A proactive, integrative and wellness veterinarian.

Dr. Becker’s goal with every patient is to identify and remove lifestyle obstacles before disease occurs. It is this approach that sets her apart from other DVMs. Traditional veterinarians practice reactive medicine, waiting until disease is present, then treating the symptoms with drugs. Dr. Becker’s proactive approach takes into account genetics, nutrition, prior illness, environmental stressors and your pet’s unique disease patterns to help identify and reduce health risks and in turn, disease potential.

By monitoring your pet’s organ systems, immune status, musculoskeletal health, dynamic nutritional requirements and detoxification mechanisms, Dr. Becker’s proactive approach can reduce overall disease potential and identify subtle changes in your pet’s overall wellbeing, sooner rather than later.

Dr. Becker believes there is no one ‘perfect’ way for the body to heal. The art of medicine lies in a practitioner’s ability to identify what form of remedy unlocks the body’s healing potential. Integrative veterinary medicine is a comprehensive approach to your pet’s health care, combining holistic and conventional diagnostics and therapies.

Wellness veterinary medicine is the intentional creation of health through wise lifestyle choices. By unlocking an animal’s potential for vibrant health, your pet will thrive, not just survive. Wellness veterinary medicine promotes a higher state of health, reduced disease potential, above average quality of life, and above average longevity. A novel concept in veterinary medicine? Yes, but not to Dr. Becker. She strives to empower pet guardians to become knowledgeable wellness advocates for the animals in their lives. She believes it is the veterinarian's role to partner with pet owners to intentionally create wellness and abundant health through wise lifestyle choices.
 

Dr. Melissa Shelton earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 1999. During veterinary school, her special interest in the avian species led her to seek advanced training in avian medicine and surgery with some of the top names in avian medicine. Melissa also helped to create and participated in the first Directed Study in Avian Orthopedics at the Gabbert Raptor Center. Dr. Shelton has shared her life and home with over 50 rescued, injured, or ill companion birds throughout her veterinary career and they remain a passion for her today.

Dr. Shelton has always considered herself a holistic veterinarian, with a passion for natural healing and health of the body. As Dr. Shelton’s holistic veterinary techniques have evolved and expanded over the years, her avian patients also gleamed the benefits. After being introduced to aromatherapy for her human family, Dr. Shelton encountered many people who were using essential oils for animals with amazing results. Although a controversial subject in the veterinary field, Dr. Shelton began to use essential oils in patients who seemed to have “no hope”. A Macaw parrot near euthanasia, spurred her already growing passion of medical aromatherapy into the avian world – with near miraculous results.

Dr. Shelton is now internationally recognized for her work in the use of medical grade essential oils in all species of animals. This modality, combined with other holistic techniques has helped many cases for which traditional medicine has no answer. Dr. Shelton is dedicated to advancing and documenting the use of truly medical grade essential oils in animals and debunking common myths of their use. She is an author, researcher, and teacher on the use of Essential Oils in animals.
 

Barbara Heidenreich has been a professional in the field of animal training since 1990.

She owns and operates a company, Good Bird, Inc., (www.GoodBirdInc.com) that provides behavior and training products to the companion parrot community. These products include Good Bird Magazine, books, videos, and training/behavior workshops. She is the author of "Good Bird! A Guide to Solving Behavior Problems in Companion Parrots" by Avian Publications and also "The Parrot Problem Solver. Finding Solutions to Aggressive Behavior" by TFH Publications. She is also the producer of the Good Bird Parrot Behavior and Training DVD series. She is the past president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (www.IAATE.org).

Barbara's experience also includes consulting on animal training in zoos and other animal related facilities. She has been a part of the development and production of more than 15 different free flight education programs. Barbara continues to provide consulting services to zoos, nature centers and other animal facilities through her other company Animal Training and Consulting Services (www.ATandCS.com).
 

Robin Shewokis is the owner of The Leather Elves, a company that designs and manufactures enrichment devices for animals in captivity. Since 2000 Robin has consulted at zoos in the U.S., Canada and Holland and has distributed enrichment products worldwide.

Robin regularly speaks at parrot clubs, providing workshops teaching ways to create a stimulating environment. She also develops new products for parrots that will stimulate naturalistic behavior. Robin has published articles on enrichment in national and international publications. She has also produced a DVD titled "Enriching Your Parrot's Life."

Robin is a member of The American Association of Zookeepers where she advises the behavioral husbandry committee. She currently serves on the board of The International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators and chairs their enrichment committee.
 

Jason Crean is a biology instructor at the high school and university level. He is also a curriculum designer and instructor in the Education Department at Brookfield Zoo. Crean has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching by President Obama in 2009, the 2010 High School Science Teacher of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as awards from the National Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Illinois Science Teachers Association, among others. He has authored several curricula, including the award-winning “Zoo Genetics” curriculum which is available free of charge at (www.xy-zoo.com). He also is an avid aviculturist, specializing in the propagation of green aracaris and white-backed mousebirds, President of The Avicultural Society of Chicagoland, and moderates the Holistic Avian Care group on (Facebook.com). Crean often speaks to avicultural groups across the country and acts as consultants to zoos and other institutions.
 

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Some comments from past MIDWEST BIRD EXPO attendees:   "I would venture to guess you might still be fast asleep following yesterday's spectacular expo! I just wanted to tell you how much fun we had, both helping and enjoying so much of what the event had to offer. I thought I might regret not participating in the programs, and I did in some ways, but being our first time at such a huge local event, we felt more connected by helping and "Shopping"!!! :o) Next year we will plan to enjoy more that TASC has to offer since I know each part sounded so beneficial, interesting and fun. Meeting many of the members through participating made both of us feel like we belonged. Each person was just as nice as the next. We were amazed at all the work that was taking place all day long, not to mention the realization of what must have had to go into the entire process. Many of the vendors commented on how well publicized and organized things were and I'm sure they were extremely pleased by the number of people attending and the resulting sales they surely had. Jason, you and your team did an awesome job. Jeff and I look forward to being involved and having many more opportunities to share in the fun of "birds" with people who appreciate them as much, if not more, than we do!" Joyce and Jeff Ernst     "WOW-WHAT A GREAT EVENT! I WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE VENDORS I FORGOT TO ATTEND ANY OF THE WORKSHOPS." THANK YOU," DEBORAH HOOVER     "Great Job! I imagine none of you will be rested for a week or so. The seminars were great. I was so pleased to meet Dr. Pepperberg (hope I got that right). Would have loved the meet and great, but we were pretty tired. Stayed the whole day, surprise to me! Boy, did I spend money - Ha!" Vernadene     "I just want to say THANKS to all the TASC members that helped put together a great bird fair. My wife and I had a great time and it was my best fair yet! The space provided was awesome and folks felt free to wander around and get up close and really take a good look at what we had to offer. This show was a huge success by my standards! I even came home with a new feathered friend that I am just in love with!  Keep up the great work! I can't wait until next year! Now if I could only convince you to do this twice a year... Thanks Again, John BirdontheRocks.com"     "It really was a great Expo.  Boy, did I buy toys, etc." Member, Vernadene Tolman