Meet Our Instructors
Raul Bras, DVM, CJF
Dr. Bras is an equine podiatrist who spent the first 18 years of his career in Lexington, Ky., with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital before joining the faculty at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a clinical veterinarian of equine podiatry in 2023. Currently based in Raleigh, N.C., Dr. Bras remains a shareholder of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and continues to provide his expertise on a regular basis at its Wellington, Fla., location. Dr. Bras received his veterinary degree from Ross University in 2005. A graduate of the farrier program at Cornell University in 2007, Dr. Bras became a Certified Journeyman Farrier of the American Farriers Association in 2010. He achieved induction into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dora Ferris, DVM, DACVSMR
Dr. Ferris is a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-owner of Summit Equine in Newberg, Ore., with her husband, Dr. Ryan Ferris. The practice specializes in equine reproduction and sports medicine. After earning her veterinary degree in 2007 from Washington State University, she completed an internship at Oakridge Equine and a sports medicine and rehabilitation residency at Colorado State University. Dr. Ferris had a private practice in Fort Collins, Colo., before moving with her family to start Summit Equine in 2017. Her practice focuses on lameness diagnostics, therapeutics and rehabilitation to optimize equine performance.
Ryan Ferris, DVM, MS, DACT
Dr. Ferris is a theriogenology specialist and co-owner of Summit Equine in Newberg, Ore., with his wife, Dr. Dora Ferris. The practice specializes in equine reproduction and sports medicine. Upon receiving his veterinary degree in 2007 from Washington State University, Dr. Ferris completed an internship in equine surgery, medicine and reproduction at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala. He subsequently completed an equine theriogenology residency at Colorado State University and stayed on as a faculty member for seven years until starting Summit Equine in 2017. Dr. Ferris has an extensive background in problem mares and embryo transfer, along with an internationally recognized research program in diagnostics and therapeutics for endometritis.
Rachel Hector, DVM, MS, DACVAA
Dr. Hector is a clinical instructor, anesthesia at Colorado State University. Her clinical interests include equine post-operative pain management, anesthetic management of horses with colic and endotoxemia, and improving anesthetic recovery safety. After receiving her veterinary degree from Oregon State University in 2012, Dr. Hector worked at an equine surgical referral practice near Vancouver for two years prior to completing her residency and board certification in veterinary anesthesiology at Colorado State University in 2017.
Piper Norton, DVM, DACVIM-LA
Dr. Norton is a board-certified equine internal medicine specialist with Texas Equine Medical Associates in Austin, Texas, with particular interest in neonatal foal medicine. After earning her veterinary degree from Louisiana State University in 2007, Dr. Norton completed an internship at Elgin Veterinary Hospital and stayed on as an associate. In 2010, she entered a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M University, where she pursued research on foal immunity and achieved board certification. Dr. Norton returned to Elgin Veterinary Hospital for several years prior to starting her mobile specialty practice in 2017.
Mitchell Rode, DVM
Dr. Rode is founding owner of Clarke Equine Wellness and Performance in Berryville, Va. He started his full-service ambulatory practice and intermediate care clinic in 1987 following several years in mixed-animal practice where he focused exclusively on the care of horses. Dr. Rode received his veterinary degree from Michigan State University in 1980. His practice has focused on general medicine, with a special interest in breeding and foal care, along with preventative care for optimum performance in equine athletes.
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