Meet Our Instructors
Dr. Myra Barrett
Dr. Barrett is a professor of equine diagnostic imaging at Colorado State University (CSU). Her primary research and clinical interests are equine musculoskeletal imaging and comparative imaging, and she works closely with the equine surgery and sports medicine services. Dr. Barrett is also a founding partner of Inside Information Radiology, a dedicated equine teleradiology company; and she is a founding member, diplomate and first president of the American College of Veterinary Radiology – Equine Diagnostic Imaging.
After earning her veterinary degree from CSU, Dr. Barrett completed a year-long internship at Oakridge Equine Hospital. She subsequently underwent a non-conforming radiology residency to particularly focus on equine diagnostic imaging. The residency was based at CSU but included training with multiple equine imaging experts in the US and internationally. At the same time, Dr. Barrett obtained a master's degree through the Orthopaedic Research Center at CSU. Dr. Barrett developed the equine imaging service at CSU.
Dr. Kate Bills
Dr. Bills is an Associate Professor of Clinical Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, having joined the faculty in 2016. Her work focuses on the clinical applications of advanced imaging systems, including CT, MRI, and novel standing imaging systems, including PET and a robotics-controlled cone beam CT.
Dr. Bills obtained her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012 after graduating from Tufts University with a degree in biochemistry. Following a rotating internship in equine medicine, surgery, and critical care at the New Bolton Center, Dr. Bills completed a diagnostic imaging residency at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She became board-certified in diagnostic imaging by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2016 and received additional board certification in equine diagnostic imaging (DACVR-EDI) in 2022.
Dr. Lindsay Deacon
Dr. Deacon is an associate veterinarian at Littleton Equine Medical Center, where her primary practice interests are imaging, lameness, rehabilitation and cardiology.
Dr. Deacon earned her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University in 2018. Following an internship at Littleton Equine Medical Center, Dr. Deacon completed a fellowship in cardiology and ultrasound fellowship at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, before returning to Littleton Equine in 2020.
Dr. Elizabeth Acutt
Dr. Acutt is an assistant professor of clinical large animal diagnostic imaging at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, where her clinical and research interests focus on comparative imaging in the equine athlete.
After receiving her veterinary degree in 2015 from the University of Bristol, UK, Dr. Acutt traveled to the University of California, Davis to undergo additional training in equine orthopedics and sports medicine. She was the first person to complete a residency specifically in equine diagnostic imaging, based at Colorado State University, and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists (EDI) in 2022. She joined the faculty at Penn Vet in 2023.
Dr. Jackie Christakos
Dr. Christakos is a shareholder at Littleton Equine Medical Center in Littleton, Colo., where her areas of focus are lameness/sport horse practice and imaging. She is also an FEI Treating Veterinarian and FEI Official Veterinarian in the disciplines of Eventing, Dressage and Jumping.
Dr. Christakos received her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2012. She completed an internship at Littleton Equine Medical Center and has remained with the practice ever since. Dr. Christakos is a past president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and a former AAEP board member.
Dr. Erica Tolar
Dr. Erica Tolar took her first saddleseat riding lesson at the age of seven. It was love at first sight and she has continued riding American Saddlebred horses competitively ever since then. She grew up on a large horse boarding and training farm in the Chicago suburbs and has shown American Saddlebred horses across the Midwest and Kentucky.
Dr. Tolar received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2003 from the University of Illinois before moving to Tennessee to complete a rigorous internship in small animal medicine at the University of Tennessee. Once finished with her internship, she returned to the University of Illinois and completed a 3-year ophthalmology residency. She is board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Dr. Erica Tolar and her husband Matt moved to Simpsonville, Kentucky to be in the heart of Saddlebred horse country. The American Saddlebred is near and dear to her heart and she is an avid equestrian winning three World's Championship titles at the Kentucky State Fair.
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