ABVT Executive Committee, 2026-2028

President

Jay Albretsen, DVM, PhD, is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at Charles River Laboratories and has more than 22 years of experience in safety assessment. Before joining Charles River Laboratories – Reno in 2022, Dr. Albretsen gained experience in the field of preclinical safety assessment at Charles River Laboratories – Mattawan, and Covance Laboratories in Madison WI and Chandler AZ. He has also served as a veterinary poison information specialist with the ASPCA in Urbana, IL, and as a practicing veterinarian at Utah State University in Logan, UT, and in Anderson, IN. Dr. Albretsen obtained his DVM in 1988 from Purdue University and his PhD in toxicology in 1996 from Utah State University. He is a board-certified diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and served as the ABVT Candidate Coordinator for more than 10 years. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Society of Toxicology, the Mountain West and Michigan Regional Chapters of the Society of Toxicology, and the American Veterinary Medical Association.  

President-Elect

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, is the Director, Veterinary Medicine and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline. Dr. Schmid is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Toxicology (ABT) and American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. She is also an adjunct professor at Kansas State University. Dr. Schmid has served the ABVT organization as an Examining Committee member, Chair of the Examining Committee, and most recently as President-Elect.

Secretary

Megan Romano, DVM, DABVT, graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine with strong interests in equine surgery and shelter medicine and surgery. She moved to Kentucky for an internship in a world-class equine hospital. Since then, she has worked in equine and mixed-animal practices before deciding to pursue a residency in veterinary toxicology at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL). She passed her toxicology board examination in 2019 to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicologists, and accepted a faculty position at UKVDL in March 2020. Dr. Romano is especially interested in equine toxicology and toxic plants.

Treasurer

Scott Radke, DVM, MS, DABVT, grew up on a family owned and operated farrow to finish hog operation and crop production farm in northwest Iowa. He attended Buena Vista University and received a bachelor’s degree in biology. Scott continued his education at Iowa State University and received his DVM degree in 2016. His interest in production animal medicine and veterinary diagnostics led him to pursue a toxicology residency at Iowa State University following completion of his DVM degree. He currently works as a Clinical Associate Professor at the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In his spare time, Scott enjoys hunting, fishing, working on the family farm, and spending time with his family and friends. Dr. Radke was elected Treasurer of ABVT in 2024.