Equine Faculty Veterinarians
Philip Johnson, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM-Large Animal Internal Medicine, DECEIM
Professor, Equine – Internal Medicine
A graduate of The University of Bristol (BVSc[Hons], MRCVS/veterinary degrees) and the University of Illinois (MS), Philip Johnson completed specialty training at the University of Illinois. He joined the MU faculty in 1991. His research interests include equine endocrinology, gastroenterology and laminitis. His clinical interests are equine endocrinology, gastroenterology and neonatology.
Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, DACVS
Professor, Equine – Surgery
Director of E. Paige Laurie Endowed Equine Lameness Program
A graduate of the University of Missouri (BS, DVM) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (MS), Kevin G. Keegan completed residency training at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined the MU faculty in 1990. His research interests are development of objective methods of lameness evaluation in horses and methods of wireless transmission of biological signals for health monitoring. His clinical interest is in equine lameness.
Joanne Kramer, DVM, DACVS
Associate Teaching Professor, Equine – Surgery
Interim Assistant Dean of Clinical Education
A graduate of the University of Minnesota (DVM) and the University of St. Catherine (BA), Joanne Kramer completed specialty training at the University of Missouri. She joined the MU faculty in 1997. Her research interests are in veterinary education, lameness and podiatry. Her clinical interests include equine surgery, podiatry and student education.
Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, DABVP-Equine
Associate Teaching Professor, Equine – Ambulatory Medicine
A graduate of Cornell University (BS) and the University of Missouri (DVM), Alison LaCarrubba completed specialty training at MU. She joined the MU faculty in 2003. LaCarrubba works both with the equine ambulatory and internal medicine services. Among her clinical interests are equine dentistry, both routine and referral.
Lynn M. Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVIM-Large Animal Internal Medicine
Assistant Teaching Professor, Equine – Internal Medicine
A graduate of North Dakota State University (BS) and the University of Missouri (DVM, MPH), Lynn Martin completed an equine private practice internship in San Antonio, Texas before returning to Mizzou for a residency in large animal internal medicine with an equine emphasis. Martin provides veterinary care on the equine internal medicine service and is completing a PhD. Research interests include comparative ophthalmology, equine microbiome and laminitis. Clinical interests include equine ophthalmology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and student education.
Megan McCracken, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA
Assistant Teaching Professor, Equine – Surgery
A graduate of Cornell University (DVM), the University of Florida (BS), and the University of Missouri, Megan McCracken completed residency training in equine surgery at the University of Missouri. She joined the MU faculty in 2019. Her clinical and research interests are in equine lameness and general equine surgery.
Martha Scharf, DVM, DABVP-Equine
Assistant Teaching Professor, Equine – Ambulatory Medicine
Martha Scharf is an equine ambulatory veterinarian at the MU Equine Hospital, traveling to provide routine and emergency veterinary care to the horses of mid-Missouri. She grew up in St. Louis, riding and training hunter-jumpers. Since moving to Columbia for college, she has continued to ride recreationally, with a mix of jumping, eventing and trail riding. She also serves as a faculty advisor for the vet college’s mascot mules, Tim and Terry, who have taught her the basics of driving and the intricacies of mules.
She graduated from the MU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and completed a rotating equine internship during the following year. Since then, she has been working as one of the equine ambulatory veterinarians and instructors. In 2017, she achieved certification as a specialist in equine practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She is completing a veterinary chiropractic course and is already working to provide alternative diagnostic and treatment options for our patients. She particularly enjoys the long-term relationships and the wide variety of disorders that our general practice offers, as well as teaching and learning from the students. In the future, she hopes to continue learning, teaching and practicing equine ambulatory medicine.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Kile Townsend earned a bachelor of science degree at the University of New Hampshire and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree at the University of Prince Edward Island Atlantic Veterinary College. She then received internship and ACVIM residency training at the University of Missouri. Townsend is pursuing additional training in veterinary education via the Royal Veterinary College and enjoys working as part of the equine internal medicine service at MU. Clinical interests include equine neonatology, ophthalmology, equine critical care and emergency medicine.
Residents
Lyndsey Hayden grew up on a small farm in Wallingford, Connecticut. She attended the University of Vermont, where she received a bachelor’s degree in animal science. She then received her DVM in May 2017 from Auburn University. After graduation, she completed an equine surgery internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. After completing her internship at HEMI, Hayden completed a rotating equine medicine, ambulatory and surgery internship at the University of Missouri. She is continuing her training at Mizzou through an equine surgical residency. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and hiking with her dog.
Kelly Sandelin, DVMKelly Sandelin is from the small rural community of Waterloo, Illinois. She attended the University of Missouri where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She stayed at MU to attend the College of Veterinary Medicine and received her DVM in 2019. Sandelin continued her veterinary training with an rotating equine internship at the University of Missouri. After completing the internship, she was offered a residency position at Mizzou for specialty training and board certification in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners – Equine. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Matt, and their two Australian shepherds.
Interns
Johanna Klein grew up on her family’s farm and ranch outside of Pueblo, Colorado. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology at Colorado State University-Pueblo. She then attended the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated with doctor of veterinary medicine and master of public health degrees in 2020. After graduation, she completed an equine internship at Oakridge Equine in Edmond, Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys riding her horses, hiking, kayaking, baking, and spending time reading a good book with her cats.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Larsen grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she showed quarter horses on a national level. She attended Colorado State University for her undergraduate degrees where she pursued a double major in equine science and biomedical sciences. She stayed at Colorado State University for her doctor of veterinary medicine degree and graduated in 2019. She was then an equine rotating intern at Mississippi State University from 2019-2020, which was followed by a large animal surgical internship at Tufts University from 2020-2021. She would like to obtain a large animal surgical residency and has a particular interest in orthopedics and sports medicine. In her free time, Larsen enjoys CrossFit, roller derby, and hiking with her miniature dachshund, Gus.
Alexandra Warren is originally from Calgary, Canada, but spent most of her childhood living overseas. She grew up riding horses, primarily English show jumpers. Warren returned to Canada in 2014 to begin her university studies. She graduated with her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, in June 2020. Following graduation, she completed a one-year equine surgical internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. She is interested in pursuing an equine surgery residency after completing her internship at Mizzou. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, cooking and reading.
