Companion Animal Pain Management Fellowship Community

Fellows (1-3)

Biography

Dr. Michael Dutton previously owned 2 AAHA hospitals with a large exotic pet caseload (~6000 pets per year). He retired in 2024 from clinical practice.

He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in four specialties: Canine & Feline Practice, Avian Practice, Exotic Companion Mammal Practice, and Reptile & Amphibian Practice. He has lectured and written on exotic pet veterinary topics and pain management both locally and nationally.

He has a Master’s degree in Pain Management, is a certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner by IVAPM, and a certified Aquatic Veterinarian by WAVMA.

He is a Founding Fellow of ABVP Companion Animal Pain Management.

Michael Dutton

DVM, MS, DABVP (CF, Av, ECM, RA). FFABVP-CAPM. CVPP. CertAqV

Fellows (1-3)

Biography

Dr. Jill Kitson has worked in both general practice and emergency/referral setting over the past 21 years and was the Medical Director of an AAHA practice for 9 years. Most recently she has recently opened her own practice, Feline Consulting & Pain Management LLC. She is an ABVP Feline Practitioner and Founding Fellow for ABVP-Companion Animal Pain Management. Through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, she became certified in rehabilitation therapy and acupuncture. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behavior with Distinction through the International Society of Feline Medicine as well as a designation of a Feline Friendly Veterinarian through the Feline Veterinary Medical Association and is a Certified Fear Free Professional. She is a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian through CAETA, as well as a Founding Fellow in ABVP Companion Animal Pain Management.

Jill Kitson

DVM, CCRT, DABVP (Feline), AdvCertFB, CVAT, CPEV,FFABVP-CAPM

Fellows (1-3)

Biography

Dr. Alexandre Daniel received his DVM from São Paulo University/Brazil, in 2005 and completed a 2 year residence program in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary teaching hospital, São Paulo University, in 2007. He obtained a master degree in clinical sciences at the same institution in 2009. He is diplomate of American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), specialist in feline practice , and serves as chair on the Latin American Advisory Council - Feline Veterinary Medical Association. He is member of the Academy of Feline Practitioners - International Society of Feline Medicine, owner of a feline only practice in Brazil and consultant at VIN (Veterinary Information Network - feline internal medicine). In 2024, he became an ABVP Founding Fellow in companion animal pain management.

Alexandre Daniel

DVM, DABVP (Fe), FFABVP-CAPM

Fellows (4-6)

Biography

Dr. Epstein received his DVM from University of Georgia and is the Senior Partner and Medical Director of TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals, a small group of AAHA-accredited practices in the Charlotte & Gastonia NC. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline), a Founding Fellow Companion Animal Pain Management, and is a past-president of ABVP. He is recognized as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and is a past-president of IVAPM; he is currently President of the IVAPM Research & Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Epstein chaired the AAHA Senior Care Guidelines Task Force and co-Chaired the 2015 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines Task Force; and an author of numerous book chapters and review articles. He is a recipient of the 2022 Viticus Small Animal Educator of the Year Award.

Mark Epstein

DVM, DABVP (CF), CVPP, CVA, FFABVP-CAPM

Fellows (4-6)

Biography

Dr. Ilana Halperin completed her veterinary studies in 2003, graduating from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation she completed a 1 year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Halperin then entered practice in small animal primary care in California. She became certified in veterinary acupuncture in 2007. In 2016 Dr. Halperin joined the Primary Care team at UC Davis. She became a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners with a specialty in canine and feline practice in 2020. Her interests include feline medicine, low stress handling, pallia

Ilana Halperin

DVM, DABVP (CF), FFABVP-CAPM, CVA

Fellows (4-6)

Biography

Dr. Tiffany Durzi, an Ontario Veterinary College 2000 alumni who has been a Primary Care Veterinary Educator (PCVE) at the Ontario Veterinary College Primary Healthcare Centre since 2010. She is the Section Head of Small Animal Primary Care at the OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital and the Chief of Service at the OVC Fitness and Rehabilitation Service. She became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in Canine and Feline Medicine in 2021 and has a special interest in primary care education, pet mobility and chronic pain management. Dr. Durzi is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA), a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) and a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP). She is the host of a popular small animal primary care clinical podcast called Vet Sessions which is available on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. She is also the 2025 chair-elect of the AAVMC Primary Care Veterinary Educators Group (PCVE) world group.

Tiffany Durzi

DVM, DABVP (CF), CVA, CCRT, CVPP

Fellows (7-9)

Biography

Dr Robin Jaeger graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 and completed a rotating small animal internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in 2002. She then worked in ECC and during this time became ICU director at a specialty hospital in NY. While working in ECC she achieved the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and worked closely with the hospital’s rehabilitation department. Since she loves learning and being able to offer as many pain management options to her patients as possible, she also became a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through the IVAPM. Dr Jaeger has enjoyed time as an adjunct professor teaching veterinary technology students. She is currently an associate at a feline only practice in Florida. Dr Jaeger is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Canine & Feline Practice and is a Founding Fellow of ABVP Companion Animal Pain Management.

Robin Jaeger

DVM, DABVP (CF), CVPP, CVA, FFABVP-CAPM

Fellows (7-9)

Biography

Nigel is owner of Cedarview Animal Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario with a special interest in rehabilitation and pain management, and canine reproduction alongside general practice. He became a specialist of the ABVP (Canine/Feline) in 2001 and completed a Masters in Epidemiology in 2001. He is certified as a Veterinary Rehabilitation Therapist, a Veterinary Pain Practitioner, and in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture. In 2024, Nigel also became certified in ultrasound with the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society (IVUSS). In addition to abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography, he has a strong interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound and in developing skills in ultrasound-guided nerve and fascial blocks. Nigel is a Founding Fellow of the ABVP Companion Animal Pain Management and is currently a co-organizer for the proposed ABVP Fellowship in Ultrasound.

Nigel Gumley

DABVP (CF), CVPP, CVMA, CCRP, FFABVP-CAPM