PUTTING
MICROBIOME
SCIENCE INTO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Marianne Lomberg

BVSc (Hons)

Dr. Marianne Lomberg qualified as a veterinarian in South Africa and began her career in an urban small animal veterinary clinic. She later returned to the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Pretoria—her alma mater—where she lectured in veterinary nutrition and behavior. 

After four years in academia, Dr. Lomberg began an 18-year career in the veterinary industry. Her roles spanned regulatory affairs and compliance, technical training, marketing, sales, and business management across the pet food, veterinary equipment, pharmaceutical, and distribution sectors. She has worked with teams across Africa, Europe, and the United Kingdom. 

In 2021, Dr. Lomberg joined Nestlé Purina PetCare as head of the pet care business for Eastern and Southern Africa, leading the launch of Purina diets in sub-Saharan Africa. In April 2026, she joined the company’s global strategic business team to lead the Purina Institute. 

Jan Suchodolski

MedVet, DrVetMed, PhD, AGAF, DACVM  

Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. After working for several years in a small animal specialty clinic, he returned to academia and received his PhD in Veterinary Microbiology from Texas A&M University for his work on molecular markers for the assessment of the intestinal microbiota. Dr. Suchodolski is board-certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM). He currently serves as professor and associate director of the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the field of veterinary gastroenterology and microbiome. Dr. Suchodolski is the Purina PetCare Endowed Chair in Microbiome Research. 

Meriam Saleh

PhD 

Dr. Meriam Saleh is a clinical assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. She received her PhD in Veterinary Parasitology from Virginia Tech in 2017, after which she completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on ticks and tick-borne diseases at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Saleh teaches veterinary parasitology in the preclinical DVM curriculum and the 4th year clinical diagnostics rotation. She is an active member of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists. Dr. Saleh’s research seeks to answer questions related to improving parasite detection and gaining a better understanding of the risks and impacts parasites pose to animals and humans. She works to instill a love of parasites, or at least an appreciation of their importance, in all of her students. Beyond the university, Dr. Saleh serves on the board of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. 

Kathrin Busch

DVM, Dr. med. vet., Dipl. ECVIM-CA

Dr. Kathrin Busch graduated with a veterinary degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, Germany. She worked several years at the Small Animal Clinic of LMU while doing her doctoral thesis on acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome. She is board-certified in internal medicine by the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine of Companion Animals. She currently serves as head of the department of gastroenterology at the Small Animal Clinic of LMU. 

Kathleen Aicher

DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Kate Aicher is an assistant professor in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University. She earned her DVM degree from Texas A&M, followed by an internship at the University of Tennessee and a residency in small animal internal medicine at North Carolina State University. She worked in private practice as an internist and medical director before returning to Texas A&M, where she teaches in the preclinical DVM curriculum, performs clinical duty on the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service, and conducts research investigating liver and gastrointestinal disease of dogs. Her love for Labrador retrievers and location within the working retriever community in Texas led her to develop a research subgroup to investigate Heterobilharzia americana known as The Drake Project, named in honor of a dog who succumbed to this infection. She leads ongoing research focused in epidemiology, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for this infection in dogs.

Julia Guazzelli Pezzali

DVM, MS, PhD

Dr. Julia Guazzelli Pezzali earned her veterinary degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), her M.S. from Kansas State University (USA), and her PhD from the University of Guelph (Canada). During her master’s degree, she investigated the effects of carbohydrate sources on nutrient digestibility and sulfur amino acid metabolism in dogs. During her PhD, she conducted studies validating the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique in domestic cats to determine protein and amino acid requirements. She is an assistant professor and director of the Pet Food Program at Kansas State University, where she teaches and conducts research in pet food processing and companion animal nutrition and metabolism. Her research program combines basic and applied approaches to evaluate how ingredients, processing methods, and dietary strategies affect companion animal health, with emphasis on protein, amino acid, and energy metabolism, and the use of indirect calorimetry and stable isotope methodologies.

Maryanne Murphy

DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition)

Dr. Maryanne Murphy earned dual bachelor’s degrees in animal sciences and biological sciences from Rutgers University and a DVM from Iowa State University. After completing a rotating internship at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in New York City, she pursued a clinical nutrition residency and PhD at the University of Tennessee, focusing on energy metabolism and satiety in dogs. Dr. Murphy then worked as a clinical nutritionist at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey before returning to UT in 2016, where she currently serves as chief of the Veterinary Nutrition Service. 

Dr. Murphy has particular interests in obesity prevention and treatment as well as dietary management of gastrointestinal disease. An advocate for veterinary nutrition, she mentors veterinarians aiming for board certification and has played significant roles in both the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the former American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Through her extensive work with patients, veterinarians, veterinary organizations, and research endeavors, she strives to elevate standards in veterinary care by advancing nutritional science.

