelladurai grew up in southern India. She earned a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, India and earned a Master of Science in Microbiology from North Dakota State University. Her PhD research focused on the molecular characterization of the ABC-B gene family in Toxocara canis and on understanding mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance in helminths of veterinary importance. Her other research interests are development of novel antiparasitic drugs, drug mechanisms of action and resistance, molecular and immunological diagnostic techniques, vaccine development, and parasite-host interactions. 

Alice Lee, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Alice Lee completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Novartis resident (2012-2016) under the mentorship of Dr. Dwight Bowman at Cornell University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2015. She was born in Taiwan and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She completed her DVM at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College and then briefly entered veterinary practice before deciding on a career in parasitology research and teaching. Dr. Lee’s PhD research included development of less invasive ways to evaluate the efficacy of canine anthelmintics. A second research project focused on the dynamics of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis co-infection in mice. During her residency, she actively participated in teaching veterinary students parasitology. In her free time, Alice enjoys reading, music, world travel, and playing intramural sports with colleagues and students.​

Vishnu Manikantan, BVSc & AH, PhD
Dr. Vishnu Manikantan completed his PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Elanco resident (2024-2026) under the mentorship of Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his veterinary degree from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India in 2018. Dr. Manikantan's dissertation research focused on Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, including aims to deepen the understanding of this parasite, contributing to the field of veterinary parasitology and improving human-animal health.

​Ranju Manoj BVSc, MVSc, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Ranju Manoj completed her research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Merck resident (2021-2023) under the mentorship of Dr. Manigandan Lejeune Virapin, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, Assistant Professor of Practice and Director of the Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory, and Dr. Dwight Bowman, Professor of Parasitology of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Cornell University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2023. Dr. Manoj completed her BVSc in 2007 at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookot (KVASU), completed her MVSc in Parasitology in 2011 from Madras Veterinary College, India (TANUVAS), and completed her PhD in 2022 from the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. Her PhD research focused on vector-borne zoonoses, including onchocercid nematodes and their endosymbiont Wolbachia. 

​Katy Martin, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology 
Dr. Katy Martin completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Elanco resident (2019-2023) under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Brewer, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, at Iowa State University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2023. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 2018 and a concurrent Master of Public Health degree from the University of Iowa in 2017. Dr. Martin's research focus is Tritrichomonas foetus in the bovine host. 

Sarah Myers, DVM, PhD
Dr. Sarah Myers completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Boehringer Ingelheim resident (2022-2026) under the mentorship of Dr. Ruth Scimeca, a current Diplomate of the ACVM and co-director of the NCVP, at Oklahoma State University. Earning her DVM from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, Sarah worked with veterinary parasitologists Dr. Brian Herrin, Dr. Kathryn Reif, and Dr. Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai while at KSU. Sarah’s research interests center on ticks and tick-borne infections, and her dissertation focused on describing the epidemiology and transmission of Babesia conradae.

Yoko Nagamori, DVM, MS, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Yoko Nagamori completed her Masters and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as an NCVP resident under the mentorship of Dr. Mason Reichard at Oklahoma State University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2017. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 and earned undergraduate degrees from both Augstana College in Sioux Falls, SD and Shizouka University, Shizuoka, Japan. During veterinary school she gained parasitology experience working in the diagnostic parasitology laboratory and assisting in the preparation of materials for the veterinary parasitology courses at ISU. Dr. Nagamori's graduate research focused on Cytauxzoon felis and ticks. Her interests are in veterinary parasitology diagnostics and zoonotic and tropical diseases. She also has a tremendous interest in wildlife parasitology. In her spare time, Yoko enjoys traveling, shopping, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her cute pet rabbits and chinchilla.

Kelsey Paras, MS, DVM
Dr. Kelsey Paras completed her research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Elanco resident under the mentorship of Dr. Ray Kaplan at the University of Georgia. Dr. Paras grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her BS from the University of Delaware in 2009, earned a MS from Oklahoma State University in 2011, and earned her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2015. Dr. Paras aspired to be a veterinarian from a young age and became interested in food animal medicine while working on the farm at the University of Delaware. Her MS research on Dirofilaria immitis in coyotes and mosquitoes sparked her interest in veterinary parasitology. ​Dr. Paras' research with Dr. Ray Kaplan at the University of Georgia focused on anthelmintic resistance and diagnostic techniques of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys traveling, hiking with her dog, Stella, and lifting weights.

