Dr. Nate Heilman was raised in western Pennsylvania. He gained early animal experience through 4-H and on his grandparent's cattle farm. He earned his BS in Animal Science from Cornell University in 1993 and his DVM from Cornell in 1997.

After graduation, he went into mixed and small animal practice before he and his wife moved to Vermont in 2000, where he was also employed in mixed practice. He was certified in acupuncture by IVAS in 2005, and in herbal medicine by A Time To Heal in 2007.

In 2007, he and his wife Thérèse founded the Qi Veterinary Clinic in Vermont, and in 2015 they purchased the A Time To Heal Herbal Company from Dr. Mona Boudreau. In 2022 they renovated a building in Shelburne, Vermont large enough to be home to both the veterinary clinic and the herbal business as well as an educational center.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Nate Heilman as we discuss his education, founding his own practice, purchasing an herbal company, and his family's 100 acre Farm in Vermont.

Dr. Caroline Wood was raised on the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, Australia. She is the daughter of two physicians, but decided on veterinary medicine as a career, graduating in 2011 from the University of Sydney with her veterinary degree.

After graduation, she worked in a busy small animal practice in New South Wales for three years, then after a short break, joined a small animal practice in the Northern Beaches area with the goal of becoming the practice owner. She became business partners with another doctor in the practice and they bought the practice in 2015.

After about eight years, she bought out her business partner and became sole owner, and continues to own the practice as of this day.

Her holistic journey began when a family dog was treated for cancer by both oncology specialists and holistic veterinarians. She went on to earn a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine from CIVT and incorporates herbal medicine, naturopathic remedies, and nutritional counseling into her clinical practice.

As part of that evolution, she renamed the practice Aubreen Veterinary Hospital and has changed the multi-doctor practice focus from an allopathic to an integrative approach.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Caroline Wood as we discuss her education, practice and ownership experience, holistic medicine training, and her service as a board member for a local veterinary emergency clinic.

Dr. Barrie Sands was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She always had a love of animals, but it wasn't until she finished her undergraduate degree that she committed to the idea of becoming a Veterinarian. She earned her DVM from Ross University in 1991.

After graduation, she did an Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, followed by some locum work in the Tri-State area before moving to San Diego to practice emergency medicine. She has been at the same clinic for 30 years.

In 2003, she started her official holistic journey by becoming certified in Acupuncture by IVAS. She started seeing patients for holistic care one day a week, and in the beginning of this year she stopped doing emergency medicine and is dedicating all of her clinical time to holistic patients.

In addition to her clinical work, she has lectured extensively, written articles, and has published one book with another close to publication.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Barrie Sands as we discuss her education, clinical practice, simultaneously working in emergency medicine and holistic medicine, and her thoughts on resonance and connection with our patients and with each other.

Dr. Zachery Lane was born in Woodstock, Georgia and was interested in veterinary medicine from a young age. He earned his BS in 2009 from Berry College, majoring in Animal Science and Chemistry. He earned his DVM from St. George's University in 2013.

After graduation, he entered emergency medicine practice for 6 years before transitioning to general small animal practice in Roswell, Georgia where he is now Chief of Staff.

A family history of gardening, agriculture, and herbal medicine led him to formalize his western herbal medicine study with CIVT, earning a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine in 2025. As part of that study, he has published a case report in the Journal of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, and has an additional case study in press with the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

In conjunction with his herbal medicine practice, Dr. Lane has completed a certification in Veterinary Natural Nutrition from CIVT, and is currently enrolled in the Certification program for Veterinary Integrative Therapeutic Nutrition.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Zachery Lane as we discuss his Appalachian roots, his education, clinical experience, and his involvement with the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association.

Dr., Leslie McIntyre was raised in Central Oregon and always knew that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. She earned her DVM from Oregon State University in 1995, then did an equine internship followed by a residency in Equine Internal Medicine at Colorado State University, finishing in 1999. She was Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Large Animal Medicine in 1999 and earned a Master's Degree from CSU that same year.

Afterwards, she returned to Bend, Oregon to join an Equine referral clinic for the next six years. In 2005, she founded her own practice, Sage Veterinary Alternatives in Bend.

Dr. McIntyre completed the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians course while a resident, became certified in acupuncture by IVAS, and has training in Homotoxicology, Canine Osteopathy, and Medical Laser therapy. She is certified in Animal Chiropractic by the IVCA and in Canine Rehabilitation by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She also has earned the Veterinary Master Homeopathy certification from the Pitcairn Institute and is certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Leslie McIntyre as we discuss her education, work history, holistic training, and her involvement with the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation.

Dr. Tara Harrison was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her DVM from Michigan State University in 2000, and a MPVM from UC Davis in 2002. Her research involved infectious agents in Kenyan hyenas.

Her interest in zoo medicine has led to employment in a number of different zoos, but she is currently a tenured professor in Zoo and Exotic Medicine at North Carolina State University. She is Board Certified in Zoo Medicine, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and Zoo Health Management.

She was certified in acupuncture by Chi University in 2017 and has been an instructor for Chi since that time.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Harrison is the Co-Founder of the Exotic Species Cancer Research Alliance and is a Board Member for the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Tara Harrison as we discuss her education, her clinical and research work with zoo and exotic animals, and her additional training in educating veterinary students.

Dr. Matt Fricke was raised in Hawaii. He started his undergraduate education at a small private college and finished it as well as his veterinary degree at Washington State University, earning his DVM in 1994.

After graduation, he entered small animal practice in Iowa for one year, then relocated to a practice in Springfield, Oregon, where he remains to this day.

He is certified in acupuncture by IVAS and in Animal Normalization Therapy by Patricia Kortekaas. He is also certified in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine by A Time to Heal, and completed the Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation course. He has also been a teaching assistant for both the IVAS acupuncture course as well as the ANT training courses, as well as lecturing extensively.

Dr. Fricke has been actively involved in organized veterinary medicine. He has served various roles for the Wild West Veterinary Conference, from Moderator to Integrative Medicine Track Chair to Conference President. He has also served on the Executive Board, including as President, of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture. He currently serves as the AAVA Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Matt Fricke as we discuss his education, practice experience, and volunteer work in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. Kellie Lindquist was raised in a rural area part of Northern California. Her first career interest was human medicine, but she changed her focus to veterinary medicine during her undergraduate studies. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 2011.

After graduation, she worked in a mixed animal practice in Oregon before she joined a small animal practice in Anchorage, Alaska. She still works at that same practice.

Her holistic interest started after a personal health challenge. She is a Reiki Master, is certified in Acupuncture by IVAS, in TCVM Palliative and End of Life Care and Chinese Herbal Medicine by Chi University, and in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy by the Healing Oasis. She combines these modalities with traditional care for her patients.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kellie Lindquist as we discuss her education, practice experience, and holistic training.