Our Team
Click below to get to know us!
Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVCN
Professor, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition
Dr. Verbrugghe graduated as a companion animal veterinarian from Ghent University, Belgium in 2005. She completed her PhD in 2009 and became a European Veterinary Specialist™ in 2010. She joined the Ontario Veterinary College in 2011 and leads the Clinical Nutrition Service. Her research focuses on nutrition, gut microbiota, metabolic pathways, and inflammation.
Dr. Sarah Abood, DVM, PhD
Assistant Professor, Nestle Purina Professorship
Dr. Abood joined OVC in 2023 and teaches nutrition and runs the Clinical Nutrition Service. She previously served as Assistant Dean at Michigan State University and founded Sit, Stay, Speak Nutrition. Her background includes work in R&D at Ralston Purina and a PhD from The Ohio State University.
Shoshana Verton-Shaw, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), RLAT
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Coordinator
Shoshana graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Ridgetown Campus in 2007. She became Ontario’s first RVT with a VTS in Nutrition in 2015 and earned her RLAT in 2024. She is passionate about obesity management and performance dog nutrition.
Becky Hunt, RVT, VTS (Nutrition)
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Registered Veterinary Technician
Becky graduated from Seneca College in 2016 and worked in general and referral practice before specializing in nutrition. She joined the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians in 2023. She enjoys hiking with her dog Nova and relaxing with her cat.
Dr. Zahra Rahimi, DVM, PhD
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Intern
Dr. Rahimi joined the team in January 2025. She has been a veterinarian since 2009 and completed her PhD in Animal Feed Health in 2017. Her interests include clinical nutrition, supplements, and sustainable approaches to animal health.
Dr. Hannah Godfrey, MSc, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Godfrey completed her MSc and PhD with the OVC Pet Nutrition Team with a focus on feline health and metabolism. Since starting her post-doctoral research fellowship in October 2025, Hannah continues to research the nutritional idiosyncrasies of cats as well as diving into canine research with a specific focus on obesity prevention and treatment.
Dr. Manuela Fischer, MV, MSc, PhD
DVSc Student, ECVCN Resident
Manuela earned her veterinary degree in Brazil in 2008 and completed her MSc and PhD focusing on feline nutrition and microbiota. She joined OVC in 2025 to pursue her DVSc and ECVCN residency. Her research explores choline metabolism and obesity in cats.
Dr. Laura Teeger, DVM, CVA
DVSc Candidate, ECVCN Resident
Laura earned her DVM from Ross University in 2020 and practiced in small animal medicine before joining OVC in 2025. Her research focuses on choline’s effects in overweight cats. She enjoys snowboarding, crafting, and wildlife photography.
Brooklynn Liversidge, BScH
PhD Candidate (Department of Pathobiology)
Brooklynn is pursuing her PhD after completing her MSc in Clinical Studies. Her research includes digestibility and metabolomics in dogs fed plant- vs. meat-based diets. She enjoys time with her pets and horses.
Shawna Morrow, BScH, MSc
PhD Student (Department of Population Medicine)
Shawna is working towards her PhD in Population Medicine after completing her MSc in Clinical Studies in the fall of 2024. Shawna previously graduated with a BScH in Biomedical Sciences at Trent University in 2021. Her MSc thesis focused on weight management promotion and communication in companion animal veterinary practice. Her PhD research examines the effects of physical activity on weight loss in obese dogs. Additionally, she is building on her MSc research by exploring pet guardians’ attitudes towards weight management and improving veterinary communication about obesity. In her spare time, Shawna loves to do anything outdoors, read, and play with her two cats.
Yushu (Veronica) Cheng, BScH
MSc Student (Department of Clinical Studies)
Yushu (Veronica) Cheng is an international student with a passion for pet nutrition and welfare. She graduated with a degree in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph in 2024, and she is currently pursuing her Master’s thesis under the supervision of Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, focusing on the potential of Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast probiotic, to reduce stress behaviours in cats following common stressful experiences like car travel or veterinary visits. Her research is driven by a lifelong love for animals and a commitment to improving their health and quality of life through nutrition. Veronica hopes her work will contribute to more effective dietary strategies for enhancing pet health and welfare. In her free time, she loves to play sports and games with her friends. Reading novels and watching movies are also her ways of relaxing.
