Adam Stern, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Founding Fellow, Veterinary Forensic Pathology
Interim Program Director

Dr. Adam W. Stern is a board-certified veterinary pathologist and Founding Fellow of Veterinary Pathology. He is a Professor of Forensic Pathology in the department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Stern runs the UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory (VFSL), where he developed the first full-service veterinary forensic laboratory within any veterinary school in North America. The VFSL handles forensic responsibilities associated with investigating crimes against animals including crime scene documentation, evidence collection and processing, animal forensic autopsies, forensic DNA analysis, photogrammetry, and forensic toxicology. He developed and multiple community initiatives including the ‘A Cat Has No Name’ program the establishment of 3 animal cruelty task forces throughout the state of Florida.

Dr. Stern has travels locally, nationally, and internationally to educate veterinarians, investigators, and attorneys about investigating crimes against animals. He has published a multitude of scientific articles and written several book chapters relevant to veterinary forensic science. Dr. Stern is active in many professional organizations including the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences, and Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit.

Courses taught:
ENY6707 Forensic Entomology
VME6575 Veterinary Forensic Medicine
VME6576 Veterinary Forensic Pathology II
VME6577 Practicing Pathology (Veterinary Forensic Pathology I)

Megan Boyd

Megan E. Boyd is a lawyer, law professor, and scholar whose work has been featured in law reviews, bar journals, magazines, and legal websites across the country. Her scholarship focuses on legal writing, civil procedure, ethics, and animal law. She is the Editor in Chief of the Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, a purposefully eclectic law journal dedicated to producing first-rate scholarship on legal writing.

Before joining the ranks of academia, Boyd was a law clerk and a practitioner at an Atlanta firm, where she served as co-chairperson of the firm’s appellate practice group. Her areas of practice include coverage and bad faith work, legal malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, and appeals. Boyd is expected to graduate in Spring 2026 with a PhD in English Literature, where her research focuses on the roles of law in children’s literature.

Courses taught:
VME6054 Scientific and Legal Principles of Forensic Evidence

Ann Cavender, DVM MS

Dr. Ann Cavender is the owner of a mixed animal practice in Southeast Michigan treating companion animals, livestock, wildlife, pocket pets and exotics. She is a USDA Category II Accredited Veterinarian and Certified Pullorum Tester. Dr. Cavender earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University and a Masters degree from the University of Florida Veterinary Forensic Sciences Program. She is a charter member of both the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences and International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association. She contributed to the development of the Standards for Forensic Examination of the Live Animals.

She has performed forensic examinations for law enforcement and private citizens and provided expert testimony in cruelty, neglect and veterinary malpractice cases. She has lectured at national forensic sciences meetings and wrote the chapter on livestock species in Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences. She also teaches the Crime Scene Processing portion of the Indiana State Police Law Enforcement Cadet camp annually.

Courses taught:
VME6572 Forensic Aspects of Agricultural Animal Welfare

Joshua Fisher, DHA, MS, CAWA

Dr. Fisher has a diverse educational background spanning population management/medicine, public health, veterinary sciences, informatics, and healthcare administration. With over 20 years of experience in the veterinary medical and animal welfare field, he has held management roles in private practices, corporate practices, and the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Fisher serves as the Animal Services Director for the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

As a passionate advocate for professional development and growth within the animal welfare industry, Dr. Fisher actively engages in providing continued education and training opportunities. His commitment extends to cutting-edge industry research. His professional interests are multifaceted, including keeping pets and people together, public health and safety, advanced marketing and placement strategies, intake reduction tactics, strategic planning, and industry career development.

