Monte Vista, CO
President
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.
Denver, CO
President-elect
Dr. Austin Graham is a New Mexico transplant and Colorado State University DVM class of 2017 graduate. He practices exclusively small animal medicine on canine and feline companion animals. Currently, Dr. Graham works as a relief veterinarian in the Denver Metro. Dr. Graham likes working with new and recent graduates to mentor them into bright and long careers as general practice veterinarians. He enjoys camping and hiking with his husband Alex and skiing through the fall, winter and spring months.
“The opportunity to practice veterinary medicine, mentor new doctors and teams, and advocate for a better profession is a wonderful challenge, I look forward to continuing to move our profession forward on the CVMA Board of Directors.”
Colorado Springs, CO
Secretary/Treasurer
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.
Castle Rock, CO
Secretary/Treasurer-elect
Dr. Megan Rector is the owner and an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies. She grew up in Colorado and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University in 2009. After graduating from the veterinary medical program, Megan completed a small animal medical and surgical internship at Texas A&M University. She began her professional career at a busy emergency and specialty hospital, working full time as an emergency clinician. Megan then chose to expand her horizons, and start her own facility in wonderful Castle Rock, Colorado.
Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies was conceived from her interests in practicing the highest quality of medicine, teamwork, and collaboration through the veterinary field. “Our goal is to provide the best care possible to our patients and support for our clients and become a genuine part of the Castle Rock community”, said Rector.
Dr. Rector shares her home with her pets: Miles, an orange maine voon cat; Izzy, a yellow labrador; and Penny, a crazy red labrador retriever. Her three pets show their love for her by greeting her at the door. Penny and Izzy love to swim and chase toys, with Izzy always retrieving the toys. Miles loves to play with his racetrack and hang out on the refrigerator shelf. That’s right, when the fridge is left open, in he goes.
When not practicing veterinary medicine or playing with the animals, Megan can be found trying a new recipe, traveling, scuba diving, going to concerts and movies at Red Rocks and spending time with family and friends.
Fort Collins, CO
AVMA Delegate
A 1983 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Dr. Pete Hellyer is a professor of anesthesiology in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the CSU veterinary college. Dr. Hellyer is a past president of CVMA and was honored by the association in 2015 for serving an additional term as immediate past president. Dr. Hellyer teaches all four years of the DVM curriculum, with most teaching done in the 3rd and 4th year anesthesia clinical rotations where veterinary students receive guidance as they create anesthetic and analgesic (pain relieving) protocols for their patients undergoing a wide variety of procedures. Dr. Hellyer also devotes a significant amount of time to small group interactions with the 1st and 2nd year DVM students in their Foundations in Veterinary Medicine courses, with a particular focus on engaging students in discussions of contemporary ethical issues affecting animal welfare and veterinary medicine. Dr. Hellyer’s research interests include understanding factors affecting clinical management of pain in animals and to understand contemporary issues that impact veterinarians, animals, and their owners.
Littleton, CO
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.
Denver, CO
Immediate Past-President
Dr. Larsen graduated from Virginia-Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. Following graduation, she completed a 1-year small animal medicine and emergency rotating Internship at The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Virginia. Prior to veterinary school, she completed her bachelor’s degree in finance from the George Washington University and worked in the financial sector for six years. Dr. Larsen worked in small animal emergency medicine for 4.5 years before she joined Abaxis as a professional services veterinarian in 2015. She also held the role of independent contractor for Nationwide Pet Insurance’s veterinary field team and traveled to veterinary colleges discussing preventative care and pet insurance. Dr. Larsen is currently the director of diagnostic platforms–medical affairs with Zoetis and continues to practice part time as a general practice and emergency relief veterinarian in Colorado. She has served on the Arizona VMA Board of Directors and as the president of the CVMA Chapter 6 Leadership Team. She was an AVMA Future Leader in 2014-2015, whose team worked on workplace wellness. Most recently, Dr. Larsen served as the chair of CVMA’s Practice Act Sunset Review Task Force. In her spare time, Dr. Larsen enjoys trail running, hiking, biking, kayaking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children. Dr. Larsen enjoys veterinary medicine most when it is aligned with outstanding practice management.
