meet our incredible speakers!

Dr. Saelinger is the founder and CEO of Cardiac Vet, Inc., a teleconsulting service for interpretation of cardiac 

diagnostic studies and a mobile echo service for veterinarians (cardiacvet.com). Her clinical interests include medical and surgical treatment of arrhythmias. She is one of two cardiologists in the United States who specialize in 

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) surgery, programming and defibrillation. She also customizes pacemaker programming for individual canine patients. She has vast experience and a long-time special interest in the pathophysiology & treatment of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) of Boxers and English Bulldogs. You can 

reference her publications on this topic and others on the Cardiac Vet webpage under meet the team. Dr. Saelinger spoke at the AVMA conference in 2020 on cardiac emergencies and provides regular CE locally and nationwide. Her commitment to education is also reflected in the cardiology internship program she directed from 2012 - 2023, securing cardiology residencies for 93% of her interns (25 of 27). She continues to assist part time in this training program. 

Dr. Saelinger is a graduate of The Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State University. She obtained her 

veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. She then completed a one-year rotating internship 

at the University of Florida in Gainesville, followed by a cardiology internship and cardiology residency at Louisiana State University from 2008-2012. In 2012, she successfully completed the ACVIM exams and the Cardiology specialty boards to become a Diplomate (Board Certified Cardiologist) of the ACVIM in the specialty of Cardiology. To help Dr. Saelinger achieve her mission of providing world-class cardiac care to more pets, she created Cardiac Vet, Inc. Cardiac Vet employs a team of board-certified veterinary cardiologists and highly skilled, cardiologyfocused, veterinary technicians. We are currently able to perform mobile echocardiograms throughout the major metro areas of California. Dr. Saelinger also evaluates patients and meets with pet owners in person in San Francisco at SFAMC and in Los Angeles at VCA ASEC.

Dr. Cindy Vaca is a board-certified veterinary dentist and a diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College. She started her veterinary career in 2004 as a receptionist at ASEC and has loved the hospital ever since. She graduated Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 and immediately started her rotating internship at ASEC. She completed her residency in dentistry & oral surgery at Colorado State University in 2022 and is pleased to be back in Los Angeles. She loves addressing oromaxillofacial traumas and teaching all things dentistry to veterinarians, technicians, and students. 

Dr. Sheahan was born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Irvine in 2003, earning degrees in Biology and Criminology. Her interest in comparative ophthalmology began after college while working as an ophthalmology nurse for four years. She went on to earn her veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University in 2011. After veterinary school, Dr. Sheahan completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Ohio State University, followed by a three-year residency in comparative ophthalmology at Animal Eye Care. Her clinical interests include ophthalmic pharmacology, dry eye disorders, and retinal diseases. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Jenn Hubbard completed her veterinary education in her home state, becoming a DVM graduate from Oregon State University. She then continued her training in a rotating internship at WestVet Animal Emergency & Specialty Center in Garden City, Idaho. From there, we were lucky to have her join the VCA ASEC team for her one-year surgical internship and three-year surgical residencies. She has practiced in the West Los Angeles area since completing her residency and re-joined our team as a surgeon in 2023. Dr. Hubbard successfully completed all of the requirements to become a board-certified veterinary specialist and surgeon in 2024. She has a passion for all types of small animal surgery; including orthopedic, soft tissue, oncologic and neurologic procedures. When she's outside of the hospital walls, you can find her hiking, backpacking, canoodling her pets, and spending time with friends and family.  

Dr. Laurel Krause attended Iowa State University for undergraduate studies and Colorado State University for veterinary school. She completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles and then a residency in small animal internal medicine at Ohio State University. Although Laurel grew up in Iowa, she has lived in Los Angeles for close to a decade and loves life as an Angeleno. Favorite hobbies are classical music, which includes attending LA Phil concerts and singing and playing classical music, foreign languages (German, French), and checking out local restaurants and museums. She also enjoys figure skating and rollerblading. Laurel is owned by three cats: Rasputin (pictured), Luigi, and Casper. Laurel's main professional interests include feline medicine, nephrology, urology, and infectious disease. She performs minimally invasive urologic procedures such as 

laser lithotripsy for lower urinary stones, ectopic ureter ablation, and urethral collagen injections.

Dr. Crespo-Szabo received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University. After completing a small animal rotating internship at VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center, she spent three years working as an emergency clinician in Northern California. She then went on to become a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine, after completing a specialty internship and residency in Orlando, Florida. She has since returned to Southern California, where she grew up. Dr. Crespo-Szabo has extensive training in the broad field of small animal internal medicine, but is especially interested in endocrinology, nephrology and urology, and endoscopy. 

Dr. Todd Tams received his DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 1977 and then entered into a mixed practice in Vermont from 1977-78. He then completed an internship at the West Los Angeles Animal Hospital in 1978-79, followed by a residency in internal medicine at Colorado State University from 1979-81. He was a staff internist at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston from 1981-84, and achieved board certification in internal medicine in 1982.  Dr. Tams has served as the Chief Medical Officer for Veterinary Centers of America, as well as a staff internist at the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. Dr. Tams was named as a Distinguished Alumnus of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000.Dr. Tams has published two textbooks: Small Animal Endoscopy (Elsevier), second edition published November 1998; and a third edition was published in 2011. Handbook of Small Animal Gastroenterology (Elsevier), second edition published in 2003. Dr. Tams has presented numerous seminars in the U.S. and abroad on his special interest area of gastroenterology. 

