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Oversees general operations and ensures alignment with the Foundation's mission. Elected by the Board upon seating of at least three Directors.

Jordan Davis

Supports the President in operations and mission alignment. Actively engaged in board governance and strategic planning.

Lorran Lewis-Sitney, SHRM-CP

Oversees financial affairs, records, fund monitoring, and compliance with applicable financial and reporting requirements. This seat is held on an interim basis while a permanent Treasurer is recruited.

Deborah Raber, MBA, CNAP (Interim) — open seat, actively recruiting

Maintains records of meetings, official organizational documents, and required filings. Responsible for accuracy and completeness of the official record. This seat is held on an interim basis while a permanent Secretary is recruited.

Dawn McGroarty (Interim) — open seat, actively recruiting

Provides expertise in nonprofit governance structure, IRS compliance, board best practices, and fiduciary responsibility. Critical through the 501(c)(3) application and first-year operations.

Background in nonprofit law, nonprofit executive leadership, or board governance preferred. JD with nonprofit focus is a strong fit but not required.

Provides clinical veterinary perspective at the board level. Supports medical program credibility, professional partnership strategy, and clinical content review.

Anna Decker, DVM, CVA, CVMMP

Board-level leadership of development strategy, donor relationships, corporate partnerships, and organizational outreach.

Background in development, fundraising, or organizational outreach preferred. MBA/MAM or equivalent a strong plus.

Board-level clinical leadership for behavioral rehabilitation content and program development across canine and feline patients.

Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B.

Provides clinical perspective on physical rehabilitation for neurologically affected canine and feline patients. Supports rehabilitation resource development and recovery program credibility.

CCRP, DACVSMR, or equivalent preferred. Clinical experience with neurological patients a strong plus.

Provides perspective on research program development, academic partnerships, grant strategy, or major donor relationships.

Background in academic research, veterinary or biomedical research, philanthropic program management, or major gifts preferred.

Provides direct advisory guidance to the Founder across clinical content, organizational strategy, professional partnerships, and public credibility. Serves as a named advisor on organizational materials. No governance obligation.

Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V

Specialist advisory support for canine neurological content, case review, and CE curriculum development.

ACVIM-Neurology diplomate preferred.

Advisory support for feline neurological content and Feline Stroke Initiative program development. Feline cerebrovascular disease is significantly under-researched.

ACVIM-Neurology diplomate preferred. Feline neurology clinical experience preferred.

Advises on cardiac disease as an underlying driver of cerebrovascular events in dogs and cats, including cardiac-driven hypertension and thromboembolism.

ACVIM-Cardiology diplomate preferred.

Advises on systemic disease management across the full range of comorbidities associated with canine and feline stroke: hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, cardiac disease, and protein-losing conditions.

ACVIM-Internal Medicine diplomate preferred.

Advises on acute stroke presentation in emergency settings, triage protocols, and early intervention. Most neurological events first present to emergency clinics.

ACVECC diplomate preferred.

Advises on MRI and CT diagnostic criteria for canine and feline cerebrovascular disease. Supports CE content on imaging-based stroke recognition.

ACVR diplomate preferred. MRI experience required. Neurological MRI experience strongly preferred.

Advises on physical rehabilitation protocols for canine and feline stroke patients, including laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, proprioceptive rehabilitation, and recovery milestones.

Dr. Amanda Picking, DVM, CCRT, CVA

Advises on canine rehabilitation protocols, pain management, and recovery milestones for neurologically affected patients. Brings extensive experience in rehabilitative medicine, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, and veterinary education across international clinical settings.

Dr. John Waterhouse, BVSc, CCRP

Provides the primary care veterinarian perspective across Foundation programs. General practitioners are the first point of contact for dogs and cats presenting with vestibular signs.

Beth Hudson, DVM

Provides the clinical technician perspective across Foundation programs, including caregiver-facing recovery content and CE curriculum from the technician viewpoint.

VTS(Neurology) preferred. VTS(ECC) experience a strong plus.

Advises on CKD and protein-losing nephropathy as drivers of hypertension and cerebrovascular risk in dogs and cats. Supports educational content, senior panel advocacy, and research design.

ACVIM-Internal Medicine diplomate preferred. CKD or nephrology subspecialty focus preferred.

