Brian is a native of Akron, Ohio, USA and received his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. After a 1-year internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City and a 3-year ophthalmology residency at Auburn University in Alabama, he returned to The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology in 1992. In October of 1995, Brian joined the faculty at North Carolina State University as an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and is now a Professor of Ophthalmology and head of clinical ophthalmology at NC State University. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. Brian is the immediate past president of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. His clinical interests include treatment of equine recurrent uveitis, corneal disease, and intraocular surgery. Brian's main research interest is ocular immunology, imaging, and drug delivery. He is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications, 30 book chapters, and 3 books, including two editions of 'Equine Ophthalmology'. He is also the co-founder of the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium and serves as a member of its governing board. 

Dennis E. Brooks passed the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1984. Dr Brooks received a PhD in 1987 from the University Of Florida College Of Medicine. Dr Brooks has been a scientist and clinician in academia and is a Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology. He was the President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists from 1997-1998.

Dr Brooks has written over 170 academic scientific publications, 76 book chapters, received $2.3 million in research grants, and has given over 300 lectures both nationally and internationally in comparative ophthalmology. His book, Equine Ophthalmology, was published in 2002 and again in 2008. A book Small Animal Ophthalmology was published in 2011.

He received the British Equine Veterinary Association’s Sir Frederick Smith Memorial Lecture and Medal Recipient in 2007, and received the Frank J. Milne State of the Art Award of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2010. Dr Brooks has extensive experience in amnion grafting, corneal transplantation and cataract surgeries of the horse.

Riccardo graduated from the veterinary school of Parma University, Italy in 1995.  The following year he spent six months performing externships in Australia, namely at Scone Veterinary Hospital and Randwick Equine Centre, Sidney.  After a few years of experience in equine reproduction and anesthesia, Riccardo developed an interest in Equine Ophthalmology as a consequence of attending specialist courses in Italy and Europe in 1998. In 2000 he attended the “Equine Ophthalmology” course at Liverpool University (UK) and the “Basic Science Course in Veterinary Ophthalmology” at the North Carolina State University (USA) where he also spent several training periods in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2011. In 2007 he attended the course “Intraocular Surgery for Advanced Surgeons - Small Animals” and in 2009 the “Intraocular Surgery for Advanced Surgeons - Horses”, in Berlin, Germany.  Since 2002 Riccardo has been working as Consultant Equine Ophthalmologist mainly in Northern Italy. He has been speaking at numerous Italian general equine conferences and on specialist ophthalmology courses.  Riccardo has furthermore authored several publications in Italian and in English for international journals. He has also contributed to the 1st and 2nd edition of the “Equine Ophthalmology” textbook by Brian Gilger.  Riccardo’s special interests include equine corneal surgery, cataract surgery and general field ophthalmology.

Dr. McMullen began pursuing his higher education during his military service in Germany, obtaining his veterinary degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. McMullen teaches classes in ophthalmology and conducts research in the area of vision, equine recurrent uveitis and immune mediated keratitis, particularly, novel methods of disease management by intravitreal injections and photodynamic therapy. Dr. McMullen is a Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Opthalmologists; Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Opthalmologists; Certificate of Additional Qualification, Equine Opthalmology, Zusatzeichnung Augenheilkunde – Pferde (Germany). He holds veterinary licenses in Alabama and in Germany, and has received numerous professional honors and awards in the United States and Europe.