MEET OUR SPEAKERS

IntroVet™ is thrilled to welcome two Feline Practice Pioneers!

Lorrie Gaschen

DVM, PhD, Dr.med.vet, DECVDI

Lorrie received her DVM from the University of Florida, was in private practice in Florida for two years after which time she did a diagnostic imaging residency at the University of Bern in Switzerland and became a diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. She received her PhD in renal transplant imaging in animal models at the University Medical School in Utrecht then returned to the University of Bern where she became an associate professor upon completion of her work in vascular ultrasound of the canine gastrointestinal tract. She was a full professor of diagnostic imaging in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences for 15 years and has authored numerous publications and book chapters mainly in the field of gastrointestinal ultrasound where she has done the majority of her research. Lorrie was also the Executive Associate Dean for Diversity, Student, and Faculty Affairs for 6 years at LSU and is the recipient of the 2022 AAVMC award for Excellence in Diversity in the Veterinary Profession. Lorrie is now working in teleradiology with VetCT and enjoys reporting on all species and all modalities with a special interest in exotic imaging.

Mark Cousins

DVM, DABVP (Feline)

W. Mark Cousins, DVM, DABVP (Feline) received his DVM degree from Louisiana State University in 1980. He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2000, and is also Certified in Pain Management and Acupuncture. He opened his first veterinary hospital, Chateau Veterinary Hospital, in 1983 and sold it in 2013. He started New Orleans’ first feline practice in 1987 and practices there exclusively. This practice, The Cat Practice, won a Veterinary Economics Hospital of Merit Award in September 2005.

Dr. Cousins has been a featured speaker at roundtable meetings, a guest lecturer at Louisiana State University and University of Florida, and as a guest lecturer for several veterinary focused magazine and television educational segments. Dr. Cousins has served on several boards such as the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association, Louisiana SPCA, and is a vice-chair of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. And he is active in medical clinical trials for new feline therapeutic concepts. He is currently the Feline Exam Vice Chair for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners as well as a sitting board member for The American Heartworm Society. His knowledge and passion towards feline medicine make him an excellent role model and resource for other small animal practitioners interested in the feline portion of their practices.

Dr. Sheila Robertson

BVMS (Hons), PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), MRCVS

Dr. Sheila Robertson has been a faculty member at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada, the University of Florida, and Michigan State University. She spent two years as an Assistant Director in the Animal Welfare Division at the American Veterinary Medical Association. Her research interests include assessment of pain in cats, dogs and horses, the use of opioids in cats and the development of anesthetic protocols for pediatric patients and large-scale spay-neuter clinics. She was a member of the Association of Shelter Veterinarian’s Task Force to Advance Spay-Neuter, the American Association or Feline Practitioners (AAFP) welfare committee, the Feline Nursing guidelines committee, and the Feline Anesthesia Guidelines Taskforce. In 2017 she became the Senior Medical Director for Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a network of over 100 veterinarians who specialize in end of life care and in-home euthanasia.

Dr. Stephanie Brantley

DVM

Dr. Brantley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder and after a 4 year hiatus she earned credits toward a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University.  She travelled across the border to Canada for her veterinary training and received her DVM degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. Post-graduation, she completed a rotating internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists which provided a strong foundation to all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery. With 17 years of clinical experience under her belt, Dr. Brantley has demonstrated significant agility in her ability to succeed in diverse and challenging work environments. These have included feline-only practice, general practice, relief veterinary services, and emergency medicine. Most recently, Dr. Brantley held contract veterinary positions for the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of State taking care of service dogs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Stephanie grew up in Houston, TX, and after several years away, she has returned to the area. She has a passion for world travel and is an avid Chicago Cubs fan.  She currently resides in Kingwood, TX, with her beautiful 11 year old cat, Ivy.

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