Anthony Blikslager is a veterinary surgeon with a clinical emphasis on surgical gastroenterology in large animals. He also has a doctorate in gastrointestinal physiology. He has developed novel large animal models of intestinal diseases that afflict both people and animals. A major focus of his research has been understanding mechanisms of mucosal epithelial repair in the setting of ischemia/ reperfusion injury in pigs. He has also used his knowledge of electrophysiology as well as anatomical cellular components of the mucosa to design models that answer basic questions about intestinal mucosal integrity. Much of this research has focused on the relative roles of epithelial restitution and re-assembly of tight junctions, with detailed analyses of the mechanistic roles of ion transporters, enteric nerves, and inflammatory cells in mucosal repair. He has also studied neural-epithelial interactions in the context of stress-induced gut dysfunction. The interaction between glial cells in particular and injured epithelium is a recent area of study.

Dr. Blikslager’s expertise in surgical gastroenterology in large animals has been of particular value to the CGIBD through the development of the Large Animal Models Core. The Core takes advantage of the expertise and facilities in the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University to develop large animal models relevant to human diseases.

Gayle graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2002 and then undertook a rotating internship and residencies in large animal internal medicine and critical care at the Royal Veterinary College. She then moved to the University of Nottingham to undertake an equine cardiology PhD and stayed on staff for 15 years. She then joined IVC Evidensia where she led veterinary professional development and was an equine medicine consultant at Pool House Equine Hospital. She has recently returned to specialty practice as a clinician and educator at Equine Vet Medicine Referrals.

Dr. Hassel is an Associate Professor of Equine Emergency Surgery & Critical Care and helped establish the 24/7 Equine Critical Care service at CSU in 2004. She has been a specialist in the area of equine colic since completion of her surgical residency in 1997 and has furthered her background in critical care medicine for the horse by obtaining board certification by the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care in 2007. Her research interests are focused on treatment of the critically ill equine patient, with particular interests in colic, the equine gastrointestinal microbiome and endotoxemia.

Graduated with DVM from Michigan State University in 1997

Private practice for 3 years

Internal Medicine Residency at Virginia Maryland College of Vet Med

Fellowship in Emergency & Critical care (Iowa State University and New Bolton Center – Univ Pennsylvania)  

Professor of equine medicine at Iowa State University since 2003