Celebrating our 10th Health & Welfare Program in 2024

Helping Animals, Helping People

About IVO

International Veterinary Outreach (IVO) provides high-quality veterinary care and training programs in economically-disadvantaged communities worldwide.

IVO believes, if given the tools and resources, communities can develop sustainable solutions that improve the health and welfare of animals and the people who are connected to them.

Our Beginning

While traveling throughout Latin America, Eric Eisenman volunteered for animal welfare organizations in Chile, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. During these travels, he recognized a significant need for adequate veterinary care in many economically disadvantaged communities. While in Granada, Nicaragua, he dreamed of organizing a group of veterinary professionals that would be able to provide quality and sustainable veterinary service in underserved communities abroad.

During his first year of veterinary school at UC Davis, Eric realized that the school lacked opportunities for students to participate in international animal welfare work. With help from classmates, International Veterinary Outreach (IVO) was founded as a student club. IVO was able to launch its first trip to rural communities in northwestern Nicaragua in December 2011 with the help of Dr. Eric Davis, and it soon thereafter became a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization in 2012.

Since its inception, IVO has evolved into a nonprofit organization run by veterinarians and professionals that provides training and support to veterinary professionals abroad. We work together to end animal suffering and improve community health.

How We Do It

Through community-based work, IVO empowers veterinary professionals to bring their expertise and knowledge to under-resourced communities.  Unlike other organizations which offer temporary solutions, IVO’s projects are focused on sustainability and longevity through customized training and education programs.

IVO secures long-term access to equipment, supplies, and medications for these communities, ensuring each community can responsibly treat their animals and prevent unnecessary, and oftentimes avoidable, disease, injury, and suffering.

IVO supports the One Health Initiative, a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaboration and communication in all aspects of health care for humans, animals, and the environment with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes.

IVO has adopted a fourfold strategy to achieve its mission:

1

Provide direct access to expert veterinary care

Veterinary medical care is provided to under-resourced communities including exams, vaccinations, anti-parasitic medications, surgeries, and other treatments to ensure that animals have freedom from pain, injury, and disease.

2

Provide education and training

IVO develops community-wide education initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of basic animal health and its implication for public health. IVO’s highly trained team of veterinarians work with local professionals to train on current procedures, best practices, and newest technologies

3

Provide sustainable solutions

Collaboration with local community members and local veterinary professionals is critical in creating long-term solutions to improve the quality of life for animals.  Along with ongoing training and education, IVO helps secure continued access to equipment, supplies, and medications.

4

Conduct research

With a One Health approach, IVO provides the opportunity for researchers to study animal health problems and find long-term solutions. By directly improving the health of animals, IVO can indirectly alleviate poverty by enhancing food security, strengthening the local economy, and decreasing

The Team Behind IVO

Eric Eisenman, DVM, MPVM

Founder & CEO

Dr. Eric recognized the need for veterinary professionals to be engaged in projects that increase access to veterinary care at a global level, then founded IVO as a veterinary student at UC Davis in 2011.

He graduated with his DVM in 2014, then received a Master's in Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) at UC Davis, before being awarded the prestigious NIH Fogarty Global Health Fellowship.

He has a strong interest in animal welfare, one health, conservation, and education, and is currently pursuing his diplomacy at the American College of Animal Welfare.

Program Delivery Leadership

  • As a volunteer for animal shelters and global animal welfare non-profits since 2003, Marissa knew she wanted to become a veterinarian to make an impact on a local and global scale. Marissa received a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010 and a DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2015. She is passionate about educating veterinary students and giving them the tools to help their communities. She joined IVO as a volunteer in 2012 and became involved in projects in Covelo and Nicaragua. She is the Tanzania medical programs director and heads our East Bay program. She works as a veterinarian at the San Francisco SPCA.

  • Prior to her veterinary career, Kate had the honor of working with devoted ophthalmologists Dr. Alan Crandall, Dr. Bob Hoffman, and others during their ophthalmology medical mission trip to Kumasi, Ghana. This experience in combination with work as a veterinary student with the Equitarian Initiative and Oregon IVSA’s Nicaraguan Veterinary Brigade Kate developed an enduring commitment to veterinary outreach.

    After graduating from the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, Kate completed an equine medicine and surgery internship at Comstock Equine Hospital in Reno, Nevada. From there, she practiced out of Mountain Point Equine Hospital in Bluffdale, Utah until joining the Rural Veterinary Practice service at Oregon State University. Kate believes that client connection through community engagement is as essential to global work as it is to local practice and emphasizes this message to fourth year veterinary students daily.

