Kelly Gravitt, DVM, DABVP (Equine Practice)
Kelly Gravitt, grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, a small town just outside of St. Louis. She started riding horses when she was young, primarily showing in the jumper ring. After completing her DVM degree at the University of Missouri in 2019, she stayed at Mizzou’s Veterinary Health Center for an equine rotating internship and equine ambulatory residency. After finishing her post-doctorate training, Gravitt obtained certification in Equine Practice with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, sons and two Australian shepherds, as well as cooking and gathering with family and friends.
Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, DABVP
Alson LaCarrubba, originally from New York, grew up riding hunter-jumpers and dressage from a young age. After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in animal science, LaCarrubba moved to the Midwest to obtain her veterinary degree. She graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. LaCarrubba completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at the university and subsequently spent a year working in an equine exclusive private practice. She returned to the university in July 2003 as a clinical instructor, and in 2009 she completed the specialty boards with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Equine Practice.
LaCarrubba’s love of equine dentistry has inspired her to continue her training in this area. In recent years she has attended a variety of advanced equine dental courses, which have allowed her to develop specialized skills and expertise in this field. As the equine dentist for the university, LaCarrubba is excited to see all things dental, from routine work to more complicated extractions. When she is not at work, she is spending time with her husband and three children. The whole family enjoys horses and riding together on Missouri’s beautiful trails.
Martha Scharf, DVM, DABVP
Martha Scharf practices equine ambulatory medicine at the Equine Hospital. Scharf was born in Chicago and grew up riding hunter-jumpers in St. Louis. Since moving to Columbia, she has continued to ride and started to explore three-day eventing. After earning a DVM degree at MU, she completed a rotating equine internship at the university. Scharf has obtained certification in equine practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and completed chiropractic training for large and small animals. She continues to work as an assistant teaching professor for the Equine Ambulatory Service.
Scharf spends the majority of her time instructing senior veterinary students while providing quality medical care for horses within the Columbia area. She is particularly interested in wound management and emergency care in the ambulatory setting. Scharf works closely with the referral clinicians in the Equine Hospital to provide superior care to horses.
Meghan Wanstrath, DVM, DACVS-LA
Megan Wanstrath grew up in southeastern Indiana where she showed Paint/Pinto horses at both the local and national level. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2015 with a BS in Animal Science and minor in German Language. For vet school, Wanstrath ventured back home to Indiana and graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, after which she went on to complete internships at Pioneer Equine Hospital (California) and the University of Florida. She completed a large animal surgery residency at Tufts and became boarded by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2025. Following residency, Wanstrath worked as an equine surgeon in private practice in Southern California and also provided locum field service coverage at UC Davis prior to becoming faculty at Mizzou this past July. Her professional interests include gastrointestinal surgery and wound care. Outside of work, she loves cats, Christmas and Disney.
Interns
Our interns have a special interest in working with horses and potentially going on to complete a residency specializing in either equine medicine or equine surgery. Every June we welcome a new crop of interns. Meet this year’s group:
Cameron Cooper, DVM
Cameron Cooper grew up on a beef cattle farm in Jones Mill, Tennessee. Cooper was surrounded with horses from a young age but did not begin riding until much later on in life. He attended vet school at Washington State University and earned his DVM in 2025. After vet school, he completed a one-year internship at Desert Pines Equine in Las Vegas, Nevada. While in Vegas, Cooper gained valuable experience working with a variety of horses ranging from high level dressage warmbloods to champion cutting horses to BLM burros. Currently he is working here at the University of Missouri as an equine intern, gaining even more experience as he pursues a large animal surgical residency. Outside of veterinary medicine, Cooper enjoys fishing, running his redtick coonhound and horseback riding with his mom.
Madison Hardcastle, DVM
Madison Hardcastle is originally from Arkansas, where she grew up around Quarter Horses and the occasional gaited horse. A self-proclaimed “gelding gal,” she has a soft spot for palominos and grays. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas and her DVM from Mississippi State University (Go Dawgs!). Before moving to Missouri, she practiced sports medicine and surgery at MidSouth Equine in Tioga, Texas, primarily working with western performance horses. She now enjoys treating horses of all breeds and disciplines, along with the occasional mule or donkey, while helping provide hands-on learning opportunities for veterinary students. She hopes to pursue an equine surgical residency, with future interests in private practice or academia. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, treasure hunting at estate sales and spending time with her partner, Clayton, and their three cats Waylon, Cricket and Ellie.
Logan Landfried, DVM
Dr. Logan Landfried is originally from Charleston, South Carolina. She began riding and competing in the hunter/jumper ring when she was 7 and continued riding through college on her school’s IHSA team. Landfried attended Hollins University in Roanoke, VA for undergrad, then received her DVM degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. She completed her first internship at a private equine practice in Brandon, Floria, and is excited to be continuing her education with an academic internship at Mizzou.
