Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, CPH

Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, CPH, received both her DVM and MPH through the University of Minnesota's dual-degree program and is additionally certified in public health. Dr. Hoang's work focuses on providing scientific expertise in policy development; advocacy; regulatory and legislative initiatives; and litigation. Her professional career has been dedicated to the advancement of food safety, public health, and pharmaceutical initiatives for the veterinary profession through the promotion of balanced and well-informed decisions, policies, and programs.

Through collaborative efforts nationally and internationally, Dr. Hoang has led multiple efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and promote public health, animal health, and animal well-being. She is sought after regularly by local, national, and international media, and she has testified before Congress on numerous occasions. Dr. Hoang received the distinguished award of Food Safety Veterinarian of the year. A prominent expert in the field of antibiotic resistance, Dr. Hoang's work has culminated in the successful implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive and elimination of growth-promoting antibiotics. 

Dr. Hoang's recent expertise also expands into regulatory aspects of pharmaceutical products such as DEA controlled substances, “off-label” or extra-label drug use and cannabinoids.

Don Hoenig, VMD

Dr. Hoenig graduated from Bowdoin College and received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a veterinary career spanning almost four decades, Dr. Hoenig has worked in mixed animal practice, spent time as a US Department of Agriculture Veterinary Medical Officer, was the State Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian in Maine for 17 years, was an AVMA Congressional Fellow and also taught at Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. 

After retiring as Maine State Veterinarian, Dr. Hoenig spent a year in Washington DC as an AVMA Congressional Fellow in the office of Sen. Susan Collins. Upon returning to Maine after his Fellowship year, he founded MIM Consulting and has been working as the American Humane Association’s Senior Veterinarian Advisor in the AHA farm animal welfare certification program. 

Dr. Hoenig’s experiences with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Pennsylvania in the early 1980s and with foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 spurred a passionate interest in emergency disease preparedness and response. While Maine State Veterinarian, as President of the U.S. Animal Health Association, and as Chair of the Secretary of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health, he led efforts to enhance the country’s foreign animal disease response plans. As State Veterinarian, he drafted legislation, wrote and implemented rules, delivered expert testimony to the Maine Legislature, and was a member of numerous working groups and committees. Under his chairmanship of the Maine Ad Hoc Fish Health Committee, the State’s fish health rules were revised and adopted.

Dr. Hoenig is a recipient of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association Service Award, the USDA, APHIS Administrator’s Award and the Maine CDC’s Pump Handle Award. His affiliations include the U.S. Animal Health Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the World Organization for Animal Health Veterinary Legislative Support Program, and the Northeast U.S. Animal Health Association. 

Associates

Joseph (Joe) Annelli, DVM, MS

A native of the state of New York, Dr. Annelli received a BS in Biology in 1976 from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY, and later a MS in Zoology with an emphasis on Wildlife Management from Long Island University. And received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Araneta University in Quezon City, Philippines in 1983.

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Annelli formerly with the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services as Senior Advisor for Agriculture and Health System (One Health Coordinator) covered a broad range of policy and program development. Dr. Annelli believes veterinarians are truly the first line of defense for human health, ensuring that we are providing wholesome, abundant, affordable food for the US and the World. Throughout his 32 year federal career he applied his innovative thinking to the eradication of avian influenza from the live bird market system in NYC, eradicating pseudorabies from the US domestic herds, and introducing the Incident Command System to Veterinary Services, building the APHIS emergency programs activities from to a world class response organization.  While on detail to the USDA Secretary's Office, Dr. Annelli managed the White House Avian and Pandemic leading the International Avian and Pandemic Influenza Response Team; developed a Crisis Management Center at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome; led USDA on Global Health Security at the White House, initiated the USDA wide One Health Joint Working Group, the Federal Interagency One Health Working Group, and finally founding and leading the One Health Coordination Center and remains active with the World Health Organization.

Anthony Jadczak, Apiarist

Anthony (Tony) Jadczak has been involved with honey bees and the bee industry for 44 years.  He is a 3rd generation beekeeper that started keeping the family’s bees as a teen after the passing of his uncles.  

