Dr. Dena Jersild received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. She then attended the University of Wisconsin – School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1989. After practicing for two years in equine and small animal medicine, she focused her attention solely on small animal medicine and surgery. Her passions and interests led her into the study of Animal Chiropractic, which allowed her to attend the program being offered by Options for Animals, being certified in 1999.

Beginning in July of 2001, Dr. Jersild began the study of Applied Kinesiology (AK) within the field of Animal Chiropractic. This combined way of practice in Veterinary Medicine was transforming both professionally and personally. The countless numbers of patients who have received medical cures through this alternative means is more than remarkable, and life saving. Animal Chiropractic with AK allowed an evolution within her personal career that has also indirectly leaked over to the human counterpart. The vast impact of what this is, is definitely more than words can say. Through Health Pioneers, many applications have been studied and applied to help the animals, including allergy seminars and more advanced neurology courses. She is actively involved in the instruction of these courses.

Dr. Jersild taught at the Healing Oasis VSMT program for 10 years. She completed the Advanced Neurology program in Animal Chiropractic through the Healing Oasis in 2007. She completed the Veterinary Acupuncture course through the Chi Institute in 2008, and has since completed several additional Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medical programs through the Chi Institute.

Dr. Jersild currently maintains a small animal practice near Chicago, Illinois, at her home in Winfield. Her clinic provides mostly alternative Veterinary Medicine. She is an advocate of Greyhound rescue, proudly owning two young boys, and a parent of 1 barn kitty, 3 horses, 1 pony and 4 zebra finches. Her passions are always the animals, but loves gardening, being at the lake (sailing, kayaking, fishing, hiking), and any outdoor activity. She aspires to learn the Ukulele, mountain dulcimer and get back to her long instrumental friend, the harp.

She is also very proud to say that she is married to Dr. Carl DeStefano. He is, with certainty, the person who truly transformed her life. Most likely he has transformed hundreds of others, with his knowledge and expertise in this field. He is the reason AK is in the Animal Chiropractic world. This has changed the diagnosis and healing of patients to an unbelievable level.

Chris Zink is a specialist in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation with additional certifications in acupuncture (Chi Institute) and chiropractic (Healing Oasis). She is the award-winning author/editor of five books and a DVD on the canine athlete, including Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, the first textbook on the subject. Dr. Zink helped establish the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation one of the newest specialties in veterinary medicine. Dr. Zink teaches canine sports medicine and rehabilitation to veterinarians, physical therapists and veterinary technicians throughout the world. Her Coaching the Canine Athlete seminars for dog trainers receive rave reviews. Dr. Zink was named Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year by the Association for Women Veterinarians Foundation in 2009 and won the John J. Sherman III Award for Excellence in the Field of Veterinary Rehabilitation in 2015.

Dr. Jim Reynolds is a Chiropractor of 32 years that resides in Tennessee with his wife Jean and their Yorkshire Terrier Cody. Dr. Reynolds began palpating and adjusting animals while at Life Chiropractic College under the supervision and encouragement of a Chiropractor and Osteology professor well before the school curriculum allowed clinical adjusting. Inspired by D.D. Palmer and his son B. J. Palmer, the founders and developers of Chiropractic, who first proved the efficacy of Chiropractic by adjusting animals; Dr. Reynolds’ formal Chiropractic practice included both human patients and their respective pets and livestock for many years until he retired from the clinical setting in 2004. He completed the Options for Animals program under Sharon Willoughby DVM, DC for animal adjusting and is a certified founding lifetime member of the AVCA. He became a diplomate instructor at Options for Animals and has served on the board of examiners for the AVCA. He is a perpetual student and is certified in both Acupuncture and Applied Kinesiology. He enjoys public speaking and the demonstration of Chiropractic concepts to civic groups, pony clubs, 4H, Scouters, Explorers, and Veterinary staff members, in addition to being featured at large public events such as the Volunteer Horse Fair and functions sponsored by Purina Mills. He helps carry the torch of traditional Chiropractic by providing excellent care to his animal patients and educating their owners, students, Veterinarians, Chiropractors and anyone who will listen to the supreme health benefits of maintaining a healthy nervous system through safe, effective, Chiropractic care.

Dr. Alinovi — author, speaker, and retired integrative veterinarian — knew she wanted to be an animal doctor at nine years old. She began her veterinary education at the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine and also holds a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology from Purdue, but quickly realized that conventional medicine met some, but not enough of her patients’ needs. Rather than settle for what she knew was falling short of meeting the demands of her growing practice, she became certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy, Veterinary Food Therapy, Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Therapy, Chinese Veterinary Tui-na, Reiki, and Aromatherapy. Now retired from private practice, her commitment to pets hasn’t waned and she looks forward to impacting many more pet patients through her books, research, teaching, speaking and consulting work.

Dr. Charles Weiss received his chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic in 1991 and maintained a successful human chiropractic practice for 25 years. He sold his practice in March 2016 to devote fulltime to animal chiropractic. In 2010 he began an internship with an equine chiropractor and in May 2011 complete his certification in animal chiropractic at the Healing Oasis Wellness Center. He has completed multiple CE courses in Applied Kinesiology and nutrition as relates to human and animals. Seeing the powerful results of chiropractic in his human practice he now brings his expertise and passion over to helping animals.

Tracy was born and raised in Southeastern Wisconsin. She got her Bachelors of Science in Agriculture science option, equine emphasis from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She then went on to get her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She started in private practice 2 days after at The Bristol Veterinary Service. There she practiced mixed animal practice for 3 years. She then moved to the Elkhorn Veterinary Clinic where she initially started doing mixed animal practice, eventually switching to mostly large animal for many years, until she took the VSMT classes, which put her back into the mixed animal realm again. She graduated with her Certification in VSMT from The Healing Oasis Wellness Center in 2011. She then went on to complete the Advanced Neurology program at The Healing O in 2015. Along the way she also participated in many classes with Dr. Destefano including AK1&2, AK 3&4, and Neurology for the Common Joe and Jane.

Tracy is currently practicing in Elkhorn doing 1/2 VSMT on both large and small animals, as well as traditional medicine.

Tracy lives in Southeastern Wisconsin with her husband and 2 children on their farm, along with many animals including horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and fish.

Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM, is an internationally known practitioner and educator in integrative veterinary medicine and therapy. She conducts veterinary in-service training and Continuing Education classes both nationally and internationally, and is licensed in eleven East Coast states, as well as Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana and Colorado.  Dr. Shoemaker’s unique equine, production, exotic, and companion animal integrative practice utilizes chiropractic, acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, homotoxicology, homeopathy, nutrition, physical therapy, and multiple other modalities. She provides comprehensive maintenance, therapy, and consultation to equine competitors in the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Shoemaker’s smaller patients include top competitors, service and search and rescue dogs, small production animals including sheep, goats, and camelids, as well as many wonderful companions. She has been an instructor and lecturer for AVCA, IVAS, AHVMA, many state and local VMAs, as well as lay organizations for over 20 years. The educational and research arm of her practice, Maximum Horsepower, LLC, received a grant from the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation in 2013, to study Postural Rehabilitation and will publish results over several years. Her practice, Always Helpful Veterinary Services, celebrated her recognition as American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association’s Practitioner of the Year in 2011, and she was inducted in the first class of the Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame in 2015.

Dr. Shoemaker is a 1980 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA; and prior to that, received her B.S. in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. She has certifications in multiple integrative modalities.

In honoring the significance of the human-animal bond in practice, education and research, Dr. Shoemaker provides information for all to benefit from her mission- to promote balance and consciousness that allow optimal health for animals and people.