Celebrating dvm360 2026 Veterinary Heroes

dvm360 is proud to announce the winners of its 6th Annual Veterinary Heroes Awards. The awards recognize extraordinary individuals whose dedication and contributions have advanced veterinary medicine, achieved landmark successes within the profession, and enriched animal lives across the country.

Selected by a distinguished panel of judges comprising previous Veterinary Heroes, each honoree exemplifies leadership, expertise, and commitment that define excellence in veterinary medicine. “Every year, these honorees reaffirm why so many of us were drawn to this profession in the first place,” said Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer of dvm360. “The way they lead with compassion, pursue excellence, and elevate the standard of care for animals and their families is nothing short of remarkable. We are so proud to recognize them and honored to help amplify the difference they’re making in the world.”

This year’s winners will be honored during a live ceremony at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Kansas City, Missouri, held August 28-30, 2026. The Veterinary Heroes Awards have become a beloved tradition within the profession, celebrating the community, heart, and humanity that define veterinary health.

“The 2026 Veterinary Heroes represent the very best veterinary medicine professionals whose skill, heart, and commitment make a real difference every single day,” said Sharon Albright, DVM, director of veterinary continuing education at dvm360. “Recognizing them at Fetch Kansas City will feel especially meaningful because this community understands better than anyone the dedication it takes to do this work. We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate them.”

This year’s Veterinary Heroes honorees in each category are as follows:

Behavior: Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB

Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB, is the first veterinary behaviorist exclusively practicing in New York, New York. She started the Animal Medical Center's (AMC’s) first-ever behavior service in 2025, where she sees clinical cases, teaches interns and technicians, and provides outreach to the local community and animal shelters to expand access to care. Prior to serving as head of the behavior service at AMC, she served as medical director at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Adoption Center in New York, as well as an attending veterinarian providing behavioral care for patients who were part of cruelty cases through the New York Police Department's Humane Law Enforcement, for which she won an Award of Excellence in 2022. Spano also won the Fear Free Grant for her research on anxiolytics for shelter cats. She regularly lectures nationally at conferences and hospitals and serves as a subject matter expert for various media publications. 

Client Service Representative: Ashley Newsome

This category is sponsored by Nationwide.

Ashley Newsome is a customer experience coordinator at VEG ER for Pets in Grand Prairie, Texas. She is passionate about supporting pet owners during some of their most challenging moments and creating a positive experience for every family who walks through the doors of her clinic. Beyond her role at the front desk, she actively participates in community outreach, local events, and partnership-building efforts that strengthen the bond between VEG and the communities it serves. She takes pride in being more than a receptionist by supporting her team, advocating for her patients, and helping make a meaningful impact both inside and outside the hospital.

Credentialed Veterinary Technician: James Mackey, BS, AAS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)

James Mackey, BS, AAS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), works as a traveling veterinary anesthetist. He earned an associate degree in veterinary technology from San Juan College in 2016. A year later, he passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination, thereby satisfying all requirements for certification as a licensed veterinary technician. In 2022, Mackey completed additional training and earned the designation as a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia and analgesia. Finally, in 2025, Mackey fulfilled all requirements set forth by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management for credentialing as a certified veterinary pain practitioner. Mackey’s primary goal is to safely and efficiently provide anesthesia and analgesia to his patients, with an emphasis on locoregional blocks and multimodal pain management. His secondary, long-term goal is to help companion animals receive the same quality of care as their human counterparts. 

Dentistry: Heather Duncan, DVM, DAVDC

Heather Duncan, DVM, DAVDC, is a board-certified veterinary dentist and cofounder of CROWN Veterinary Dental Specialists in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is also the creator of The Whiskered Dentist, an educational platform making veterinary dentistry accessible to pet owners and professionals alike.

