Speaker: Sheila Carrera-Justiz, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Dr. Sheila Carrera-Justiz is a Clinical Associate Professor and Neurology Service Chief at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

She completed her DVM at the University of Florida, followed by a rotating small animal internship at the University of Missouri, a neurology specialty internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, and a neurology residency at Tufts University, where she attained board certification in 2010.

She subsequently completed the ACVIM neurosurgery certificate of training. Her professional interests include novel neurosurgical approaches, advanced imaging techniques, novel treatment of glioma, and clinical teaching.

Dr Carrera-Justiz was the 2024 recipient of the Hill's Jack Mara ACVECC Scientific Achievement Award.

Speaker: Joshua Stern, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Joshua Stern serves as the Associate Dean and Director for Research and Graduate Studies at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Professor of Cardiology in the Department of Clinical Sciences at NCSU. Dr. Stern obtained his DVM from Ohio State University, completed his cardiology residency training at NCSU and obtained a PhD focusing on translational cardiac genetics at Washington State University. He is the principal investigator for the Stern Translational Cardiac Genetics and Pharmacogenomics Laboratory which focuses on training clinician scientists and developing novel therapies for inherited heart disease.

Speaker: Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR

Dr. Otto was the 2025 recipient of the Hill’s Jack Mara Scientific Achievement Award and will be sharing her experience of the science and practice of working dogs. 

Dr. Otto is a tenured Professor of Working Dog Sciences and Sports Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine is board certified in veterinary emergency medicine/critical care and canine sports medicine/rehabilitation. As executive director and founder of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, she oversees fitness and medical care of the program’s detection dogs, provides rehabilitation and conditioning for police and other working dogs and conducts vital research on and by detection dogs. With over 165 peer reviewed articles, reviews and book chapters, she is an internationally recognized expert in both emergency medicine and working dog science.