Instructors
Craig M. Tockman, DVM
Don J. Harris, DVM
Kent Adams, DVM
Craig M. Tockman, DVM
Craig M. Tockman, DVM, owner of two practices and Director Professional Services at Abaxis. Dr. Tockman is the owner of Veterinary Care Center, an AAHA certified full service veterinary hospital with two locations in St. Louis, Missouri. Veterinary Care Center, under Dr. Tockman's direction, provides services such as in-office laboratory, endoscopy, laser surgery, diagnostic ultrasound, geriatric medicine, behavior consultation and full soft tissue and orthopedic surgical services. In addition, Dr. Tockman is certified in the Penn Hip method of radiologic diagnosis for hip dysplasia.
Dr. Tockman began his veterinary career at a two-veterinarian practice in St. Charles County, Missouri, where he was employed for 2 years. He was then associate veterinarian at Page Animal Hospital in St. Louis County. After 2 years, Dr. Tockman began purchasing Page Animal Hospital and opened a satellite practice in 1994. He attained complete ownership in 1998. Veterinary Care Center grew to a five-location facility by the year 2000. Currently, while still maintaining his ownership and continuing to practice, Dr. Tockman is also the Director of Professional Services for Abaxis, Inc.
He is the past president, past vice-president and past membership chairman of the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association where he currently serves on the board of directors. He is also a current member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Scope of Practice Task Force and a member of the AVMA, AAHA, Missouri VMA, and The Greater St. Louis VMA. Dr. Tockman graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989 and is a member of the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society and the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society. He was a two-time recipient of the Frank E. and Ena Hickerson Rhoads Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine. He particularly enjoys clinical pathology, orthopedic surgery and soft tissue surgery. He has been lecturing since 2001 on the benefits of in-hospital blood testing and the need for regular wellness blood testing. He has spoken at many local veterinary medical associations across the country, and has presented all day seminars for organizations such as the Wyoming Veterinary Medical Convention.
Don J. Harris, DVM
Don J. Harris, DVM, graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. His practice became exclusively avian in 1990, and he opened Miami's first exotics-only veterinary hospital, Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center, in 1996. Over the years, he has developed and maintained a close relationship with leaders in exotic animal medicine from around the world. Avian & Exotic serves as a point of contact between the hospital's clients and the international authorities on practically any situation involving exotic pets.
Dr. Harris received the Outstanding Service Award from the Association of Avian Veterinarians in 1986, Speaker of the Year Award from the North American Veterinary Conference in 1997, and many other commendations over the years from various colleges and associations. He served as president of the worldwide Association of Avian Veterinarians in 1991-92, president of the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association 1993-94, and is currently the President of the North American Veterinary Conference, the largest veterinary conference in the world.
Kent Adams, DVM
Kent Adams, DVM, graduated from the Virginia - Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. After an internship in southwest Virginia, he returned to his family farming roots to start Appalachian Veterinary Services in 1991 near Blacksburg, Virginia. His practice was initially predominantly dairy but has shifted to predominantly equine over the last 14 years due to the rapid urbanization and changing demographics of the area. Appalachian Veterinary Services employs four full-time ambulatory veterinarians who serve the needs of horses, beef and dairy cattle, small ruminants and camelids… but not a single dog or cat. The practice has extensive in-house laboratory capabilities including the Abaxis Vetscan VS2 and VetScan HM5.
Dr. Adams is a member of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and a host of other professional organizations. He is active in the VVMA and has served as the president of the regional unit of the VVMA for a number of years. Passionate about the importance of organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Adams spends considerable time bringing grass roots practice issues to the forefront of discussion at the state level. Dr. Adams has developed extensive equine wellness programs that have been well received by a diverse clientele. His personal interests lie in equine reproduction, advanced equine dentistry and practice management.