Natalie Maier, BScH
MBS Student (Department of Clinical Studies)
Natalie Maier is pursuing her Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) in Clinical Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College after completing her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph. Her research interests lie in companion animal nutrition and welfare, with a focus on improving feline health through evidence-based nutrition. Natalie’s MBS major project investigates the effects of choline and L-carnitine supplementation on fatty acid profiles in lean and obese cats during weight maintenance. This work aims to address the growing issue of feline obesity and hepatic lipidosis to enhance overall feline welfare. Aspiring to become a veterinarian, Natalie hopes to apply her knowledge of nutrition to clinical practice to improve the health and well-being of companion animals. Outside of her studies, she enjoys playing soccer, spending time with loved ones, and caring for her dog, Leo.
Savanna Moustafa, BScH, MBS
Jingming (James) Yang, BScH, MPH, MBS
Panagiotis (Panos) Balousis, BScH, MSc
MSc Thesis: Profiling Dog Guardians Feeding Raw Meat-Based Diets
Francisco Poblano Silva, DVM, DVSc, ECVCN Dipl.
DVSc Thesis: Energy Requirements and Feeding Guidelines in Cats
Dr. Erico de Mello Ribeiro, MV, MSc, PhD
Kehan (Coco) Zhang, BScH, MSc
MSc Thesis: Fecal Microbiome and Metabolome Signature in Lean and Obese Cats
Jess Fletcher, BScAgr, MSc
MSc Thesis: Nutrigenomic Effects of Dietary Choline and L-Carnitine on Muscle and Liver of Cats
Tesa Maria Teresa Kinasih, BScH, MSc
MSc Thesis: Effects of Daily Feeding Frequency on Feline Body Composition and Metabolism
Dr. Caitlin Grant, BSc, DVM, DVSc, ECVCN Dipl.
DVSc Thesis: Effect of Energy Restriction for Weight Loss in Obese Cats
Olivia Chiu, BScH, MSc
MSc Thesis: Influence of Sample Processing on Feline Fecal Metabolome and Canine Microbiota
Dr. Alexandra Rankovic, BScH, MSc, PhD
PhD Thesis: The Lipotropic Effects of Dietary Choline Supplementation in Overweight Cats During Weight Maintenance
Dr. Nicole Weidner, BScH, MSc, PhD
MSc Thesis: Dietary Vitamin D Intake and Vitamin D Status in Canine Cancer Patients
PhD Thesis: Circulating Vitamin D Metabolite and Inflammatory Marker Concentrations in Dogs with Cancer
Dr. Sarah Dodd, BVSc, MSc, PhD, ECVCN Dipl.
MSc Thesis: Plant-based diets for dogs and cats – an investigation of pet feeding practices, motivations and concerns
PhD Thesis: A multimodal investigation into the suitability of plant-based diets for companion dogs and cats
Adriana Bianco, MSc
Thesis: Nutritional Management of Canine Cancers and the Role of Nutritional Supplements
Alexandra Camara, MSc
Bianca Di Sabatino, MSc
Dr. Moran Tal, DVM, DVSc, ECVCN Dipl.
Amanda Santarossa, MSc
Georgia Kritikos, MSc
Sashen Rajagopaul, MSc (Course-work)
Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) in Companion Animal Nutrition University of Guelph
The OVC Pet Nutrition Team in the Department of Clinical Studies at the University of Guelph is excited to announce an opening for a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) position in Companion Animal Nutrition. This position is kindly sponsored by Champion Petfoods LP. The program is designed to provide advanced clinical training and research experience, and aims to meet the requirements for eligibility for the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition.
Program Details:
- Duration: 3 years (9 semesters)
- Start Date: August 3, 2026
- Application Deadline: January 5, 2026
Eligibility:
- Graduates of a recognized veterinary college with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.
- 1-year rotating internship or equivalent.
- Eligible for a license to practice veterinary medicine in Ontario.
- Open to both domestic and international applicants (with valid permits).
- Proof of English proficiency.
- Proof of positive rabies vaccine titre.
Apply now: Applications are only considered through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (www.virmp.org)
Inquiries can be directed to the program director, Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe (averbrug@uoguelph.ca) and the OVC Graduate Team (ovc.virmp@uoguelph.ca).
The selected student with be the recipient of an OVC DVSc scholarship generously supported by Champion Petfoods.