Barb Lewis is associate professor emeritus of veterinary technology at Morehead State University. She holds degrees from SUNY College at Buffalo, Colorado Mountain College, and Morehead State University. She was a Clinical Pathology Laboratory Technician at The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston before accepting a teaching position in MSU’s Veterinary Technology Program in 1981. She was the primary instructor of the clinical pathology lectures, labs and clinicals for 35 years and taught content in all aspects of laboratory testing, providing valuable diagnostic information to the veterinary team. Her passion for teaching and the rigorous coursework had an impact on her students, who consistently scored well above the national average on the national board exam in the area of clinical pathology. Following a portfolio review and classroom observation by her colleagues, Ms. Lewis was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award from Morehead State University. She was named the 2012 Veterinary Technician of the Year by the Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association, for her service to the profession and the organization. In May of 2016, Ms. Lewis retired from her teaching position and was granted emeritus status by Morehead State University. She is enjoying retirement and plans to spend more time with family and friends, travel, and remain active in the veterinary field through organizing CE meetings, presentations, the clinical pathology specialty, and KVTA. A native New Yorker, Barb grew up in NYC, and lived in Buffalo, NY, Glenwood Springs, CO, Boston, MA, and Ft. Collins, CO before moving to Kentucky where she met her husband, Darrell. She has a daughter, Darah (and husband Shaun), step-son, Chad, and two grandchildren, Cody and Dorie. Her interests include spending time with family and friends, boating, swimming, gardening, cooking and traveling. She especially loves the desert southwest, Colorado, the ocean and Cape Cod. An avid Kentucky Wildcats Basketball fan, Barb ‘bleeds blue’, and enjoys NCAA basketball and football. 

Barbie Papajeski, MS, LVT, RLATG, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

Secretary

Barbie Papajeski, MS, LVT, RLATG, received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Veterinary Technology and a Master of Science in Agriculture from Murray State University, KY.  She was employed at the Calloway County Animal Shelter for two years and Breathitt Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Hopkinsville, KY, for three and a half years before being hired as an instructor in the Veterinary Technology Program at Murray State University.  She worked in necropsy, histology and clinical pathology sections at the diagnostic lab and managed the laboratory animal colony, performed basic husbandry, collected blood samples and performed botulism inoculations as needed for diagnostic purposes.  In her current duties, Mrs. Papajeski instructs veterinary technology students in basic laboratory procedures, advanced veterinary hematology, veterinary parasitology, clinical chemistry laboratory, small animal science, and laboratory animal science courses. She manages the teaching animals, supervises animal care workers and coordinates activities with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and USDA-APHIS. In addition to her role as AVCPT secretary, Mrs. Papajeski serves as the secretary for the Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association (KVTA).  She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), and Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE).  She is licensed as a technologist in Kentucky and is also a registered laboratory animal technologist (RLATG) through AALAS.  She serves on the faculty senate of Murray State University. She is a volunteer and member of the Calloway County Humane Society and a member of Hurricane Baptist Church where she serves as Sunday School and Bible School teacher.  She also volunteers as a cub scout leader as an outreach of the church. Her passions in the field of veterinary medicine are laboratory work, laboratory animals, and the excitement of experiencing new things daily.  She enjoys teaching and especially enjoys getting feedback from students after graduation. 
Mrs. Papajeski currently resides in Cadiz, KY and commutes to Murray, KY through beautiful Land Between the Lakes each day.  She is happily married with two sons, Gavin and Grady.  Her critters include an assortment of dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, a red-eared slider, a flock of chickens, guineas, and ducks and fish. Mrs. Papajeski enjoys being outdoors either gardening, fishing, hiking, or camping in her free time.

Sharon Richardson, BS, LVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

Treasurer

Born in Louisville, KY, the daughter of a minister, Sharon grew up in several central and Southeastern Kentucky towns.  She attended the University of Kentucky community college in Somerset KY. Upon completion of an AA degree, Sharon married a member of the United States Air Force and began working as a federal employee in family programming and recreation for the Air Force. Assignments took the couple to many states which included Colorado, California, Ohio, Alabama, and Louisiana.  While stationed in California, their son, Chris was born at Hamilton AFB, near San Francisco.  During their assignment to the United Kingdom at RAF Lakenheath Suffolk, England, the couple divorced.  Sharon remained in England for 16 years, continuing her employment in family and recreation programming for  RAF Lakenheath.  One of the benefits of being stationed in England was the opportunity for Sharon to travel to many European countries, including Berlin, before the wall separating East and West Germany came down.  While employed by the Air Force, as well as other awards for her work, she received a commendation for her family support programming during the first Gulf War.  After twenty years with the Air Force, Sharon called it quits, returned to the United States, and decided to take a completely new career path.  She enrolled in the Morehead State University Veterinary Technology program, in Morehead, KY, receiving an AAS and a BS degree from the University.  She has now enjoyed her new veterinary technology career for ten years.  Sharon is licensed in the state of Kentucky.  Sharon was employed at the Nicholasville Road Animal Hospital in Lexington, KY, where she performed Veterinary Technician duties for a three-doctor practice.  In 2003, she became a clinical pathology laboratory technician for the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital (RREH) in Lexington, KY. Sitting on 24 acres, the hospital offers a full range of services including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, a focused podiatry center, and specialized reproductive center. The practice also provides ambulatory services for emergencies, preventative care, general reproduction, and medical care. RREH employs 60 veterinarians and 200 support staff at locations in Lexington, KY, Saratoga, NY, and Wellington, FL.  All of the surgeons and most clinicians are board certified specialists in their field and are highly esteemed in the veterinary community in the US and abroad. The clinical pathology laboratory serves the 50 staff veterinarians, residents and interns, over 75 referring veterinarians and over 300 other veterinarians who use the laboratory services. They are one of only two private veterinary hospitals/laboratories offering stem cell service. Sharon not only performs routine laboratory testing in hematology, serum chemistries, bacteriology, parasitology, serology, and urinalysis, she also performs specialized testing utilizing state-of-the-art equipment. Examples include testing in immunophoresis, blood gas analysis, clotting profiles, determining antibiotic levels, neonatal isoerythrolysis screening, blood and colostrum crossmatching and Coombs testing. She is also certified to perform EIA Coggin’s Testing which requires national certification. New to the lab is regenerative cell therapy which includes a stem cell laboratory, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP). Until recently, Sharon lived for five years on a small farm that included a mule, a miniature donkey, 8 Jersey cows, 6 geese, and 100 chickens.  Her hobbies include photography, container gardening, and piano.  Sharon currently has a grandcat, Chitlin, and granddog, Leela.  She has been adopted by a solid white, blue and green eyed male cat named Cloud, who is happy in his forever home.