Cassan Pulaski, MPH, DVM
Dr. Cassan Pulaski completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Merck resident under the mentorship of Dr. Jack Malone at Louisiana State University, and as a post-doctoral associate at the University of Georgia. She completed a concurrent MPH and DVM program at Louisiana State University in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and attending food and music events with her husband, Justin, and volunteering at vegetation planting events with non-profit groups aimed at restoring the Louisiana coastline. 

Jessica Rodriguez, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Jessica Rodriguez completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Merial resident under the mentorship of Dr. Karen Snowden at Texas A&M University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2017. Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Rodriguez completed her DVM at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2009, followed by a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Tennessee. She worked as a veterinary emergency clinician in Texas before returning to Texas A&M to complete her PhD and residency training in veterinary parasitology. Dr. Rodriguez's international experience in veterinary medicine includes attending Wildlife Vets, a conservation medicine course in South Africa, and serving as a veterinarian through World Vets in Nicaragua, neutering stray and client owned animals as well as examining and treating patients in a free clinic. 

Ruth Scimeca, VMD, MSc, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
​Dr. Ruth Scimeca completed her research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Bayer resident under the mentorship of Dr. Mason Reichard and Dr. Susan Little at Oklahoma State University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2019. Her research focuses on tick and tick-borne pathogens through in vitro models, and the immune host response to parasite diseases of domestic animals. 

Caroline Sobotyk de Oliveira DVM, MSc, PhD
Dr. Caroline Sobotyk completed her research and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Merck resident under the mentorship of Associate Professor Dr. Gui Verocai, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, at Texas A&M University. Dr. Sobotyk completed her DVM in 2013 at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) and then earned both an MSc in 2015 and PhD in 2019, working on vector-borne infections, including spotted fever Rickettsia and Leishmania, in Brazil. ​

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Lindsay Starkey completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Bayer resident (2011-2015) under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Little at Oklahoma State University. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2015. Dr. Starkey is originally from Valley Falls, Kansas, a rural community in the northeastern part of the state. She attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, completing a BS in Animal Science with a minor in Biology. Dr. Starkey completed her DVM at Oklahoma State University in 2011. During her residency program, she assisted with teaching 1st and 2nd year veterinary students in parasitology courses as well as teaching 4th year students during their diagnostics rotation in the teaching hospital. 

Ashley Steuer, DVM, PhD
Dr. Ashley Steuer completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Zoetis resident (2016-2020) under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Neilson at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky. She grew up just south of Kalamazoo, MI. Dr. Steuer received her BS in Animal Science, with a minor in Spanish, from Michigan State University. She completed her DVM in 2016 at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Steuer's graduate research focused on host-parasite interactions in horses infected with cyathostomes. She enjoys spending her free with of her family, including her husband Anthony, their two dogs Maiya and Inka, their horse Jewels, and Spinach the chinchilla, and traveling.

Nicole Szafranski, DVM, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Nicole Szafranski completed her PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Zoetis resident (2020-2024) under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Gerhold, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology and Dr. John Schaefer, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, at the University of Tennessee College of Comparative and Experimental Medicine. She became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2025. Dr. Szafranski earned her DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2020. Her PhD research focused on toxoplasmosis in waterfowl. 

Jennifer Thomas, DVM, DACVD
Dr. Jennifer Thomas first developed an interest in parasitology researching the role of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the population dynamics of Puerto Rican gastropods following large-scale natural disturbances. Jennifer always aspired to be a veterinarian and earned her DVM from Oklahoma State University in May 2012. She served as an affiliate NCVP resident while completing a post-doctoral research fellowship in veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University. In her spare time Dr. Thomas enjoys training dogs, riding horses, traveling, outdoor photography, and fly fishing.

​Timothy Wu, MS, DVM, PhD, DACVP-Anatomic, DACVM-Parasitology
Dr. Timothy Wu completed his PhD and clinical training toward board certification in parasitology as the Idexx resident (2020-2024) under the mentorship of Dr. Dwight Bowman, PhD, and Dr. Manigandan Lejeune Virapin, PhD, DACVM-Parasitology, at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He became a Diplomate of the ACVM (subspecialty parasitology) in 2024. Dr. Wu earned his DVM from Cornell University in 2017, and completed an anatomic pathology residency at Cornell University in 2020, becoming a Diplomate of the ACVP (Anatomic) in 2020.