2023 Annual Fall Conference

Dr. Kirk Muñoz is an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, where his duties include

performing anesthesia in the small and large animal hospitals, carrying out research projects, and teaching veterinary students in the pre and clinical aspects of the curriculum. He completed his residency in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia at Michigan State University, and continued his career there as a faculty member for 6 years. Dr. Munoz’ main areas of interest are critical care anesthesia, and anesthesia of the aging animal. He is also certified in integrative medicine in both small and large animals.

Kirk Muñoz, DVM (Hons), MRCVS, MSc, PgCert BA, DACVAA, cVMA 

Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia 

Fear Free Certified Professional 

Assistant Professor 

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine 

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio

munoz.215@osu.edu

Marie Hopfensperger, DVM, MBA, DACVB, RYT-200

Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Hopfensperger is one of three clinical board-certified veterinary behaviorists in the state of

Michigan. Dr. Hopfensperger did her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and

veterinary school at Michigan State University. During COVID, she became a registered yoga

teacher, and just last month, received her MBA from Central Michigan University. Dr.

Hopfensperger’s areas of clinical expertise include sedation of fearful and fractious companion

animals, behavioral pharmacology, canine and feline aggression, and feline inappropriate

elimination. Her current research is related to assessment of behavioral health and welfare of

shelter dogs, as well as pharmacologic interventions to support their welfare while in the

shelter. Dr. Hopfensperger was the first veterinarian ever to be selected as Robert Wood

Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellow. Her focus during this fellowship was on developing a One

Welfare model of animal-assisted therapy, such that programming is beneficial for both human

and animal participants. Dr. Hopfensperger is a passionate advocate for veterinary professional

and student wellbeing and was humbled to have been named MSU’s Zoetis Distinguished

Veterinary Teacher of the Year in 2021. Dr. Hopfensperger shares her home with 6 cats, 2 dogs,

1 rabbit, 14-year-old wheelchair dependent son, and a very, very supportive partner!

Dr. Cece is a graduate of Michigan State University. She started her career as an equine veterinarian but after 3 years transitioned to small animal medicine by obtaining a position at Michigan Humane. For 28 years, she supervised the Detroit outpatient clinic and in 2012 became the Director of Shelter Medicine developing the shelter medicine program . In 2021 she was awarded the Shelter Veterinarian of the Year by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.
Dr. Cece currently is the Director of Forensics and divides her time between assisting the cruelty
department with their investigations of abuse, providing community outreach to clients that have financial and transportation hardships, working as a shelter vet and assisting with the animals at Michigan Humane’s farm.
Dr. Cece is a member of the Association of Shelter Vets, International Veterinary Forensics Science Association, Michigan Rabies Working Group, and the educational committees for MVMA and the OVMA.