2026 AKVMA Symposium
Anchorage
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October 9 - 11
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Earn up to 20 CE Hours
DVM, MRCVS
Ginny Kunch, DVM, MRCVS, has practiced small animal medicine mostly in & around Anchorage since 1997 but has also practiced in Oregon, Wales & Scotland. As an eager traveler herself, she has always had a special interest in International Travel certificates for pet dogs & cats. Whilst working in the UK, she also trained & worked as an OV (Official Veterinarian) in the dispensation of International certificates for pet travel.
Since 2022, Dr Kunch has owned & operated Anchorage Pet Travel Certificates, a uniquely Alaskan business! — which provides both domestic and international certificates for dogs & cats traveling outside of Alaska.
DVM, MS
Dr. Sarah Coburn is the State Veterinarian for Alaska. She completed her veterinary degree, as well as a Master’s Degree in Clinical Sciences, at Colorado State University. She was a Veterinary Medical Officer for USDA APHIS Veterinary Services in Vermont prior to moving to Utqiagvik in 2011. In Utqiagvik she served as the Public Health Officer and Veterinarian for the North Slope Borough Department of Health, managing animal care and control, in addition to clinical veterinary practice. She became the Assistant State Veterinarian for Alaska in 2017, and in 2024 transitioned to State Veterinarian.
DVM, MPH
Dr. Castrodale is veterinary epidemiologist and Alaska State Public Health Veterinarian. She is principal investigator for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant (CDC). Duties include general infectious disease surveillance, particularly zoonotic disease, and response to outbreaks. Other responsibilities include managing the Rabies Control Program and supervising the Section’s Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, and other fellows. She serves as Acting Manager of the Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis Program, and Acting Chief of the Section of Epidemiology as needed.
DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr. Rizzo earned her veterinary degree from Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a grueling 1-year rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists, completed her oncology residency at Cornell University and became board certified in 2016. As the founder of Hope Veterinary Oncology Services and Hope Veterinary Specialty Services, she is passionate about making high-quality cancer care more accessible to pets and families by bringing oncology services closer to home. Dr. Rizzo recently authored Practical Canine and Feline Oncology, a textbook designed to help veterinary general practitioners feel more confident and empowered in the diagnosis and management of cancer patients, with the goal of making veterinary oncology more accessible to the communities they serve. Through both mobile oncology in Washington state and vet-to-vet remote consultation services across the globe, Dr. Rizzo partners with primary care teams to provide comprehensive cancer care within patients’ local communities, within care-givers budgets and within the general practitioners’ comfort level.
LVT, VTS
Sarah is not only a Licensed Veterinary Technician, she is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in dentistry! Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Sarah has always had a love for animals and dreamed of one day joining the veterinary field. She left Alaska to complete her Associates in Applied Science at the Bel Rea Institute and graduated in 2007 to become a licensed veterinary technician. She returned to Alaska to work in a specialty surgery practice for a couple years and then moved to a general practice where she discovered her love of veterinary dentistry.
After many years of advanced training and education Sarah was awarded the designation of Veterinary Technician Specialist in Dentistry (VTS – Dentistry) in 2019 by the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians. Sarah’s advanced dental training allows her to better assist veterinarians in dental radiology, pathology, dental hygiene, oral surgery, fracture repair, dental nerve blocks, and advanced endodontic and prosthodontic procedures. Sarah has also completed the Fear Free Certification Program in 2017 and loves to apply her training to allow her patients to feel more at ease and enjoy coming into and being treated in the veterinary clinic setting.
In her off time, Sarah loves being the mother of her 2 adorable girls Victoria and Lydia, and hanging out with her loving husband Randall. Being home-grown Alaskan she loves being in the outdoors and enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting whenever she gets the chance and loves to bring along her two Welsh corgis Korra and Vinnie for some outdoor fun!
DVM, DACVAA
Gaby Escalante (DVM, DACVAA) is a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist with abundant experience in teaching in both academic & private practice settings, as well as research experience in various scientific journals. Her clinical interests include: respiratory disease & management of difficult airways, integrating locoregional anesthesia into daily practice, oral sedation, improving anesthetic recoveries, and anesthesia for wildlife/exotic animals.
Dr. Gaby currently provides mobile anesthesia consultation & training services through her business MACvet (Midwest Anesthesia Consulting Veterinary Services) where she aims to make advanced anesthesia accessible to all animals – no matter the clinical setting or team’s experience with veterinary anesthesia. She has an immense love for teaching and truly believes the mindset of “teaching is learning twice”. She is always eager to share her knowledge about veterinary anesthesia with veterinary professionals and pet parents.