    Kate joined IVO as a volunteer in 2016 as part of the Taal Equine Project caring for working horses on Taal Island in the Philippines. Through her work with IVO and other non-profit partnerships, Kate seeks to improve equine welfare education and veterinary care to places with limited access to such resources. This includes continued participation with projects for working equids in the Philippines as well as in the Peten region of Guatemala. Additionally, Kate directs a project for the range and ranch horses on the Warm Springs Reservation and is working to improve veterinary education for disaster relief training and response in Oregon. Kate is forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of organizations like IVO that provide sustainable hope and healing to animals all over the world!

  • Jessica is a Registered Veterinary Technician and currently serves as the Director of Community Medicine Programs at the San Francisco SPCA.

    With more than 20 years of experience in the veterinary field, she has focused on expanding preventive care to those who need it most and advocating for equity within the veterinary profession.

    Jessica’s commitment to community extends beyond her official role. She works regularly with International Veterinary Outreach, traveling as far as Tanzania to support their mission, and contributes her skills to local mutual aid ‘care villages,’ providing unhoused communities with access to essential preventive services.

    Throughout her career, Jessica has held to a singular vision—a world where animals and people thrive together, supported by connected systems of care. She is a dedicated advocate, combining her expertise, her compassion, and her vision to build a better future for all.

Board Members

  • Irina comes to IVO with a solid background in business operations through serving Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. Her experience of 15+ years in product design and development, event management and coordination, partnerships and advisement have been essential to the formation of profitable programs, products and services on the edge of innovation.

    As an innovations consultant, Irina had the pleasure of leading and directing creative and strategic initiatives to onboard new programs seamlessly. Irina holds an MFA in Merchandising and Product Development from the Academy of Art University.

    In her free time, she loves to read, travel, attend art and music functions, and spend time with her French bulldog Peanut, a rescue, who is her inspiration for making the world a better place for animals

  • Dr. Jason Cherubini is a dynamic figure in the realms of business and academia, currently serving as an Executive-In-Residence at Loyola University Maryland and as the co-founder and CFO of Dawn's Light Media, a prominent media financing and production company known for its thriller and action feature films. With an impressive array of credentials, including a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of South Florida, Master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting from Tulane University, and certifications as a CPA, CMA, and CGMA, Jason exemplifies a blend of academic rigor and practical expertise.

    Outside of his professional endeavors, Jason cherishes time with his two Dobermans, Mischa and Vincenzo, reflecting his personal passion for life beyond the office. His unique blend of academic knowledge, entrepreneurial success, and personal charm positions him as a distinguished figure in both the business and academic worlds.

  • Cheryl is a management consulting executive and CEO with a penchant for creating amazing teams and delivering for happy clients. Cheryl leverages her expertise in Design Thinking and Innovation to deliver highly complex transformation, strategy, analytics, and culture change work, and she is celebrated for overseeing successful solutions from ideation through execution.

    Cheryl has deep experience in the pharmaceutical, animal health, and medical device industries, and has advised Fortune 500 clients in many functional areas spanning Sales & Marketing, Patient Services, Supply Chain, Digital Strategy, Technology, and much more.

    Outside of work, Cheryl resides in Warren, NJ with her husband, Mark, and three beloved rescue cats - F. Cat Fitzgerald, Archer, and Scrappy. In her free time, she enjoys boating around the Jersey Shore, hiking, traveling, and engaging with the local community.

  • Barbara Wolfe practices law in Coral Gables, Florida in the area of Bankruptcy and Real Estate. Before moving to South Florida, Barbara practiced as a Deputy Public Defender in Santa Clara County, California. Barbara was born in Nicaragua, and raised in Champaign, Illinois. 

  • Bill earned a Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Information Systems from the University of Georgia. He holds an MBA from Rollins College, and a BA in Studio Art from the College of WIlliam and Mary. He has held many leadership roles during his 30 plus year career in dotcoms, non-profits, and higher education, including Chief Information Officer, Chief Learning Officer, and Faculty President. 


    As a Chief Learning Officer, Bill led projects on learning management system (LMS) design and implementation, leadership development programs, adult learning curriculum design, and compliance training. His passions are continuous improvement and lifelong learning.


    As a management and information systems professor, and as a published author, Bill has examined topics such as the use of artificial intelligence and big data in human resources management; corporate innovation; ESG investing; and stadium naming rights agreements. 


    As a corporate learning and development consultant and a Focal Point Certified Business Coach, Bill advises and supports business owners and executives to achieve results they otherwise could not achieve on their own. His areas of expertise include leadership development, strategic planning and implementation, continuous improvement, emotional intelligence, coaching, mentoring, corporate training, and stakeholder management.


    Bill works with pro bono clients at non-profit organizations, and is a board member for the International Veterinary Organization. He works out daily, and has competed in many running events, including an ultramarathon and several marathons. He likes to travel around the world, and continues to pursue his interests in urban architecture and photography.

