Advisory Council

Stokes Healthcare is proud to have an advisory council that includes some of the most forward-thinking leaders in the veterinary industry. Serving as advisors for both our divisions, Stokes Pharmacy (503A) and Epicur Pharma (503B), we look forward to taking veterinary drug manufacturing and patient care to the next level with the Council’s advice and expertise.  

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Philip J. Bergman

DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM
Director, Clinical Studies, VCA

An Oncologist at VCA Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center – Bedford Hills, NY, Dr. Bergman is the Director of Clinical Studies for VCA. He is the principal veterinary investigator for the recently fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept). Dr. Bergman is an adjunct faculty member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Prior to Dr. Bergman joining VCA, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for BrightHeart Veterinary Centers from July 2007 to August 2011; from 1999 to June 2007 he was the head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center at AMC. After finishing veterinary school from Colorado State in 1990, he was an intern at Kansas State (90-91) and returned to CSU for his medical oncology residency (91-94) and then completed a PhD Fellowship in human cancer biology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (94-99). He was previously Chair of the ACVIM Board of Regents and President of the Veterinary Cancer Society. Dr. Bergman has been a veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center since 2007.

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Ann Donoghue

DVM, MS

Ann completed a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) in 1983, Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 and Master of Science (Parasitology) in 1992 at Michigan State University.  She was the Parasitology Section Chief of the MSU Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory for a year before joining the Product Development and Registration department at Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Company where she worked with fenbendazole and a variety of ectoparasiticides.  She then moved to Heska Corporation developing the SoloStep line of heartworm point-of-care diagnostic kits.  From there she joined PR Pharmaceuticals, Inc, helping to develop GLP, GCP and GMP systems while working on long-acting, biodegradable microsphere formulations of antiparasitics, growth promotors and insulin.  In 2009 she founded Donoghue Consulting, LLC, providing regulatory affairs, product development and quality assurance services.  She was part of the team that achieved conditional approval for the first lymphoma drug for dogs.  When not trying to figure out how to get the next drug through the regulatory process at FDA, she enjoys open water swimming, horseback riding, gardening, knitting, reading, ham radio, reproducing pianos and playing bassoon in local concert bands and orchestras.  She’s also involved in several citizen science projects on weather and ornithology, and has held various leadership positions in national and international parasitology associations and in the local veterinary medical association and astronomy club.

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Bob Murtaugh

DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC
Chief Medical Officer, Pathway

Dr. Murtaugh earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1980 from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1984, he completed a Residency in Veterinary Internal Medicine and MS at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and in 1985 he became Diplomate of ACVIM. From 1984 to 1998 Dr. Murtaugh was a Professor in the Department of Medicine, the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and the Assistant Dean of Curriculum at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. From 1986 to 1989, Dr. Murtaugh served as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (became AVMA recognized specialty in 1989). After serving as Chief of Staff at Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, Portland OR from 1998 to 2000, Dr. Murtaugh joined VCA as the Northeast Regional Medical Director from 2000 to 2010 and as Medical Director and ACVIM/ACVECC Specialist at VCA All Care Animal Referral Center in Orange County, CA from 2010 to 2015. In 2015, Dr. Murtaugh joined Pathway as Chief Medical Officer and is serving as Chairman of American Board of Veterinary Specialties (AVMA).

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Jodi Schumacher

LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM)

Jodi has spent her entire 33-year career working in veterinary specialty medicine. She spent nearly 20 years at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in their Emergency and Critical Care, Internal Medicine, and the Transfusion Medicine Departments. For the last 11 years, Jodi has put all of her education and experience to good use as the Lead Technician in the Internal Medicine Department at Cornell University Veterinary Specialist in Stamford, Connecticut.

Jodi obtained her LVT in 1992, but that was just the beginning. A life-long learner, she passed her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) boards in Emergency and Critical care in 2002. Jodi then became a member of the organizing committee and a Charter Member of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians. She gained her VTS certification in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2008.

In her free time, she is a devoted mom to her son Jonah and their two dogs and two cats. She enjoys swimming, hiking and most of all, vacationing.

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Debbie Boone

BS, CVPM, Fear Free Certified

Debbie Boone, self-professed “customer service geek and champion for animal health,” began her training in business management and customer care at 12 years old while working in her family’s restaurants. A love of animals led her to a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and her first job in the industry as a client care representative at an animal hospital. Her business, retail, and hospitality background quickly moved her into hospital administration, and she managed AAHA-accredited hospitals for 23 years. Her unique skillset includes experience working with a variety of veterinary hospitals, including small animal, mixed animal, specialty, and emergency practices. She also has experience with shelter management.

