About us

Research Interests: Equine orthopaedic surgery, joint disease research as well as osteoarthritis therapy (including gene therapy and stem cell therapies), articular cartilage repair, and early diagnosis in osteoarthritis and pre-fracture disease using imaging and fluid biomarkers. Dr. McIlwraith, a University Distinguished Professor, has made significant strides in advancing the Orthopaedic Research Center Laboratory’s reputation through publications, scientific presentations, and fundraising. He is a Past-President of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and a recognized leader in the field of equine orthopaedic research and surgery. He consults worldwide as a specialist equine surgeon and has received media attention for his contributions to joint research. Dr. McIlwraith is the co-author of five textbooks, over 400 textbook chapters and refereed publications, and has given 600 presentations and workshops.

After arriving at CSU, Dr. Frisbie began his work on a novel way to treat joint disease using gene therapy, the focus of his Ph.D. Dr. Frisbie is board certified in Large Animal Surgery and is a Diplomate of the ACVS. He joined the faculty as an assistant professor in Equine Surgery in the Dept. of Clinical Sciences in 1999, associate professor (with tenure) in 2007, and professor in 2013. He is a Diplomate of the ACVSMR and a Founding Fellow of ACVS Minimally Invasive Surgery (large animal orthopaedics). Dr. Frisbie has served on the American Association of Equine Practitioners Board of Directors as well as held the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors for the ACSMR. His current areas of research include musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. He has evaluated various therapeutics and biologics such as stem cells. As well as looking at novel platforms for diagnosing musculoskeletal disease has developed diagnostic tools such as standing arthroscopy of the equine stifle.

Dr. Goodrich is a Professor of Orthopedics in the Department of Clinical Sciences. Her laboratory studies new approaches to bone and joint healing in equine athletes, and employs both gene therapy and stem cell therapy. Ongoing studies include using adeno-associated viral vectors to deliver growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules important in cartilage and bone healing. Dr. Goodrich has utilized mesenchymal stem cells and platelet rich plasma to improve cartilage repair. Further studies utilizing gene therapy combined with stem cell therapies to improve musculoskeletal repair are currently underway.

Dr. Kawcak is Professor of Orthopedics. Dr. Kawcak is one of a team of researchers working to find ways to prevent and treat catastrophic injuries in equine athletes. Kawcak is assessing three-dimensional imaging techniques, MRI and CT to diagnose early joint disease and microscopic joint injuries before these develop into serious injuries. Working with researchers in biomedical engineering the team has developed biomechanical models to assess risk factors specific to each individual athlete with implications for human bone and joint disease.

Dr. Palmer’s research is directed toward disease/injury of the canine/human knee, cartilage repair and bone healing. He has mentored numerous recipients of the Best Clinical Research Award and Mark Bloomberg Resident Research Award from the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. He has research collaborations with Harvard Childrens’ Hospital, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, the University of Colorado, the University of Kansas as well as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and numerous human and veterinary corporations. He is a board member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, the North American Veterinary Conference and the Veterinary Surgery Journal. He has been an invited speaker at conferences throughout the US, Europe, South America, Africa, Russia and China. He is the founder of the Complete Course on External Skeletal Fixation now in its 20th year of educating veterinarians from around the world.

Dr. Eric Monnet graduated from veterinary school in Maisons Alfort, France in 1985.  He worked for four years in a Paris private practice performing small animal medicine and surgery.  In 1994, Dr. Monnet completed a small animal surgery residency at Colorado State University and concurrently finished a Master of Sciences degree.  In 1997, Dr. Monnet received his PhD in Clinical Sciences studying cardiac efficiency in dogs. In 2003, he became a fellow of the American Heart Association.

Dr Monnet is currently a professor in small animal surgery (soft tissue) at Colorado State University.  He has authored more than 100 articles and 25 chapters in various surgical textbooks. Dr. Monnet was the founding president in 2001-2003 of the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery and in 2002-2004 of the Veterinary Endoscopy Society.  He is the editor of the textbook: “Disease Mechanisms in Small Animal Surgery” (3rd edition).  He is also the editor of the textbook “Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery” (1st edition).

