Congratulations to the following CVMA members for their new positions on the CVMA Board of Directors for 2024-2025!
The nominees were put forth by the CVMA Nominating Committee in June 2024; no other candidates were put forth by CVMA members during the petition period, and the candidates are now declared winners of the election. The nominees will be formally installed and officially transition into their new roles at the CVMA Convention Member Meeting and Awards Reception on September 5, 2024. Join us at Convention by registering today at colovma.org/convention.
According to the CVMA Bylaws, the following officer roles transition automatically without going through the nominations process: Immediate past president, president, secretary/treasurer, and AVMA delegate.
The 2024-2025 CVMA Board of Directors:
- President – Dr. Michelle Larsen
- President-elect – Dr. Kayla Henderson
- Secretary/Treasurer – Dr. Austin Graham
- Secretary/Treasurer-elect – Dr. Kevin Lisenbee
- AVMA Delegate – Dr. Peter Hellyer
- AVMA Alternate Delegate – Dr. Jackie Christakos
- Immediate Past President – Dr. Kelly Walsh
- Ex Officio – Diane Matt
Kayla Henderson, DVM | President-elect
Dr. Kayla Henderson is a San Luis Valley native and third generation cow calf rancher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in equine science and business administration, with honors, magna cum laude from Colorado State University in 2008, followed by her DVM, with honors, cum laude in 2012. She volunteered at Alpine Vet Hospital as a teenager, and then became an associate veterinarian in 2012, and finally an owner/partner in 2019. She loves every aspect of rural mixed animal practice and is a passionate advocate for the profession and lifestyle at the state and national levels. Dr. Henderson is the current CVMA Secretary/Treasurer and serves as a member or committee chair on several local and state boards. She enjoys equine medicine, reproduction, and lameness, herd health care, general small animal practice, and teaching and mentorship.
Kevin Lisenbee, DVM | Secretary/Treasurer-elect
Dr. Kevin Lisenbee is a small animal general practitioner at VCA Northwest Animal Hospital in Colorado Springs. He is originally from Oklahoma, where he grew up in the suburbs of Tulsa but moved out to the Pikes Peak region after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2014. Dr. Lisenbee had the great honor of being a part of the CVMA Power of 10 Class of 2022 and it has been a transformative experience for him. The introspection and community building learned while part of that program inspired him to get involved in organized veterinary medicine. He is currently the CVMA Chapter 7 President and plans to remain involved with CVMA at all levels, as giving back to the profession brings him joy. His professional interests include dentistry, spay/neuter, teaching students/externs/techs, and health certificates-. When not at work, Dr. Lisenbee and his wife Tanna love to travel anywhere from small Colorado towns to international destinations. When not traveling, they are working hard on training their new Cavalier King Charles puppy named Pippin.
Jackie Christakos, DVM | AVMA Alternate Delegate
Dr. Christakos grew up in southern Illinois and became passionate about horses early, beginning with riding lessons at age 10 and progressing to e?Eventing with her off-the-track thoroughbred throughout her teenage years. Dr. Christakos completed her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Colorado State University, graduating with honors in 2012. She then completed a one year rotating equine internship at Littleton Equine Medical Center.
Dr. Christakos has remained with Littleton Equine since completion of her internship in June 2013, working closely with respected mentors within the practice to further her skills in lameness and sports medicine. She became certified in Equine Veterinary Medical Acupuncture in 2014. Dr. Christakos has focused her continuing education on musculoskeletal imaging and advanced lameness courses. Her areas of focus at LEqMC are lameness/sport horse practice and imaging but she also enjoys general practice, acupuncture, and emergency field work.
Dr. Christakos is an FEI Treating Veterinarian and an FEI Official Veterinarian in the disciplines of Eventing, Dressage, and Jumping. She has served on the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Board of Directors, functioning as President of the organization in 2020-2021. Dr. Christakos is an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), serving on multiple committees, as co-chairperson of the Internship Subcommittee, and on the AAEP Board of Directors.
When she is not working, Dr. Christakos enjoys outdoor activities in the Colorado mountains and spending time with husband Ty, daughter Levi, backyard QH Sherman, and two bully breed dogs Pickle and Penny.
Looking to get involved with CVMA? Volunteer veterinarians like you help to drive the vision and future of veterinary medicine in Colorado. Contact us to get involved!
