Concurrent Session
Eqine Forum Panel
FRIday, October 2
9:15am-12:00pm
Join us at the Equine Forum at ACVO for an engaging, case-based session on Equine Immune-Mediated Keratitis (IMMK), where expert panelists and clinicians come together to tackle real-world decisions - designed for those that see horses every day or just occasionally
Moderators
Panelists
DENNIS E. BROOKS
DVM, PhD, DACVO
Dr. Dennis Brooks received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Illinois in 1980. He subsequently completed residency training and a PhD in ophthalmology at the University of Florida. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) in 1984.
Following completion of his specialty training, Dr. Brooks joined the faculty at the University of Florida, where he developed a distinguished academic and clinical career. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida and continues to provide specialty equine ophthalmology services through his consulting practice, BrooksEyes LLC.
Dr. Brooks has played a major role in advancing veterinary ophthalmology through clinical innovation, research, and education. He is a past President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and has trained more than 30 residents while mentoring thousands of veterinary students worldwide.
Dr. Brooks has authored numerous scientific publications, book chapters, and textbooks, including Equine Ophthalmology. His research and clinical interests focus on equine ophthalmology, particularly corneal disease and surgery, infectious keratitis, and vision-preserving surgical techniques such as corneal transplantation and amniotic membrane grafting.
Michala Henriksen
DVM, PhD, DACVO
Dr. Michala Henriksen received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) in 2005. She completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of Florida from 2009 to 2012. During this time, she also pursued a PhD in equine ophthalmology through a joint program between the University of Copenhagen and the University of Florida, with research focused on equine recurrent uveitis.
Dr. Henriksen is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to this role, she served on the faculty at the University of Minnesota (2013–2017) and Colorado State University (2017–2023), where she achieved tenure and was recognized for excellence in teaching.
She is actively involved in professional service and leadership, including serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Veterinary Ophthalmology and holding roles with the Vision for Animals Foundation. She also co-chairs the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Basic Science Course.
Dr. Henriksen has authored numerous scientific publications and her research focuses on equine ophthalmology and innovative therapies for ocular disease, with an emphasis on regenerative and biologic treatments, including platelet-rich fibrin, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, and cannabidiol. She is also an active lecturer and is committed to teaching and mentoring veterinary students, interns, and residents.
SILVIA STADLER
DVM, DACVO
Dr. Silvia Stadler received her veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Austria) in 1999. She subsequently completed an internship in equine medicine, followed by a doctoral degree focused on equine sarcoids in 2011. In 2012, she achieved board qualification as a Specialist Veterinarian for Horses in Vienna.
After several years in equine clinical practice, including seven years as an assistant veterinarian at Tillysburg Equine Clinic in Austria, Dr. Stadler pursued advanced training in ophthalmology. She completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology under Prof. Bernhard Spiess at the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich (Switzerland), and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO) in 2019. She subsequently spent five years in Switzerland working as a self-employed veterinary ophthalmology consultant before returning to Austria in 2021.
Dr. Stadler is actively involved in veterinary education and regularly lectures and teaches courses throughout Europe and the United States. She also trains international residents in equine ophthalmology (ECVO track) and mentors externs and visiting veterinarians from around the world at her practice.
