Cheers to SEVEN Years!

Margaret Gruen

DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB

Dr. Margaret Gruen completed her veterinary degree at the University of Illinois. She came to North Carolina State University for an internship, followed by a residency, in veterinary behavior. She completed a master’s in veterinary public health and became a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. After a few years on the faculty at NC State, she decided to pursue a PhD with a focus on understanding the behaviors associated with pain in cats with naturally occurring arthritis. She then spent 2 years at Duke University, where she codirected the Canine Cognition Center, and has now returned to NC State as an assistant professor of behavioral medicine.

Rae Hutchins

DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Rae Hutchins, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), is Wedgewood’s inaugural Chief Veterinary Officer, dedicated to advancing patient care and supporting veterinarians with innovative solutions. She has held leadership roles as Chief Clinical Officer at United Veterinary Care, Group Vice President at VCA, and Medical Director of a multi-specialty hospital, shaping clinical excellence and operational strategy. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University and is a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine.

Passionate about improving access to care, Dr. Hutchins serves on the Board of Directors for Waggle, a nonprofit that helps provide financial assistance for animals in need. She is committed to ensuring veterinarians have the resources and support to deliver the highest level of care.

As Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Hutchins is actively working across Wedgewood to develop pharmacy solutions that support veterinarians and enhance patient care. She is focused on fostering collaboration, advancing innovation, and ensuring Wedgewood remains the trusted partner veterinarians rely on for quality, expertise, and support.

Kristin Kirkby Shaw

DVM, MS, PhD

Dr. Kristin Shaw is a small animal surgeon and rehabilitation specialist with specific interest in orthopedic surgery and osteoarthritis management. Kristen received her DVM, MS and PhD, and completed a small animal surgical residency at the University of Florida. She served 2 years as a clinical instructor at the University of Florida followed by 9 years in specialty referral practice in Seattle. Kristin then spent 3 years as a full-time veterinary educator while working for Zoetis as a pain and arthritis specialist. In 2024, she returned to clinical practice at Bedrock Veterinary Specialists in Cornelius, North Carolina. Kristin is past- president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians and current President of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. She is the founder of CARE (www.canine arthritis.org), a website dedicated to providing practical, evidence-based resources and tools for pet parents and veterinary professionals caring for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Lauren Jones

VMD

Lauren Jones, VMD, is a veterinarian, practice owner, and industry innovator—and the Director of Veterinary Medicine at Shepherd Veterinary Solutions. A proud University of Pennsylvania graduate, she’s spent her career helping veterinary teams work smarter, not harder. Dr. Jones blends clinical know-how with business savvy to empower veterinarians, streamline operations, and fight burnout. She’s passionate about making technology work for vets, not the other way around, helping practices thrive while delivering top-notch patient care.

Jason Pieper

DVM, MS, DACVD

Dr. Jason Pieper is a board certified veterinary dermatologist currently working at Iowa State University as an Assistant Professor for Dermatology at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated veterinary school in 2009. He completed a dermatology residency at the University of Illinois and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology while also completing his master’s degree. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Dermatology and Otology Service Head at the University of Illinois until 2020 when he returned to his alma mater. His areas of interest in veterinary dermatology include otitis, bacterial antimicrobial resistance, dermatophytes, platelet rich plasma, dermoscopy and CO2 laser.

María Suárez Redondo

DVM, PhD, CVA, Acre. AVEPA (Soft Tissue Surgery)

María Suárez Redondo is a Spanish veterinary surgeon. She graduated from the University of León (Spain) in 2003 and earned her Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid, where she currently works as a small animal surgeon at the Veterinary Clinical Hospital. Her expertise focuses on soft tissue surgery and laser therapy, with a special interest in oncologic and reconstructive surgery. She also has experience in integrative medicine. She has contributed to different international publications, conferences, and educational programs. Additionally, she has co-authored different veterinary manuals, including Veterinary Laser Therapy in Small Animal Practice.

Catherine Ruggiero

MS, DVM, DACVN

Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist and Scientific Communications Specialist for Hill's. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Fordham University. She was an associate veterinarian at a small animal veterinary practice in Upstate New York for just over three years before returning to the University of Missouri to pursue residency training in small animal clinical nutrition. Upon completion of an ACVN residency program in 2019, Dr. Ruggiero joined Hill's Pet Nutrition as a Consulting Clinician in VCS, and is currently working in Scientific Affairs.