Melissa King   DVM, PhD, DACVSMR

Dr. Melissa King is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and is currently an Associate Professor in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. She completed a one-year internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, and was in private practice for 10 years focusing on equine sports medicine before returning to Colorado State University to pursue a PhD in equine biomechanics and rehabilitation. Dr. King’s current research interests involve the objective assessment of rehabilitation modalities for the management of equine musculoskeletal injuries, as well as the biomechanical assessment of compensatory gait adaptations.

Dr. Rachel Hector DVM, MS, DACVAA

“Dr. Hector is an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia at Colorado State University. She graduated from Oregon State University and spent two years in equine practice with Paton and Martin Veterinary Services in Aldergrove, British Columbia prior to completing her residency in anesthesia and pain management at Colorado State University and subsequently remaining there as faculty. Her clinical focus is in equine practice, with specific expertise in emergency care, pain management, and equine behaviour. Her research includes anesthetic management and pharmacologic intervention in the treatment of endotoxemia, positive reinforcement training in a medical setting, behaviour modifying drugs, anesthetic recovery quality, metabolic responses to trauma and acute pain, improving local anesthetic techniques, and chronic pain therapy. Outside of work, she has 12 equines – including a herd of 9 rescue miniatures with enough medical problems to provide an entire veterinary school education.”