2026 Fall Conference

Sarah Marvel, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA,

Fellow, Surgical Oncology & MIS Small Animal Soft Tissue

Assistant Professor, General Surgery
Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

SPONSORED BY:

Dr. Marvel obtained her DVM from the University of Wisconsin. She completed a small animal rotating internship and a residency in small animal surgery at Colorado State University. In 2014 she achieved board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS-SA). Following her surgical residency, she completed fellowships in Surgical Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery. She is currently an Assistant Professor in General Surgery at Colorado State University.

Nolan Chalifoux, DVM, MSTR, DACVECC

Critical Care Specialist
BluePearl Pet Hospital

SPONSORED BY:

Dr. Nolan Chalifoux is a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care whose passion lies in collaborative medicine and the recovery of the most critically ill patients. He is driven by the opportunity to work closely with dedicated teams to stabilize, treat, and ultimately give patients a second chance at life. His clinical interests include sepsis, respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation, and advanced extracorporeal therapies such as plasmapheresis and hemodialysis for the management of acute intoxications and kidney injuries. Dr. Chalifoux is among the few veterinarians in the region offering these advanced lifesaving therapies to companion animals.

Dr. Chalifoux is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care. He earned his Master of Science in Translational Research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed his residency in Emergency & Critical Care and a rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Chalifoux enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring Philadelphia’s vibrant restaurant scene, and attending live music events. He lives with his partner, who is also a veterinarian, along with their two cats, Swift and Cayenne, and a ferret named Hashbrown.

Lisa Smith, LVT, VTS (ECC), MS

Technician Manager

BluePearl Pet Hospital



Lisa has 30+ years of experience in the field of Veterinary Medicine. She has a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 3D Fine Art with a concentration in Metals from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA, and studied Animal Science at the University of Delaware. Lisa became an LVT in 2008, obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialist Credentialing in Emergency and Critical Care in 2014, and graduated with a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Forensic Sciences from the University of Florida in 2016. She has been a RECOVER Certified Instructor since 2016. Lisa manages veterinary support staff at BluePearl Veterinary Partners – Christiana in Delaware, and enjoys working shifts in ER, ICU, and anesthesia. She provides RACE approved CE lectures to technicians on topics including RECOVER BLS and ALS CPR training and hands-on workshop certification, Wound Management and Bandaging, Triage, Biosecurit, Patient Safety, and Veterinary Forensics. She provides training to K9 Search and Rescue groups and Animal Control Officers on topics including Triage, First Aid, CPR, and Animal Evidence Collection. Lisa also serves on the Advisory Board of the Rowan University Veterinary Technician Program.

Kelly Knickelbein, VMD, DACVO

Assistant Professor, Section of Ophthalmology

Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Knickelbein is a 2015 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Rhinebeck Equine in Rhinebeck, NY and a comparative ophthalmology internship and residency at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Knickelbein is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and has a special interest in equine ophthalmology.