Shelter Medicine Faculty Veterinarians
Sandra Briesacher, MA, DVM
Adjunct Instructor
Amie Burling, DVM, DACVPM
Shelter Medicine Section Head
Assistant Teaching Professor
Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Amie Burling’s shelter medicine journey started her first week at the Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine when she adopted Panda, a behavior-challenged border collie, from a local shelter. Since then, Burling and Panda have moved together across five states, and Burling has gained experience in general practice, high-volume spay/neuter and shelter medicine.
She recently completed a residency at the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, which involved intensive training in the medical, behavioral and husbandry needs of animals in shelters around the country.
Now, Burling and Panda are thrilled to be home in Columbia with the opportunity to give back to MU and the community. Burling is also completing a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology, and she is pursuing board certification in the shelter medicine practice specialty of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Her professional interests include infectious disease prevention, behavioral welfare, public health and increasing the speed of adoption for shelter animals.
In her free time, Burling enjoys reading and hiking with Panda.
Kathryn Darr, DVM
Clinical Instructor
Kevin Shull, DVM
Clinical Instructor
Jessica Thiele, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Assistant Teaching Professor
Board-Certified Specialist in Shelter Medicine Practice
Jessica Thiele received her DVM degree from the University of Missouri in 2012. After graduation, she spent three years in small animal private practice before starting her journey into the world of shelter medicine. With a goal of staying close to home and family, she spent five years as the veterinarian at the Jefferson City Animal Shelter and the next two years working with the Central Missouri Humane Society and Columbia Second Chance. She achieved practitioner-tract ABVP certification in Shelter Medicine and joined Mizzou’s Shelter Medicine service full-time in 2022.
Her professional interests include HQHVSN, special surgical procedures, the challenges of balancing population management and individual animal care in the shelter setting, and shelter environmental design and behavior. She’s grateful to be part of the Shelter Med team to continue to support regional shelter and rescue groups while promoting veterinary student education. In her free time, she enjoys going on adventures with her husband and two children, crafting, gardening and home improvement projects.
Eva Ulery, DVM, DABVP-Canine and Feline
Assistant Teaching Professor
Board-Certified Specialist in Canine and Feline Practice
Veterinary Assistants