Pam Schendel, BS, RVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

Member-at-Large

Pam Schendel is a registered veterinary technician in Indiana having received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University.  For the past 25 years, Pam has been a member of the Department of Comparative Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue, with major responsibilities in teaching on-campus and online clinical pathology courses and supervising the clinical pathology rotations for veterinary technician students.  Pam is a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians; and with her two labs, is an active member of the local chapter of Therapy Dogs International's reading-dog and visitation programs.

Dan Walsh, MPS, RVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

Member-at-Large

Dan Walsh is a credentialed veterinary technician in Indiana and New York has received an Associate degree in Veterinary Technology from the State University of New York at Delhi, Bachelors in Animal Science from Kansas State, Masters in Animal Science from Cornell and Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Homeland Security from Purdue.  For the past 40+ years, Dan has taught at various times in the veterinary technology programs at Delhi and Purdue and practiced in civilian and US Army small and mixed animal clinics.  He is a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians.  Dan, his wife Jamie and critters love the outdoors and take every opportunity for hiking and other activities. 

SUE KOLKKA, AAS, LVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

MEMBER-AT-LARGE 

Sue Kolkka, AAS, LVT, received her Associates Degree in Applied Science from SUNY Delhi in Delhi, New York in 1988, and is a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She began working for the Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey immediately after graduation, and after a total of 30 years, has moved up to the position of manager. Oradell Animal Hospital is one of the largest private animal hospitals on the East Coast, with over 60 veterinarians including interns, residents, and 20 board-certified specialists, in areas including emergency medicine, critical care, internal medicine, oncology, and cardiology. Oradell employs over 200 support staff, including veterinary technicians, and also has 2 satellite clinics.Sue has presented at many conferences, including NAVC (VMX), WVC, and AAHA. She also won the NAVTA sponsored Case Presentation contest in 2015.  She currently lives with her family and her pets in New Jersey. Sue enjoys reading, baking, and traveling to Disneyworld.

CHRISTINA BENSON, BAS, LVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY)

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Christina Benson is a licensed veterinary technician in Texas.  A Wisconsin native, Christina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Psychobiology from Ripon College before attending Madison College in the state's capital for her Associates degree in Veterinary Technology.  Recently, she completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology through Tarleton State University in Texas.  For the past 25 years, Christina has lived and worked in the Central Texas area, and has been employed by the US Army for over two decades.  She has been a member of the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians since earning her VTS title in 2014.  In her free time, Christina is an avid knitter, and enjoys cuddling with her Dachshund mix and their recent addition of two very lively Basenji puppies.

Brianne Bellwood, RVT, VTS (CLINICAL PATHOLOGY), CCRVN

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Brianne Bellwood is a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) from Vermilion, Alberta, Canada.  Brianne completed her RVT training at Olds College and graduated with distinction in 2002.  She worked primarily in mixed anVimal practice, including wildlife and exotic medicine.
Brianne began teaching in 2008 at Lakeland College in the Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Medical Assistant programs.  She instructs the laboratory procedures courses as well as some anatomy and communication classes.  Brianne has also served as program coordinator for both programs in the past.  This course load contributed to Brianne’s ongoing passion for Clinical Pathology and led her to obtain her VTS in 2016.  Lakeland College’s AHT program is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and one of four colleges in Alberta to offer this training.  Lakeland has the benefit of an on-campus working farm to support its animal health, livestock and crop programs.  Brianne’s other duties at Lakeland include providing mentorship to the Stock Dog and Dog Agility Student Clubs on campus. 
 
Another passion of Brianne’s includes canine sports medicine and she has received certification as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse (CCRVN) from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2017.
Brianne is currently enrolled at the University of Glasgow and completing a master’s degree in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing with an expected graduation date of 2021.
 
Travel is another interest that Brianne has been fortunate to undertake.  She has traveled to South Africa to participate in a Vet Nurses in the Wild program and has visited Nanjing, China in the summer of 2019 to present a clinical pathology lecture series for the Chinese School of Advanced Veterinary Sciences.  Another presentation in Nanjing is planned for 2020.
 
Outside of work, Brianne enjoys training and competing in the sports of dog agility and sheep/cattle herding and spending time with her 4 dogs, 2 rabbits, a handful of sheep and a mini horse named MacGyver.