Dr. Smeak is Professor and Chief of Surgery and Dentistry at Colorado State University. His research interests include the development and assessment of innovative methods to train students and residents in core surgical skills, as well as investigating a wide range of soft tissue surgical conditions. He remains active in the soft tissue surgery specialty practice at his institution, and he enjoys delivering interactive continuing education lectures and wet labs to veterinarians worldwide. Daniel Smeak received his DVM degree from Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979.  After completing an internship at Colorado State University, he began a Small Animal Surgery residency at The Ohio State University. In 1983, following his residency, he accepted a surgery faculty position at OSU.

He became board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1986.  Dr. Smeak was Professor of Surgery at and Head of the Surgery Section The Ohio State University until 2007.  He returned to Colorado State University in August 2007, and became Hospital Director at their Veterinary Teaching Hospital.  He is currently Chief of Surgery and Dentistry at CSU.

Dr. David C. Twedt graduated from Iowa State University and entered an internship and medicine residency in gastroenterology at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Twedt then joined the staff of the Animal Medical Center and was also a research associate at the Liver Research Center of Albert Einstein Medical School. He then joined the Faculty at Colorado State University and the Department of Clinical Sciences where he is a Professor.

Dr. Rawlinson graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 1998.  After working as a private practitioner for three years, she returned to Cornell as a veterinary educator.  During this time, her interest in Dentistry blossomed, and she was accepted to a residency program in Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002.  Upon completion of her residency program, she moved back to Ithaca to create the Cornell Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service and develop the dental curriculum to be taught to both large and small animal focused students.  In 2005, she became a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College.  She spent six years as a Lecturer and sole dental faculty member at Cornell providing care for small, equine, livestock, and zoo patients.  During this time, she worked closely with the Cornell Large Animal Soft Tissue Surgery Service to treat equine cases and grow her expertise in equine dentistry.  Although a life change moved her from Cornell in 2011, she maintained her faculty position with Cornell as the equine-farm animal dental care provider until 2013.  In 2013, she accepted an Assistant Professorship with Colorado State University and is once again in the process of building a strong Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service meeting the needs of the Small Animal, Equine, and Livestock Hospitals and developing teaching, research, and continuing education programs.  Dr. Rawlinson is a Founding Diplomate of the AVDC Equine Dental Specialty.

Naomi Hoyer grew up outside of Denver, Colorado, and graduated with her DVM from Colorado State University in 2002. She worked in private practice, both in California and Colorado, for 10 years prior to entering a dental residency program. She has been working and living in Fort Collins since 2006. She is excited to be a part of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery service here at Colorado State University. She is passionate about dental education for veterinary students, residents and recent veterinary school graduates. Her professional interests include long-term management of periodontal disease, management of dental disease with concurrent illnesses and multimodal pain control. Away from the hospital, Naomi enjoys spending time hiking, running, skiing, biking, camping and enjoying Colorado with her husband and two daughters. She also has three dogs and five chickens!

Brian Beale attended the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He also completed a 3- year residency in small animal surgery and joined the faculty there as an assistant professor from 1990– 1992. Brian became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1991 and joined Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in 1992. Brian has a special interest in arthroscopy, minimally invasive surgery, fracture repair, joint replacement, treatment of arthritis, and pain management.

Brian has many publications, including textbooks, textbook chapters, and scientific articles. Brian is a passionate teacher and frequently lectures and teaches wet-labs around the world. He is a past-president of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, past-president of the Gulf Coast Veterinary Foundation and active in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has been a board member for American Humane since 2017.

Brian was awarded the Specialty Veterinarian of the Year Award by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association in 2010. Brian became an ACVS Founding Fellow of Minimally-Invasive Orthopedic Surgery in 2018. Brian currently is the Head of Education, Training and Research for Compassion First Pet Hospitals and board member and surgeon for Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Caleb Hudson received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2007. He completed a rotating internship at the University of Florida in 2008 and remained at the University of Florida for a surgical residency, which he completed in 2012. Dr. Hudson achieved ACVS board -certification in 2013 and continued at the University of Florida as a clinical lecturer until moving to Texas to join the surgical team at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Hudson is a native of Louisiana, and specializes in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, with a particular interest in minimally-invasive procedures.