When not focused on her sharing her love for veterinary anesthesia, Dr. Gaby enjoys spending time with her partner Jeff and her zoo of animals (dogs, budgies, pigeon, russian tortoise, and multiple freshwater aquariums). She is obsessed with any and all birds, fancy cocktails, karaoke, and most importantly… BIRDS!
DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Michael Kato grew up in the Los Angeles area and attended UC Davis for both his undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. He then pursued a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. Moving across the country to Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. Kato pursued a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at North Carolina State University, achieved board certification with the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2021, and then stayed on at North Carolina State University for a fellowship in extracorporeal therapies. Dr. Kato then moved into the private sector working in both San Diego, California and Cary, North Carolina for several years. Dr. Kato is currently an assistant professor at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. His interests lie primarily in extracorporeal therapy including hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, and therapeutic plasma exchange as well as the management of respiratory, renal and cardiac critical illness. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, traveling, and pottery.
DVM, DACVR
Dr. Collins grew up in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska. In 2006, she graduated with her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. After completing a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT, she became the first associate veterinarian at Far Country Animal Hospital. She worked there for nine years as a general practitioner. After extensive training in ultrasound and while working closely with a radiologist, she then focused on providing mobile sonography and radiologist referral to numerous hospitals across Southcentral Alaska. Dr Collins completed a diagnostic imaging residency with Southland Vets Veterinary Radiologists and, in the spring of 2026, achieved board certification with the American College of Veterinary Radiology. She is now working in teleradiology and is excited to offer mobile ultrasound services as Alpine Veterinary Radiology.
DVM, MA
In short, I’m an Adidas wearing, hip hop dancing veterinary radiologist who wants to change the world by cultivating a community of leaders through curiosity, creative conversations, and connection. What are the specifics? I hold a doctorate of veterinary medicine with advanced residency training in diagnostic imaging as well as a master’s degree in organizational leadership. I served as the executive director of the Veterinary Leadership Institute from 2011 until 2021 at which point I accepted the role of VP of Leadership Development at Mission Veterinary Partners where I led our leadership development program, MVP Leads, until June of 2025 and got to support over 1,000 leaders in the program. I am currently developing the next generation of veterinarians at Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
I use all my experience and expertise to help veterinary professionals understand what it means to lead from the space to facilitate the development of high functioning teams within organizations. I have worked in general practice, specialty practice, corporate veterinary medicine, was a faculty member at Western University of Health Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine for over 8 years and have served the students at Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine for 4 years. I have had the privilege of presenting at all of the veterinary colleges in the U.S., numerous state veterinary medical associations, the American Association of Equine Practitioners National Convention for several years, and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Leadership Conference for multiple years. I have been a keynote speaker for both veterinary audiences as well as non-veterinary audiences and I have been a commencement speaker. I also love consulting with private practitioners.
Leadership is hard and can often be lonely because life is hard and people are people, but I believe we all have the capacity to be exceptional people of influence by mastering the skills sets associated with navigating the inevitable tension between the good and the terrible so that good wins. It requires incredible self-awareness and focus on effective emotional regulation, but it is absolutely worth it.
When I am not trying to change the world through veterinary medicine, I enjoy reading, having meaningful conversations with everyone I meet and cheering on my cutting horses, Lucy #2 and Overdue Sue, in the show pen. I am always game for an adventure and want to live a life that would make my beloved late husband proud which means I am constantly saying, “Buckle up. It’s about to get fun and crazy. Let’s do this!”
DVM, MS; Resident in Training ACVB
Dr. Mandy Seymour completed her training in veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University in 2008, then went on to complete an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona. In 2024, she earned her Master’s in Animal Welfare and Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania. She’s been practicing in Alaska since 2010. In addition to her general practice duties, Dr. Mandy is also a Resident in Training with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
In her free time, Dr. Mandy enjoys hiking with her dogs, cuddling with her cats, mounted archery, tap dancing and painting miniatures for board games. She is also an avid reader.
D.V.M., J.D.
Dr. Rachel K. Berngartt brings a rare combination of expertise to Alaska’s veterinary community: she is the only attorney in the state who is also a licensed veterinarian practicing veterinary business law. A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine (’01) and Seattle University School of Law (’20), Dr. Berngartt spent decades treating patients ranging from companion animals to horses to marine mammals. Today, she leverages that frontline clinical experience to advise veterinary professionals on the regulatory, legislative, and business challenges unique to their field. Her dual perspective enables her to translate complex legal requirements into practical guidance, explaining not only what the law demands, but why it matters to practitioners. Dr. Berngartt also serves on the Alaska Veterinary Medical Association board as its legislative liaison, where she continues to advocate for the profession she knows from both sides of the table. Whether drafting legislation, representing clients before the Board of Veterinary Examiners (which she previously chaired), or counseling practices on compliance matters, Dr. Berngartt is a trusted voice for Alaska’s veterinary community.
