ESVCN Oral Abstract Presenters Bio

ESVCN-O-01
Jean Hall
Dr. Hall is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University. She received her DVM from Washington State University, completed a Small Animal internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, a residency at Colorado State University, and is Board Certified in SAIM. At Colorado State University, she earned her PhD degree in Physiology, and then completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Nutrition and Lipid Metabolism at Oregon Health Sciences University. Her research focuses on health benefits of dietary supplements; specifically, their effects on renal biomarkers, metabolomics, and the microbiome.

ESVCN-O-03
Sophie Nixon
Sophie Nixon BVSc PhD (Oxon) MRCVS is head of clinical research for Pet and Animal Wellbeing (PAW) at ADM. Sophie has a particular interest in understanding the association between the microbiome and pet health, and exploring how this may be modulated by biotics. Sophie has nurtured a dedication to health and development throughout her career, beginning as a clinical veterinary surgeon before sidestepping into a BBSRC-funded PhD in developmental neuroscience at the University of Oxford. Sophie has led a pipeline of clinical research projects investigating prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics in pets since 2017, and maintains membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK.

ESVCN-O-04
Kaitlin Turnbull
Kaitlin qualified in 2020 from Nottingham University and spent two years in general practice in the Manchester area before undertaking a rotating internship and then starting her residency at the University of Liverpool.

ESVCN-O-05
Diana Brozic
Diana Brozić, DMV, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb. Diana has completed the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition Residency Programme at the University of Ghent (small animal track) and is a candidate for the ECVCN Diplomate title. She has participated in several international congresses and seminars as a lecturer. In addition to her teaching, research, and laboratory work, she actively performs service of small animals ' nutritional support. Her scientific and research interests include clinical nutrition and intensive care nutrition of companion animals,with a special interest in gastrointestinal health and chronic enteropathies.

ESVCN-O-06
Carla Giuditta Vecchiato
Carla Giuditta Vecchiato graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 2014 from the University of Bologna (Italy) and gained experience in companion animal practice assuming temporary positions. Then she started a PhD in Veterinary Sciences at the University of Bologna, focusing on companion animal nutrition, and she defended her PhD thesis in 2018. She achieved the title of European ECVCN specialist, in 2024 in Liège (Belgium), following an alternative training program in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition in Munich (Germany). Since 2023, she has been employed as a junior assistant professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna. Her main research interests cover the study of nutritional strategies proposed for the management of diseases affecting small animals, with a main focus on chronic enteropathy, obesity and diabetes mellitus. She has authored peer-reviewed publications and has reviewed manuscripts for a number of journals.

ESVCN-O-07
Morgan Key
Morgan Key obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Industry, with a focus in Pet Food from Kansas State University in 2021. Prior to the completion of her undergraduate program, Key began an internship with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, which would later lead into a full time position. In September 2021, Key was hired as an Associate Scientist on the Global Clinical Nutrition and Claims team. In addition to her work at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, she is pursuing a masters degree, with a thesis track, in Veterinary Biomedical Science and Regulatory Affairs certificate at Kansas State University. Key expects to defend her thesis in summer of 2025. In her role as an Associate Scientist, she designs and executes clinical studies to support the product substantiation process for claims. Key has authored five conference abstracts, a journal article and has ambitions to publish more in the near future. Key is passionate about nutritional support for aging pets, the gut skin axis and continuing to better the nutrition for pets; however, her recent research efforts have focused on supporting dogs and cats with dermatological sensitivities, gastrointestinal upset, kidney issues, endocrine disorders, dietary ingredient tolerance and cognitive decline. Morgan Key obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Industry, with a focus in Pet Food from Kansas State University in 2021. Prior to the completion of her undergraduate program, Key began an internship with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, which would later lead into a full time position. In September 2021, Key was hired as an Associate Scientist on the Global Clinical Nutrition and Claims team. In addition to her work at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, she is pursuing a masters degree, with a thesis track, in Veterinary Biomedical Science and Regulatory Affairs certificate at Kansas State University. Key expects to defend her thesis in summer of 2025. In her role as an Associate Scientist, she designs and executes clinical studies to support the product substantiation process for claims. Key has authored five conference abstracts, a journal article and has ambitions to publish more in the near future. Key is passionate about nutritional support for aging pets, the gut skin axis and continuing to better the nutrition for pets; however, her recent research efforts have focused on supporting dogs and cats with dermatological sensitivities, gastrointestinal upset, kidney issues, endocrine disorders, dietary ingredient tolerance and cognitive decline.