Advises on post-mortem case data and histopathological confirmation of cerebrovascular disease. Post-mortem findings represent a disproportionate share of the existing feline stroke literature.

ACVP diplomate preferred. Board-eligible or equivalent research experience considered.

Advises on nystagmus, visual deficits, and ocular signs as primary presenting features of vestibular and cerebrovascular disease. In cats, hypertensive retinopathy is often the first visible evidence of vascular disease.

ACVO diplomate preferred.

Advises on medication protocols relevant to stroke management and prevention, including antihypertensives, antiplatelet agents, and drug interaction guidance for dogs and cats with multiple comorbidities.

Board-eligible preferred. Veterinary pharmacology specialty or clinical pharmacology subspecialty.

Leads clinical oversight of the Nutrition Program. Advises on therapeutic nutrition for dogs and cats recovering from stroke and managing underlying conditions. Reviews all nutritional guidance before publication.

ACVIM-Nutrition diplomate preferred.

Advises on behavioral changes associated with neurological events in dogs and cats, including anxiety, disorientation, and quality-of-life assessment during and after stroke recovery.

ACVB diplomate or IAABC credential preferred.

Provides human stroke and neuropsychology perspective to inform caregiver support resources, outcome framing, and cross-specialty outreach strategy.

Trevor Buckley, PhD

Provides human cardiovascular medicine perspective on hypertension as a primary driver of cerebrovascular events. Strengthens the Foundation's comparative medicine argument that elevated blood pressure in dogs and cats represents the same preventable risk factor human medicine has addressed for decades.

MD preferred. Board certification in cardiology or hypertension medicine a strong plus.

Advises on periodontal disease as an established risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in dogs. This connection is underrepresented in the veterinary stroke literature and represents an educational gap the Foundation's CE program can address directly.

AVDC diplomate preferred.

Provides clinical research support for the Feline Stroke Initiative, including evidence-based content development, case review, and research methodology. Brings small animal clinical practice experience and a research background grounded in evidence-based medicine, veterinary education, and comparative neurology.

Dima Awwad, BVM

Advises on nonprofit law, IRS compliance, grant program legal structure, and conflict of interest policy. Particularly valuable through the 501(c)(3) application process.

Zachary D. Capra, JD, MBA

Advises on major donor strategy, grant writing, corporate sponsorship structure, and long-term fundraising architecture.

Background in nonprofit development, major gifts, or philanthropic program management preferred.

Provides senior financial advisory guidance to the Foundation. Advises on nonprofit accounting standards, grant financial compliance, audit preparation, financial controls, and long-term financial sustainability planning. Works in coordination with the Treasurer and Finance Committee. Particularly valuable through the 501(c)(3) application, first-year audit, and grant reporting cycles.

CPA required. Nonprofit accounting or financial management background strongly preferred. Experience with Form 990 preparation and grant financial compliance a strong fit.

Advises on public-facing messaging, press strategy, media relationships, and brand standards. Ensures the Foundation communicates with accuracy and appropriate tone across all channels.

Cassidy Dunn, SHRM-CP, BBA

Manages relationships with veterinary colleges and academic medical centers. Primary mandate includes identifying an institutional research home for the Foundation's data collection and publication program.

Background in academic veterinary medicine, veterinary research, or academic administration preferred.

Provides the caregiver perspective at the advisory level. Ensures all Foundation resources remain grounded in real caregiver challenges. Lived experience is the primary qualification.

Lived caregiver experience with a canine or feline neurological patient. No formal credential required.

Advises on case data collection infrastructure, IRB-equivalent review design, data governance partnerships, and the Foundation's long-term research goals.

Background in health informatics, data science, or veterinary data infrastructure preferred. Cybersecurity competency and familiarity with nonprofit data governance standards preferred.

Advises on RACE approval strategy, CE module design, veterinary professional development trends, and distribution partnerships with AVMA, AAHA, and dvm360.

Background in veterinary continuing education, RACE approval processes, or veterinary professional development preferred.

Manages relationships with breed-specific organizations whose members are directly affected by elevated cerebrovascular risk, including CKCSC USA, Greyhound Health Initiative, and French Bulldog Club of America. Supports early funding conversations and breed-specific research partnerships.

