Join us at the Quest Building at Latta Nature Preserve to learn about primary and emergent care for avian and exotic companion mammals and when and how to refer. You will also learn more about Veterinary Emergency Group’s patient care options. 

Lunch and an exclusive tour of the Carolina Raptor Center will be provided! 

Meet the speakers

Dr. Ritzman is a native of northern Ohio and lived in North Carolina while in middle and high school. She obtained her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University College with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Dr. Ritzman is board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal practice. The board certification process involves years of additional training in medicine and surgery after veterinary school for the specific species and a rigorous examination process. Dr. Ritzman is one of only two dual board-certified veterinarians in western North Carolina for avian and exotic mammals.

Her clinical work focuses on non-traditional animals such as birds (companion and wild), exotic mammals (ferrets, rabbits, rodents, chinchillas, guinea pigs), reptiles, and fish. Her interests include avian and exotic medicine, surgery, endoscopy, and nutrition. She supports the veterinary community by teaching avian and exotic animal medicine. She speaks at national and international veterinary meetings and enjoys teaching veterinary students and technicians in her specialties.

Dr. Ritzman is an associate veterinarian at Carolinas Veterinary Care Clinic in Huntersville, North Carolina. She also provides medical and surgical veterinary care for the magnificent birds of prey, both resident and wild rehabilitation raptors, at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte.

In her free time, Dr. Ritzman enjoys spending time with her family, taking her rescue dog on walks, and playing the piano and the English handbells. Dr. Ritzman, her husband, and their son live in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Dr. Gray is currently the Medical Director of VEG Charlotte, a 24/7 emergency hospital in South Park. She graduated from VMCVM in 2014 and has been in the Charlotte area throughout her career. She has practiced in both emergency and general practice and loves being back in emergency helping people and pets when they need it most. She loves mentoring and teaching the future of vet med, and her passions are fear free medicine and ultrasound. She has written books to help the future generation as well (New Vet Jumpstart Guide (ER and GP editions) and Becoming a Millennial Veterinarian), and writing is her passion. She is married with a two year old, two Aussie mixes, and two cats. When she is not working, she loves traveling and enjoying restaurants and breweries around the Charlotte area.