Pet Experts

Dr. Sandra Lyn is the Senior Manager for Global Pet Behavior and Welfare Research at Nestlé Purina. In her current role, Sandra is responsible for leading the team to develop and utilize our expertise in pet behavior, welfare and the Human Animal Bond (HAB) for product development, scientific communication and best in class pet care. […]

Dr. Callie Harris joined Purina in 2016 as our veterinary communications manager. She provides technical education support for Purina’s veterinary sales division and for veterinary teaching hospitals throughout the Southeast. Dr. Harris graduated from the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She then completed a one-year small animal rotating internship at a specialty

Dr. Emily Cross joined Purina in 2005 and is currently the Director of Purina’s Professional Resources Group. She manages Purina’s college programs at the University of California at Davis, Washington State University, Colorado State University, and Western University. Dr. Cross earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University and is a Diplomate of the

Dr. Kurt Venator has worked with Purina for more than 17 years and currently serves as our Chief Veterinary Officer. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Zoology – Behavior & Physiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Venator speaks across North America on the

Dr. Ragen McGowan is a research scientist in pet behavior and welfare who has been with Purina for more than 10 years. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Zoology and Foreign Language and a Ph.D. in Applied Ethology from Washington State University. For more than 20 years, Dr. McGowan has been involved in animal behavior research,

Dr. Martha Cline joined Nestlé Purina PetCare in 2021 as a Veterinary Communications Manager. She provides technical education support for Purina’s veterinary sales division and for veterinary teaching hospitals throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Dr. Cline is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing a small animal rotating internship in

Dr. Michael “Mike” T. Robbins received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. It was here Dr. Robbins found his love of nutrition and began his professional journey. Following graduation, he completed a rotating small animal medicine, surgery, and emergency internship at the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Louisville,

Dr. Jason Gagné currently resides in St. Louis, MO where he is Purina’s Director of Veterinary Communications and leads an amazing team of veterinarians and veterinary product advisors that provide university engagement as well as sales, marketing, and educational support to the US market. He also partners with Purina’s Research and Development scientists and external Veterinary

Karina Carbo-Johnson, M.S., has been a Senior Nutritionist in the Technical Services department at Nestle Purina for the past three years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition from Nottingham University in England. Before starting at Nestle Purina, Karina’s background focused

Dr. Karie Johnson received her DVM in May 2019 from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. During her undergraduate years at U of I working with Dr. Swanson in his nutrition lab, she found a love for companion animal nutrition that never faded. After receiving her DVM, she went into small animal general practice and