Tony is a Rutgers graduate with a degree in biology/entomology.  After graduation, Tony worked  for the Entomology Department at Rutgers managing the school’s apiaries.  He assisted in research concerning crop pollination and honey bee disease control.  At Rutgers he cooperated with: the NJ Mosquito Commission investigating bee mortality associated with mosquito control; USDA-ARS in the culture and release of the Japanese horn-faced bee; and NJ Department of Agriculture’s  Apiary Program where he operated an ethylene oxide fumigation chamber for the sterilization of beekeeping equipment infected with American foulbrood and other pathogens.

After Rutgers, Tony spent 33 years with the Maine Department of Agriculture as the state apiarist.  The position was both regulatory and extension and periodically involved cooperative research with universities, industry and the USDA.  A significant part of the position concerned work with Maine’s blueberry industry and crop pollination.  While serving as Maine state apiarist the N. American beekeeping industry experienced major changes due to the introduction of two parasitic mites (tracheal, Varroa) and viral complex associated with the mite’s feeding behavior. These mites have caused high bee mortality and significant costs to both beekeepers and growers who require honey bees for crop production.

Over the years, Tony has presented numerous lectures, courses and workshops on bee management, disease/parasite control and crop pollination.  He has served on many committees concerned with honey bee certification, registration of mite controls and pesticide issues.  Recently, Tony was a member of the EPA’s Pollinator Protection- Pesticide Program Dialog Committee.  Tony is past president of the Eastern Apicultural Society of N. America.  He currently manages 220 hives for honey production and does contract work for a biotech company involved with a novel approach to Varroa control.

Laura Kiehnbaum, DVM, MS

After receiving her undergraduate degrees in Biology and German (cum laude) at St. Olaf College, Dr. Kiehnbaum further pursued a Masters in Veterinary Science, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine  at the University of Minnesota. As a clinical practitioner in rural MN, she brings a wealth of experience in multiple animal species, both companion animal and food animal. Dr. Kiehnbaum's international experiences in Australia, Germany, Spain, and Uganda also add to her distinctive abilities and contributions to our consulting services. With a background in epidemiology and infectious diseases, Laura lends her extensive knowledge to a number of publications and presentations. Local media have recognized Laura's comprehensive understanding of community level issues and she has made several television appearances allowing her to showcase her strengths in education and training.

Jeffrey Powers, DVM

Dr. Powers graduated from Michigan State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, with honors in 1980. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in clinical private practice from companion animals to equine and food animals. In addition to being an excellent small businessman founding several different practices, Dr. Powers is an exceptional communicator and collaborator having managed and coordinated efforts with state and national agencies on a number of issues involving wildlife. He is active in both agricultural and environmental issues and is well regarded from his presentations domestically and internationally. Dr. Powers has served as an expert witness in agricultural litigation as well testifying recently at a field hearing of the U.S. Committee on Natural Resources on the Cormorant Control Act.

 Most recently, Dr. Powers has been involved in issues related to the legality and potentially therapeutic value of marijuana, hemp, and CBD in veterinary medicine.

Steven Sears, MD

Dr. Stephen Sears is an infectious disease physician with special expertise in public health, hospital epidemiology and international consulting. He is the current Chief of Staff for the Veteran’s Administration Health Care System at the Togus VA Hospital in Augusta, Maine where he is the senior executive responsible for medical administration, clinical oversight, and programmatic support of the medical staff. Prior to this position, he was the State Epidemiologist for the Maine Centers for Disease Control. 

Dr. Sears also has extensive experience in hospital administration prior to becoming Chief of Staff for the Veteran’s Administration, including at Mercy Hospital in Portland Maine and Maine General Medical Center in Augusta. He has been in clinical practice since 1988, specializing in infectious diseases.

Julia Sullivan, DVM, MS

Dr. Sullivan holds a veterinary degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters in Conservation Ecology and Policy from the University of Michigan.  With over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, she has extensive knowledge of a variety of small animal, exotic and wildlife species. She has worked in small animal emergency and clinical practices as well as in wildlife research. Dr. Sullivan has also worked for non-profit and state conservation agencies, gaining experience in environmental policy analysis, GIS, database building and epidemiological experimental design. Her work has taken her to many different states, giving her familiarity with the challenges facing different regions.  With her diverse background, Dr. Sullivan brings a multi-disciplinary perspective to our team, enhancing her ability to synthesize information and engage our clients in problem solving.