Dermatology: Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD

Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD, is an upstate New York native who grew up in the hallways of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She tried her hand at opera as an undergrad at Indiana University, and despite having a blast singing all day long, she decided that her first true love, animals, offered a more stable and satisfying career. She graduated from Cornell's vet school in 2012 and then completed a large-animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia. Mixed-animal general practice kept her busy for the next few years, during which she also fell in love with dermatology. She made her way back to Cornell and completed a dermatology residency, after which she stayed on as faculty. She is now in private practice in Louisville, Kentucky, and is loving the horses and rolling green hills. When not “oohing and ahhing” over the grossest skin, you can find Miller playing with her 3 bully-breed dogs (the squish!), singing in a rock cover band, or riding any horse that she can sit on.

Feline Medicine: Julie Cole, DVM, PhD, DACT

Julie Cole, DVM, PhD, DACT, is cofounder of Cat Tales Feline Health Center in Davis, California. A dedicated feline veterinarian, she is passionate about advancing cat-centered medicine and low-stress care, and about creating a veterinary experience designed around the unique needs of cats and the people who love them.

Emergency Medicine: Joanna Finstad, DVM, MS, DACVECC

Joanna Finstad, DVM, MS, DACVECC, is a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care specialist who established the nephrology and extracorporeal therapy services at Madison Veterinary Specialists in Wisconsin. She was a member of the inaugural residency class of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology and successfully completed its first certifying examination.

General Practitioner: Mukul Padalkar, BVSc & AH, MVSc, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice)

Mukul Padalkar, BVSc & AH, MVSc, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice), is a veterinarian certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care for pets and their families. With experience in India and the United States, her professional interests include internal medicine, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, surgery, and dentistry. She is passionate about mentorship, advancing veterinary excellence, and strengthening the human-animal bond.

Internal Medicine: Curtis Dewey, DVM, MS, CCRP, CTCVMP, DACVS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Curtis Dewey, DVM, MS, CCRP, CTCVMP, DACVS, DACVIM (Neurology), is a board-certified neurologist and surgeon with more than 30 years of clinical experience. A Cornell University–trained veterinarian, he founded Elemental Pet Vets and is a certified traditional Chinese veterinary medicine practitioner and canine rehabilitation practitioner. He has authored landmark neurology and acupuncture textbooks and is a globally recognized speaker and educator.

Lifetime Achievement: Michael Strickland, DVM, DAVBP (Canine & Feline Practice)

This category is sponsored by NovaQuis Animal Health.

Michael Strickland, DVM, DAVBP (Canine & Feline Practice), has a passion for veterinary medicine and supporting his community and family. He is a 1979 graduate of the University of Georgia and has practiced for 45 years. He has always strived for excellence. Leesburg Veterinary Hospital has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association for 35 years, adhering to its high standards. He is 1 of 985 diplomates certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline practice. He coordinated the development of the Animal Emergency Hospital in Leesburg, Virginia, which eventually became a specialty hospital. He has been a Scout leader for 25 years, a 4-H horse club leader for 8 years, and is a member of Leadership Loudoun, which supports nonprofit businesses in Loudoun County. He has 7 healthy and independent children. He owes all his lifetime achievements to the support of his beautiful wife, Kim.

Nutrition: Craig Datz, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice), DACVIM (Nutrition)

Craig Datz, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice), DACVIM (Nutrition), has a background in companion animal, general, and emergency practice. He was on the faculty at the University of Missouri, where he completed his nutrition training. Since 2012, he has been part of the team of board-certified nutritionists at Royal Canin.

Practice Manager: Katie Van Winkle, LVT

Katie Van Winkle, LVT, has worked with animals since 2008, beginning her career at SeaWorld. She earned her LVT credentials from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in 2012 and became a practice manager in 2020. In her free time, Van Winkle enjoys board games with friends, Star Wars, weightlifting, and fishing with her dad.

Surgery: Jane Park, DVM, DACVS-SA

Jane Park, DVM, DACVS-SA, is originally from New York and has happily settled in Texas. In her spare time, Park enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children, and her band of 2 cats and 2 dogs, as well as hiking, trying new cuisines, and traveling.

Veterinary Paraprofessional: David Brathwaite

Brathwaite has worked at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) since 2001. He is a veterinary assistant with 22 years of experience, providing the highest standard of care across many areas of AMC, including emergency and critical care, the clinics, the special care unit, and, most recently, as the radiology patient care manager.