Active involvement in breed club leadership or breed-specific health advocacy preferred.

Advises on caregiver emotional support resources, crisis communication, and the bridge between clinical care and family wellbeing. Ensures caregiver support is integrated into the Foundation's educational and assistance programs.

MSW or equivalent preferred. Veterinary social work specialty or animal-assisted therapy background preferred.

Advises on veterinary regulatory engagement, state and national policy strategy, and relationships with bodies including the AVMA and state veterinary medical boards. Essential if the Foundation's minimum standard of care advocacy reaches the regulatory level.

Background in veterinary regulatory affairs, state or federal government relations, or AVMA committee experience preferred.

Advises on event strategy, community fundraising design, and early-stage visibility events. Supports the Foundation's community presence before major grant funding is in place.

Background in nonprofit event fundraising, community events management, or development events preferred.

Manages technician workforce outreach, CE distribution through NAVTA and state VTA channels, and ensures all minimum standard of care materials are actionable at the technician level. Serves as the Foundation's primary entry point into NAVTA as an organizational partner.

RVT or CVT preferred. Background in technician education, NAVTA involvement, or state VTA leadership preferred.

Advises on veterinary professional recruitment strategy and technician pipeline development. Provides guidance on attracting, placing, and retaining qualified veterinary staff and SAB candidates across the Foundation's clinical and operational programs. Brings direct experience representing veterinary professionals and building high-retention teams across North America.

Lara Cosanella, RVT

Advises on veterinary practice operations, hospital management, and the operational realities of general practice. Supports how the Foundation designs outreach, communicates with practice leadership, and builds relationships within the veterinary management community. Brings nearly two decades of frontline veterinary experience and formal practice management credentials.

Chelsea Brummitt, CVOM

Supports development of educational and clinical communication strategies across Foundation programs. Advises on content framing, messaging for caregiver audiences, and communication standards for veterinary-facing materials.

Dawn McGroarty

Supports development of a RACE-approvable CE module on central vs. peripheral vestibular disease for canine and feline patients. Responsibilities include content structuring, instructional design, module formatting, and preparation for AVMA, AAHA, and dvm360 distribution.

Dima Awwad, BVM

Supports development of formal eligibility criteria, the application process, case validation protocol, and annual case cap for the Foundation's MRI grant program. Covers both canine and feline patients.

Background in grant administration, nonprofit program management, health administration, or financial assistance program design preferred. Graduate students in relevant fields welcome.

Provides clinical imaging expertise to the MRI Grant Criteria Working Group. Contributes to equipment standard development, anesthesia protocol considerations, imaging eligibility criteria, and AI-assisted imaging evaluation. Ensures grant criteria reflect the realities of veterinary MRI in practice.

Background in veterinary MRI, CT, or diagnostic imaging technology preferred. RT(MR), ARRT, or CVT credential a strong fit. Experience with AI-assisted imaging a strong plus. Conflict of interest disclosure required for candidates with active vendor relationships.

Supports development of the Feline Stroke Initiative roadmap, including content priorities, case collection framework, and feline neurology SAB recruitment support. Feline cerebrovascular disease is significantly under-researched; this role contributes to building the Foundation's feline knowledge base from the ground up.

Background in veterinary literature research, veterinary science, or comparative medicine preferred. Veterinary students and pre-veterinary candidates with strong research skills are encouraged to apply.

Supports development of the evidence-based nutritional guidance framework, brand partner evaluation criteria, and clinical content review process for the Foundation's Nutrition Program. All content is reviewed by the Veterinary Nutrition Advisor before publication.

Background in veterinary nutrition, animal science, or nutritional science research preferred. Familiarity with therapeutic diets for hypertension, CKD, or cardiac disease a strong plus.

Provides technical support to the Data Governance and IRB-Equivalent Review Working Group. Contributes to case data collection infrastructure design, data security policy development, vendor security review, and technical input on the IRB-equivalent review framework.

Charles Wolfe — WGU Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, B.S. (in progress)

Responsible for day-to-day operations, staff management, strategic execution, and board relations. Reports to the Board of Directors. Hired by the Board upon formation.