Denver, CO
Chief Executive Officer
Chapter 1 | Northwest Mountains Co-Representative
Chapter 1 | Northwest Mountains Co-Representative
Chapter 1 | Northwest Mountains Co-Representative
Chapter 1 | Northwest Mountains Co-Representative
Chapter 2 | Northern Cities
Co-Representative
Chapter 2 | Northern Cities
Co-Representative
Chapter 2 | Northern Cities
Co-Representative
Chapter 2 | Northern Cities
Co-Representative
Chapter 3 | Northeast Plains
Co-Representative
Chapter 3 | Northeast Plains
Co-Representative
Chapter 4 | West Mesa Representative
Chapter 5 | Southwest Mountains Representative
Chapter 6 | Denver Area Representative
Chapter 7 | Pikes Peak Representative
Chapter 8 | Southeast Plains Representative
Student Chapter Class of 2026 Representative
Student Chapter Class of 2027 Representative
Student Chapter Class of 2028 Representative
Student Chapter Class of 2029 Representative
Chief Executive Officer
Director of Operations
Director of Business Development
Administrative Support Specialists
Manager of Operations
Kelly Walsh DVM
Steven Dick DVM
Ashley Ackley DVM
Jackie Christakos DVM
Stacee Santi DVM
William French, DVM
Sam Romano DVM
Curtis Crawford DVM
Erin Epperly DVM
Peter Hellyer DVM MS DACVA
Randa MacMillan DVM
Apryl Steele DVM
Thomas Parks DVM
William Fredregill DVM
Jed Rogers DVM
Melanie Marsden DVM
Stacy Hudelson DVM
Todd Towell DVM MS DACVIM
Leesa McCue DVM
Barb Powers DVM PhD
Christopher J. Morris DVM
John K. Young DVM
Eric Smith DVM
Lawrence Mackey DVM
Elizabeth Whitney DVM
James Noone DVM
Theodore Cohn DVM
Robert Taylor DVM
Tony Woodward DVM
Ann Brandenburg-Schroeder DVM
Steve Colter DVM
Greg E. Schick DVM
Stanley L. Powell DVM
Donald A. Ostwald DVM
Larry J. Wiseman DVM
Wayne E. Smith DVM
John Cheney DVM
C. George Dewell DVM
Michael Collins DVM
Terry Swanson DVM
Cleon Kimberling DVM
Nat T. Messer IV DVM
Charles D. Vail DVM
David Herrick DVM
John Makens DVM
William Kraus DVM
Robert Felker DVM
James Hamilton DVM
John Harris DVM
Richard Swanson DVM
William Trefz DVM
Robert Rolofson DVM
James Voss DVM
Lee Eldred DVM
Charles Garvin DVM
Bert White DVM
Morley Cook DVM
Sterling Clark DVM
G. Marvin Beeman DVM
Wallace Leary DVM
Kenneth W. Smith DVM
Joseph Ruwitch DVM
Gene Bierhaus DVM
O.R. Adams DVM
B.N. Frank DVM
Norman Eyl DVM
Harold J. Hill DVM
Donald Mackey DVM
Paul Pattridge DVM
Arthur Herzberger DVM
Kenneth V. Bolton DVM
Vyrle Stauffer DVM
J. William Harrison DVM
Gail Gilbert DVM
John Thimmig DVM
J. Richard Naylor DVM
R. F. Bourne DVM
C.J. Hayden DVM
E.N. Stout DVM
H.E. Kingman DVM
E.E. Tobin DVM
M.E. Spratlin DVM
Jay H. Bouton DVM
George Carr DVM
H.P. Scott DVM
W.G. Blake DVM
A.N. Carroll DVM
C.C. Stewart DVM
J.F. Meinger DVM
A.N. Carrol DVM
H.E. Kingman DVM
D.C. Patterson DVM
R.H. Bird DVM
F.D. Hylton DVM
A.P. Drew DVM
A.G. Fisk DVM
M.J. Woodliffe DVM
George W. Dickey DVM
Robert H. Bird DVM
H.R. Thompson DVM
A.J. Savage DVM
Charles Lamb DVM
Mark White DVM
G.H. Glover DVM