Andrea is a SoCal native. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in Animal Health Science in 2004. She became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager in 2011, received her California  Professional in Human Resources in 2017, and accomplished her Certification as a Senior Professional  in Human Resources in 2019. She became a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional in 2019 and  she is Fear Free Certified. In January 2016, Andrea received the SoCal VMA Paraprofessional of the  Year Award. She is the owner of FurPaws Consulting in CA where she works with veterinary practice owners and managers to develop their leadership teams as well as to expand and develop their  businesses. Andrea also stays busy with public speaking at a variety of veterinary events and national conferences,  doing what she loves - teaching, coaching, and training. She was awarded Practice Manager Speaker of  the Year by Viticus in 2024. She has also published in Veterinary Team Brief, IDEXX’s Practice Life,  Veterinary Practice News, and SD VMA. Her passion for veterinary medicine also keeps her busy with  SoCal VMA events and the SoCal Veterinary Manager’s Network she co-founded and is a board member.  She is a member of SoCal VMA, VHMA, and VetPartners and serves on the Board of Directors. She is  also an active board member at Platt College (Anaheim) and on the Golden State Humane Society Board. Andrea lives in Orange with her husband, Andrew, two cats, two dogs, and her horse. She loves  professional football and the Green Bay Packers have been her favorite team since she was four years  old. She is active and loves to hike, read, and horseback ride.  

Clara is a Southern California native who has a lifelong affinity for helping animals. She started her career in veterinary medicine as a kennel assistant before attending Cal Poly Pomona and graduating with a degree in Microbiology. After graduation, Clara continued her work in the veterinary industry focusing on emergency and critical care while earning her Registered Veterinary Technician license. Clara was published in NAVTA magazine for an article called, “Fluid Therapy: A Technician’s Role”; catapulting her into education and mentorship within the industry. Clara has over 10 years of experience managing both general practice and specialty veterinary hospitals. She is an educator for students in veterinary assistant programs. Her vision is to: educate, train and mentor members of the veterinary community; from hospital team members and doctors, to rescue volunteers and pet parents. Clara currently resides in Ventura County with her husband, son, 3 cats and tripod dog. In her free time, Clara and her family enjoy traveling, food/wine, and baseball!

Fun Facts: My dog’s command to lay down is the word “Dinosaur” and I can do the cup song from Pitch Perfect. :)

Melissa started in the veterinary field in 2003 as a vet assistant/receptionist before becoming a practice manager in 2005. She earned her CVPM in 2011, and both her PHRca and CCFP in 2020. In 2018 she was the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s Paraprofessional of the year and in 2015 she was nominated for DVM360’s Practice Manager of the Year. After working as a full-time practice manager for over 13 years she opened her own consulting company South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions in 2018. She now has the opportunity to help multiple hospitals all over the country.

She is a published author of multiple articles in DVM360.com, Veterinary Practice News, Veterinary Team Brief, Firstline Magazine, Veterinary Economics, and VPN+. She has also spoken at several annual conferences and symposiums including Western Veterinary Conference, Pacific Veterinary Conference, Oklahoma’s Annual Conference, AAFP National Conference, VHMA’S management exchange, the Vet Show and multiple local or virtual symposiums. Melissa is highly active within the local veterinary community co-founding the North Orange County Veterinary Hospital manager group, the SoCal Veterinary Manager’s Network, and the Long Beach Area Veterinary Manager’s Group. She previously served on the SCVMA Board of Trustees and on the CVPM Board for the VHMA. She loves helping other managers and team members grow within the veterinary profession. She spends her free time running or walking in 5k’s & half marathons. She also spends time with her friends and family. She shares her home with her husband, stepson, and their furry babies.

With a Master's in Organizational Leadership, Rosalyn Vargas is a learning & development professional that specializes in onboarding, early-career management training and leadership development. Over the last 15 years, she has curated multiple learning programs and workshops for retail, technology and global outsourcing companies.  Rosalyn is currently an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University's College of Business and a Senior Manager of People Operations at Hireframe where she incorporates AI to drive productivity in alignment with talent development.

Melissa Hulgreen has been working in the veterinary field since 2006. She received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Animal Health Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2012 and shortly after became licensed. She has worked in emergency and critical care settings for over a decade and in that time, she earned her VTS (ECC) and a Masters Degree in Biomedical Science. Melissa has always had a passion for teaching. She has taught courses for Cal Poly Pomona's Veterinary Technology Program, served on several tech school advisory boards and mentored many veterinary professionals on their path to licensure and VTS certification. Currently, Melissa is the Regional Technician Director for VCA's Pacific Southern California Group where she supports technicians and veterinary assistants in over 50 hospitals. She has been a RECOVER Certified instructor since 2019 and specifically enjoys empowering RVTs to take a more active role in leading CPR efforts.