Equine Faculty Veterinarians
Kelly Gravitt, DVM, DABVP-Equine
Assistant Teaching Professor
Kelly Gravitt is from southern 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 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2019. Gravitt continued her veterinary training at the MU Veterinary Health Center with a rotating equine internship and a field service residency. She has achieved certification as a member of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners with a specialty in equine practice. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two Australian shepherds.
Lyndsey Hayden, DVM, MS
Clinical Instructor
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.
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
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.
Hannah R. Leventhal, DVM, MS, DACVIM-Large Animal Internal Medicine
Assistant Teaching Professor – Equine Emergency Medicine
Originally from Colorado, Dr. Hannah Leventhal attended Kansas State University for college (B.S. Animal Science with Equine Science Certificate) and veterinary school (DVM, 2016). Upon graduation with her DVM in 2016, she spent one year at a rotating internship at a private practice in North Carolina, at which time she became an FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian, often working with top sport horses in a variety of disciplines. After completion of her internship, Dr. Leventhal moved to Kentucky for a one-year long specialty equine internal medicine fellowship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, during which time she enjoyed working with equids of all varieties, including top Thoroughbred racehorses and lots of foals! In 2018, Dr. Leventhal moved to Virgina to begin her next career adventure as a large animal internal medicine resident at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virgina. Dr. Leventhal’s interests include neonatology, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and colic, and emergency medicine and critical care. Dr. Leventhal has a passion for teaching and enjoys the opportunities for teaching and interacting with students. Providing individualized care to each patient and owner is always a priority, and Dr. Leventhal enjoys helping owners in their animal’s time of need. In July 2021, Dr. Leventhal completed her residency training and graduated with a Master’s in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences from Virginia Tech. Dr. Leventhal became a board certified diplomate of the ACVIM in large animal internal medicine in 2023. From 2021-2024, Dr. Leventhal was in private practice in Nevada, often serving as the treatment and head veterinarian for endurance rides, serving as the treatment veterinarian for Reno Rodeo, and working with a variety of large animals, from llamas and alpacas to goats and equids of all kinds-wild mustangs, sport horses, pleasure horses, draft horses, and more. Dr. Leventhal is excited to join the MU team, serving on the Equine Emergency service and also on the Equine Medicine service.
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.
Kile Townsend, DVM, MS, DACVIM – Large Animal Internal Medicine
Assistant Teaching Professor of Equine Internal Medicine
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’s Atlantic Veterinary College. She then completed an internship and large animal internal medicine residency training at the University of Missouri. Townsend is pursuing additional postgraduate 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.
Resident
Kristen McCurdy grew up in Weatherford, Texas. She earned a bachelor of science in biology degree with an equine minor from Stephens College in 2015 and her veterinary degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2019. Following graduation, she completed rotating internships at Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery in Weatherford, Texas, in 2020, at the University of Missouri in 2021, and at Louisiana State University in 2022) McCurdy has returned to the University of Missouri for a residency in equine surgery. She has specific interests in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, veterinary education, and septic arthritis research. In her free time, she enjoys rugby, weightlifting, video gaming, and spending time with friends.
Intern
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, and recently finished an equine rotating internship here at Mizzou. She plans to pursue an equine surgery residency following her specialty internship in surgery and emergency medicine. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, baking and reading.