Beyond his local work in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Dr. Fisher holds key leadership roles as President of the National Animal Care & Control Association, Member of the Managing Executive Committee for the Human Animal Support Services Project, and Secretary/Treasurer of the North Carolina Public Health Association – Academic & Practice-based Research Section. A few of Dr. Fisher’s achievements include being a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, a graduate of the Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification Program, a Certified Customer Experience Executive, and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Courses taught:
VME6052 Animal Crime Scene Processing

Ellen Hirshberg, DVM, MS

Ellen Hirshberg supports the Forensic Animal Agriculture curriculum alongside Ann Cavender and is a graduate of the inaugural University of Florida Master of Science in Veterinary Forensics program. Prior to attending veterinary school at Tuskegee University, she served as a Livestock Inspector for the State of New Jersey, where she oversaw garbage-feeding swine operations before formal farm-animal welfare regulations were established. Her work included participation in multiple large-scale regulated disease responses, sample collection at slaughter facilities, and monitoring horse slaughter auctions following equine infectious anemia tracebacks.

Following her graduate studies, Dr. Hirshberg participated in large-scale animal rescue operations and currently works with a small humane organization while performing shelter-related work in New York City. For the past eight years, she has also worked hands-on with sheep, preparing them for shows, administering vaccinations, and completing Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs). Raised around food-producing animals, she brings a perspective that bridges agricultural and urban experiences.

Dr. Hirshberg’s teaching approach is grounded in meeting learners where they are. A strong understanding of agricultural species and practices is essential when evaluating allegations of cruelty, neglect, or abuse, as these determinations can have significant impacts on both animals and producers. Her goal is to provide students with practical resources, informed frameworks, and diverse perspectives to support effective forensic evaluations.

Courses taught:
VME6572 Forensic Aspects of Agricultural Animal Welfare

Teomie Rivera-Miranda, Ph.D.

Dr. Teomie Rivera-Miranda is originally from Puerto Rico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in general biology and a master’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico. She obtained her Ph.D. in Entomology from Purdue University. Her research at Purdue aimed at studying the effects of commonly used insecticides on blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) development and oviposition, as well as their impact on carcass decomposition. The findings from her research have significant implications for forensic investigations, particularly in cases where the presence of insecticides (accidental or intentional) is suspected. Dr. Rivera-Miranda is a certified forensic entomology technician by the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE).

Throughout her academic career, she has been dedicated to promoting scientific communication both within and outside the scientific community through her participation in numerous outreach events and scientific conferences. She is passionate about mentoring and teaching students at all levels and has taught undergraduate laboratory courses in Forensic Investigation and Forensic Analysis, as well as a Forensic Science Summer Residential program for 5th and 6th graders.

Courses taught:
ENY6707 Forensic Entomology

Jessica Rock, J.D.

Jessica Rock graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Jessica received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Emory University School of Law in 2003. After clerking for a superior court judge and the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, in 2004, she became Georgia’s first dedicated animal cruelty prosecutor, creating Georgia’s first animal cruelty task force with law enforcement.

Currently, she is the Georgia Animal Crimes Resource Prosecutor with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council and a Special Assistant United States Attorney handling federal cases in the Southern District of Georgia. She provides national and international case assistance and training to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges and veterinarians on a variety of topics including animal crimes from the crime scene to the courtroom and the link between human violence, organized crime and animal crimes. She also provides case assistance to law enforcement and prosecutors.

She also works diligently drafting laws in Georgia on both the state and local levels. Jessica is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Forensic Sciences Program and an Adjunct Faculty member of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2022, she received the Achievement Award from the Office of Inspector General for the prosecution of Operation Sunrise and Operation Sunset, “a complex multi-agency investigation that produced major results and significantly impacted Animal Welfare Act enforcement.”

Courses taught:
VME6056 Animal Law

Eileen Roy-Zokan, MS, PhD

Dr. Eileen Roy-Zokan is a Forensic DNA Analyst/Research Scientist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Dr. Roy-Zokan received her MS in Marine Biology from the University of Charleston and a PhD in Genetics from the University of Georgia. She is a Courtesy Assistant Professor within the UF Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine.