Samantha Taylor

BVetMed (Hons), PhD, CertSAM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA, MANZCVS, PGCert(TLHE), FHEA, FRCVS 

RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine 

EBVS Specialist in Internal Medicine

Dr. Sam Taylor completed a Feline Advisory Bureau residency at Bristol University and was awarded the European Diploma in Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2009. In 2011 she became an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine and in 2019 was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for outstanding contributions to the profession. Dr. Taylor is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Medicine of Cats). She is a consultant for the International Cat Care Veterinary Society and works as an internal medicine specialist at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in Hampshire, UK.  

Dr. Taylor is an honorary lecturer in internal medicine at Surrey University Veterinary School, UK/Europe liaison for the Australian Feline Chapter and coordinates the iCatCare international guidelines. She is also a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), associate editor at Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) and on the RCVS Fellowship Credentials Panel. Dr. Taylor coauthored guidelines on hypertension, Cat Friendly Clinic, diabetes mellitus, NSAIDs, acute pain, inappetence, blood transfusion, urinary tract disease, and others. She enjoys a mix of clinical work, writing and lecturing, and recently completed a PhD in feline health and welfare at Surrey Vet School. Clinical research is her passion—including pain management and treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). 

Petra Černa

MVDr./DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, DABVP (Feline), MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), CertAVP (SAM-F), MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB  

RCVS Recognized Specialist in Feline Medicine  

EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine  

Dr. Petra Černá is an ACVIM and ECVIM Diplomate in Small Animal Internal Medicine, RCVS Recognized Specialist in Feline Medicine, and Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Feline). She graduated from the University of Veterinary Sciences in the Czech Republic in 2018, where she also obtained her first PhD in 2023. After completing two internships in the UK, she completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Colorado State University, USA, in 2023 and her second PhD focusing on feline infectious peritonitis in 2025. Dr. Černá gained membership in the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the Medicine of Cats. She was also awarded the ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour with Distinction. Dr. Černá has particular interest in feline medicine and is focusing her research on feline infectious diseases, especially FIP. She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Georgia.

Jody Gookin

DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)  

Dr. Jody Gookin is a Distinguished Professor and a Chancellor’s University Faculty Scholar in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, specializing in small animal internal medicine and comparative gastroenterology. Dr. Gookin completed her DVM at the University of California at Davis, followed by an internship and residency at North Carolina State University. Following clinical training, Dr. Gookin completed a PhD in gastrointestinal physiology where she focused on understanding how intestinal epithelium functions to promote defense and repair against diarrheal pathogens. Her scholarly efforts are devoted to research in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disease, clinical service in small animal internal medicine, and teaching of veterinary and graduate students. Dr. Gookin has received the AVMA Career Achievement in Feline Research Award in recognition of her pioneering work discovering Tritrichomonas foetus as a new diarrheal pathogen of cats, a Zoetis award for research excellence, and NC Board of Governor’s award for excellence in teaching.  

Fabio Procoli

DMV, MVetMed, DACVIM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA (Internal Medicine), MCRVS

Dr. Fabio Procoli graduated from the University of Bari, Italy, in 2003. He worked in small animal general practice in Italy and UK for 5 years. In 2009, he completed a rotating internship at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences in Edinburgh (Scotland). In 2012, he completed a 3-year residency program in small animal internal medicine at the Royal Veterinary College in London (England). In 2013 and 2014, he was awarded the title of board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine both by the ACVIM and ECVIM. He completed a 1-year research master’s degree at the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2014 on the genetics of chronic enteropathy in German Shepherd Dogs. From 2014 to 2017 he served as deputy head of internal medicine at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester (UK). He has been serving as the head of internal medicine at Ospedale Veterinario Portoni Rossi Anicura in Bologna (Italy) since 2017.

Dr. Procoli has authored and coauthored publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals on the topic of small animal gastroenterology. He is author of Feline Gastroenterology, a specialized veterinary medical textbook published by Edra (2021 Ed). He has widely spoken and lectured at national and international continuing education events and courses on all topics of small animal gastroenterology and internal medicine. He is vice president of the Italian Small Animal Internal Medicine Society, member of the Comparative Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and board member of the Companion Animal Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Consortium.

Panagiotis Xenoulis

DVM, Dr.med.vet., PhD

Dr. Panos Xenoulis is a professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Thessaly in Greece and an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University in the USA. 

Dr. Xenoulis earned his DVM from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dr.med.vet. from Ludwig Maximilian University, and PhD from Texas A&M University where he focused on hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis in dogs. He is residency trained by the ECVCN. 

His clinical and research interests include gastrointestinal disorders in cats and dogs and especially chronic enteropathies and pancreatitis, as well as clinical nutrition and intestinal microbiota.  

He is included in the top 1% of scientists globally, according to the Composite Citation Index. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal publications and 30 book chapters, and has lectured in national and international conferences.