Jordan Davis

Leads the Nutrition Program from launch through full operation. Responsible for evidence-based nutritional guidance development and brand partnerships for canine and feline patients.

DVM required. ACVIM-Nutrition diplomate strongly preferred.

Manages day-to-day Foundation operations including internal systems, vendor relationships, compliance documentation, and cross-departmental coordination.

Background in nonprofit operations, healthcare administration, or organizational management preferred.

Manages day-to-day HR operations across the Foundation. Responsible for onboarding, benefits administration, employment law compliance, employee relations, performance management frameworks, and staff engagement. Works in coordination with the Vice President on organizational culture and people strategy.

Background in human resources management preferred. SHRM-CP or PHR credential strongly preferred. Nonprofit HR experience a plus.

Manages day-to-day financial operations including bookkeeping, payroll processing coordination, accounts payable and receivable, grant financial reporting, and audit preparation. Reports to the Treasurer and coordinates with the Vice President and Operations Manager. Distinct from the Grants and Financial Assistance Manager, who oversees program-side grant administration.

Background in nonprofit accounting or financial management preferred. CPA a strong plus. Experience with grant financial reporting and audit preparation strongly preferred.

Manages all fundraising activities including individual donor cultivation, grant writing, corporate sponsorship development, and major gift strategy. Grant writing is a core function.

Background in nonprofit development with demonstrated grant writing experience preferred. Major gift fundraising background a strong plus.

Manages all educational content across Foundation programs. Works with the CVO and SAB to ensure all content is clinically reviewed before publication.

Dawn McGroarty

Manages relationships with general practice and mobile veterinarians. Coordinates BP monitoring kit distribution and CE promotion.

Beth Hudson, DVM

Manages the MRI grant program, senior panel subsidy program, and BP monitoring kit distribution. Responsible for application intake, eligibility review, and program reporting.

Background in grant administration, financial assistance program management, or veterinary practice management preferred.

Manages the Foundation's diagnostic access programs, with a focus on MRI grant evaluation, imaging eligibility criteria, anesthesia protocol considerations, and vendor relationships. Works alongside the Grants and Financial Assistance Manager to ensure clinical accuracy in access decisions. Brings direct knowledge of the diagnostic imaging pipeline: what MRI costs, what it requires, and what determines whether a case can realistically proceed.

Background in veterinary diagnostic imaging, MRI technology, or veterinary clinical operations preferred. CVT, RT(MR), or ARRT credential a strong fit. Experience with AI-assisted imaging or imaging workflow optimization a plus.

Manages all external communications: social media, press, donor communications, and organizational brand standards. All messaging must be accurate, evidence-based, and free from emotional manipulation.

Background in nonprofit communications, public relations, or digital communications preferred.

Manages canine and feline case data collection, owner story intake, case validation, and data governance compliance.

Background in clinical research coordination, veterinary research, or health informatics preferred.

Manages all Foundation technology infrastructure: case collection database, website, CRM, grant management systems, and data security.

Background in data engineering, health informatics, or nonprofit technology management preferred.

Manages all caregiver-facing programs including owner story collection, community support resources, and owner navigation guides for canine and feline patients.

Background in community program management, animal welfare, or caregiver support services preferred.

Manages all Foundation volunteer operations including recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and retention.

Background in volunteer management, nonprofit program coordination, or community organizing preferred.

Provides ongoing operational legal support distinct from the Advisory Council's Legal and Compliance Advisor. Responsible for contract review, vendor agreements, grant terms, employment matters, and compliance filings. A part-time retainer or project-based engagement is the expected structure at this stage.

JD required. Nonprofit law or healthcare law background strongly preferred.

Leads the internal research program. Responsible for research design, academic partnership management, and peer-reviewed publication strategy.

PhD or DVM/PhD preferred. Background in veterinary neurology, epidemiology, or biomedical research. Publication record preferred.

Supports data collection, case validation, literature review, and manuscript preparation under the Research Director.

DVM or MS in a relevant biomedical field preferred. Research experience in veterinary medicine or a related discipline preferred.

Applies statistical analysis and machine learning to the Foundation's case dataset to support population-level analysis of canine and feline cerebrovascular disease.

MS or PhD in data science, biostatistics, or computational biology preferred. Healthcare or veterinary data experience a strong plus.