Debbie is considered an expert in team communication, the creation of positive practice culture, and the development of monthly paid wellness plans for veterinary practices. Acknowledged as a leader in change implementation and employee engagement, she has been sought out by major animal health manufacturers for her skills as a trainer and speaker.

During her presentations, Debbie incorporates real-life stories that resonate with attendees and lead to glowing reviews. Her impressive list of speaking engagements includes WVC, AAHA, Midwest and Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conferences, and more. She has presented multiple VetFolio webinars and is the instructor for Patterson Veterinary Supply’s Communication and Service class. Her frequent one-on-one contact with veterinary professionals keeps her abreast of the daily challenges veterinary practices face and the creative solutions they have found to overcome those challenges. 

Debbie co-authored The Veterinarian’s Guide to Healthy Pet Plans—How to Design and Implement Successful Preventive Care Plansand has been published in the VHMA newsletter, FirstlineDVM 360online, Veterinary Team BriefTrends magazine, and more. She is a member of VHMA, AAHA, VetPartners, and multiple veterinary business and management groups and also serves on the AAHA LINC committee, assigned with selecting the AAHA Board of Directors. She is a member of the Board of Directors for VetPartners and the Fear FreeSMAdvisory Board and Speakers Bureau. Her latest project is the development of a Veterinary Practice Management concentration through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. 

Debbie’s business, 2 Manage Vets Consulting, helps practices develop extraordinary team communication and business skills, enhancing patient care, improving profitability, and increasing practice value. She strives to improve the lives of animals by using her expertise to improve workplace culture and the well-being of veterinary professionals.

In her spare time, Debbie enjoys reading, attempting to play golf, walking on the beach with her husband, traveling, and watching ACC basketball.

As someone who managed practices for 23 years, and thought I knew about compounding pharmacies, taking a tour of Stokes Pharmacy and Epicur Pharma was an enlightening experience. I was so impressed with the way these companies go above and beyond to assure the safety and sterility of the drugs they manufacture. I would absolutely insist on using them for my own pet’s medications.

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Jan Woods

Regulatory Consultant
Co-Founder, AskJanForHelp.com

Jan’s healthcare career has spanned over 30 years in both human and veterinary medicine. She held senior management positions in national human healthcare companies, including Vice President of Operations and Development for Care Net Health Systems based in Nashville, TN. and the Vice President of Operations and Development for Communicare and NBC HealthCare, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

In 2001, Jan moved into veterinary medicine as the Hospital Administrator for Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center of Kansas City, (VSEC). From 2004-2016 she was the Co-Owner, Hospital Administrator and Vice President of the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, (VSCT). Jan was the Director of Education & Regulatory Affairs Manager for Cubex, LLC from 2018-2020. In 2020, Jan became a member of the Epicur Pharma Advisory Council and a Zoetis Key Opinion Leader. She also joined Veterinary Business Advisors as their Regulatory and Operational Consultant.

Jan speaks and consults with veterinarians nationally on a full-time basis. Her areas of expertise encompass compliance with DEA regulations, as well as other state and federal regulations, clinic and hospital practice management & operations, human resources, finance, and marketing.

I recommend Epicur Pharma to veterinarians for a couple of reasons: Ordering controlled substances for office use allows clinics to directly dispense and administer to patients, allowing treatment to start immediately; they can also supply at-home quantities if needed. Additionally, some Epicur products such as Buprenorphine are available in larger sizes, making them easier to handle, less expensive, and simpler to track in daily controlled substance reconciliation logs.

Epicur Pharma Proudly Partners with Ask Jan
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Nicole Clausen

CSSGB, CCFP

Nicole Clausen, CSSGB, CCFP has over 15 years of experience in the veterinary industry with 10 years in small animal practice. She worked her way up from receptionist to Operations Manager in various clinics and understands the intricacies and internal workings of a successful practice. She now is the founder and consultant at Veterinary Care Logistics, a consulting firm specializing in inventory management for veterinary professionals.

Since its inception, Nicole and Veterinary Care Logistics have helped hundreds of veterinary practices, from coast to coast, create sustainable, lasting inventory management strategies in their veterinary practices.

Nicole is also the founder of the Veterinary Inventory Strategy Network, a community and educational platform dedicated to inventory management, the host of the Inventory Nation Podcast, the creator of the Certified Veterinary Inventory Professional program, the first-ever certification for inventory managers, and a regular speaker on inventory management.