  • Jane Renee Lund, DVM, MS, MBA, DACVPM, DACVR (DI, EDI) hails from central Wisconsin and

    has worked in numerous places throughout the United States and world as a civilian

    veterinarian and veterinarian with the United States Army Reserves. Jane completed her DVM

    and MS in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary

    Medicine in 2007.  After a yearlong rotating equine internship at Arizona Equine Medical and

    Surgical Centre, she practiced as an equine ambulatory veterinarian in Maine and Wisconsin.  In

    2010 she joined the United States Army Reserves, which allowed her to work in One Health

    international missions and deploy to Afghanistan to work as a veterinarian in village stability

    operations.  Through the military, she became board certified in Veterinary Preventative

    Medicine, focusing on public health.  While continuing to serve in the USAR, she switched gears

    from predominantly equine work to small animal veterinary medicine.  This allowed her to

    teach and design a curriculum in a veterinary technician program and later work in small animal

    emergency medicine.  Jane went on to complete her Diagnostic Imaging residency at the

    University of Wisconsin where she stayed on as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Diagnostic

    Imaging for two years. During this time, she completed her board certification in Equine

    Diagnostic Imaging.  Currently, she is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in Diagnostic

    Imaging at the UW, where she locums frequently and she also provides telemedicine service

    through her business for small and large animals.  Jane has been a lifelong equestrian and

    enjoys spending time with family, traveling and hanging out with her plethora of dogs, cats, and

    horses.

  • With 20+ years of experience building marketing initiatives for some of the biggest brands in gaming, Patrick aims to apply his expertise to a greater good. After departing an acclaimed international video game publisher and developer, Patrick went on a once in a lifetime adventure: a dog sled trip in the Arctic Circle via Tromsø, Norway, leading a team of six incredible dogs across the frozen landscape. It was a lifelong dream, and it came at a moment he desperately needed it.

    Pat is energized when he is contributing his expertise and time to more meaningful causes. He is focused on issues of animal welfare, particularly supporting the conservation of wolves, and climate justice. He began supporting NorSled, a Bay Area rescue dedicated to finding loving homes for northern breed dogs, and together with his partner and son, Patrick rescues and fosters Huskies in need. Currently, he is the lucky housemate to two fantastic dogs, Dave, who was adopted in 2017, and Juniper (Juni), who was adopted in early 2023.

  • Rick is a dynamic global leader with over 25 years of experience developing and leading international sales teams in travel and financial services, with several early stage and mid-market companies. 

    He has served on a number for non-profit and for-profit boards in the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Sponsorship Chairperson.

    Living in an Atlanta Georgia suburb, Rick and his Wife Susan are avid animal lovers who have two kitties, Skimble and Demi, who live inside and a backyard full of squirrels, chipmunks, birds and others kitties that may be passing through for some treats.  They are also lovers of horses and now count Polo as one of their favorite sports.

    Rick is happily married for 27 years with interests that include wine collecting, traveling and cooking.  When the Atlanta weather turns warm in the Spring and through the Fall, he can be found walking the golf links and dreaming of his first Hole-in-One.

  • Jas Mowgood is an accomplished marketing strategist with almost 20 years of experience leading marketing growth initiatives across industries such as biotech, healthcare, technology, wellness and travel. 

    Passionate about leveraging her expertise to make a difference, Jas is deeply committed to community engagement and technological innovation that serves the public good. She has illustrated a field guide to Southern California and volunteered in diverse roles, including teaching technology skills to underserved populations and contributing to environmental conservation initiatives.

Professional Advisory Council

  • Sarah Johnston brings over 25 years of experience in the Accounting and Finance field, including past roles as a financial analyst at a publicly traded company and as an accounting manager and chair of the firm’s Non-Profit Practice Group at a local CPA firm. Today as an independent financial consultant, she provides accounting services, audit support, cash flow management, budgeting, financial reporting and tax compliance services to small businesses and non-profits. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Pomona College and her master’s degree in accounting from San Jose State University.

    In her free time, Sarah enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors - running, mountain biking and camping. She and her husband live with their two kids, rescue dog and cat.

  • Dr. Sean Brady brings over a decade of veterinary expertise, with notable roles as a veterinarian at the Sacramento Zoo, Head Veterinarian at the San Francisco Zoo, and a faculty member in zoological medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He currently serves at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, overseeing the Animal Blood Banks program and providing expert guidance on zoo and wildlife medicine.

    Dr. Brady holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oregon State University.

    Passionate about environmental conservation, animal care, and the One Health approach, Dr. Brady is committed to integrating new technology, fostering veterinary collaboration, and solving problems through multidisciplinary efforts. He is excited to partner with IVO experts and project stakeholders to help improve the health and well-being of animals and people.

    In his free time, Sean enjoys traveling, competitive sports, water activities, and spending quality time with his family. He lives in West Sacramento with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.