She has been working in the field of molecular and population genetics for over 15 years. Her expertise encompasses several disciplines including population genetics, genomics, and molecular biology. As part of her clinical work, she is often performing species identification and DNA Fingerprinting (individual identity/matching evidence) on various types of evidence. Some of the more common species she works with include black bears, white tailed deer, turkeys, alligators, and dogs.

Courses taught:
VME6573 Applications of DNA for Companion Animals and Wildlife Cases

Elizabeth Watson, DVM, MS, DACVR

Dr. Elizabeth Watson is a board-certified veterinary radiologist specializing in veterinary forensic radiology and imaging. Dr. Watson holds a MS degree in Anatomy and Radiology from the University of Georgia and a MS degree focused in Veterinary Forensic Science from the University of Florida. She has completed a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Virtopsy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland and additional training in medicolegal death investigations at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Dr. Watson is the owner of an international forensic imaging consulting practice and has provided expert testimony on forensic imaging studies.

As an internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Watson lectures at local, national, and international conferences on the use of radiology and imaging in live animal forensic cases and in virtual autopsy imaging techniques. She is published in peer-reviewed literature on diagnostic imaging and forensic radiology and imaging and is a chapter author in two comprehensive textbooks on veterinary forensic science. Her research interests include postmortem imaging techniques and radiographic signs and mimics of nonaccidental skeletal trauma. Dr. Watson currently serves as an Associate Editor for Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound.

Courses taught:
VME6579 Veterinary Forensic Radiology and Imaging

Carlos Zambrano, PhD

Dr. Zambrano is currently employed as a forensic anthropologist at the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In this role, he determines the medicolegal significance of skeletal remains reported to the office, aids law enforcement with search and recovery operations of human remains, performs radiographic identifications, compiles and reports his scientific findings, and testifies as needed.

Dr. Zambrano has been actively involved in the recovery and analysis of skeletal remains for over 25 years. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Florida, he completed a post-baccalaureate program in Forensic Anthropology at Mercyhurst College. He then received his master’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Indianapolis. His educational journey culminated with a Doctorate in Anthropology at the University of Florida. During his doctoral campaign, Dr. Zambrano worked at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory as both a graduate analyst and the laboratory coordinator.

Courses taught:
VME6053 Skeletal Trauma Analysis in Animals
VME6578 Forensic Veterinary Osteology

Teaching Assistants

Phil Arkow

Phil Arkow is President & Secretary of the National LINK Coalition. He chairs the Latham Foundation’s Animal Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Project and has taught at the University of Florida, the University of Pennsylvania and Harcum College. He is an internationally acclaimed lecturer, author and educator and has presented over 400 times in 17 countries, 38 states and 9 Canadian provinces, and has authored over 100 key reference works on human-animal interactions and violence prevention.

He co-founded the National Link Coalition, the National Animal Control Association, and the Colorado and New Jersey humane federations. He has served with the National Sheriffs Association’s National Coalition on Violence Against Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the ASPCA, American Humane, the Delta Society, the Animals & Society Institute, the National District Attorneys Association, the Academy on Violence & Abuse, the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges, and the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from New Jersey Child Assault Prevention and the Heart of Veterinary Social Work Award from the International Association of Veterinary Social Work. He was awarded an Honorary Diplomate by the American Veterinary One Health Society.

Courses taught:
VME6051 Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence

Katrina Leser, DVM

Dr. Katrina Leser works as a shelter veterinarian in Florida. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a minor in Criminology in 2018. In 2022, she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine through the University of Florida, where she also completed the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Certificate. After graduation, Dr. Leser worked at a mixed animal general practice, where she was able to implement her forensics and shelter medicine training by assisting various rescues and county animal control groups. She now works at a large municipal animal shelter, providing care to dogs, cats, and the occasional exotic/large animal, as well as assisting local law enforcement with criminal cases. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Veterinary Forensic Sciences through UF.

Courses taught:
VME6575 Veterinary Forensic Medicine