Chair
Dr Hilary Clayton (1997-present), BVMS, PhD, MRCVS 

McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine (see The Chair)


Lab Manager
LeeAnn Kaiser LeeAnn Kaiser (2005-present), LeeAnn earned her bachelors in Exercise Science from Grand Valley State University and her masters in Sports Biomechanics from the University of Delaware. She is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the McPhail Laboratory and equipment.  She organizes clinics and events for the McPhail Center and supports the staff and students in designing, implementing, analyzing and reporting on research in equine biomechanics.  In 2006, LeeAnn organized the Havemeyer Workshop on Motion Capture and 3D Analysis of Equine Locomotion in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Professorial Assistants
LeeAnn Kaiser Tyler Carver (2006-present), Tyler is a freshman majoring in Animal Science with the intention of attending veterinary medicine school.  She is a member of the MSU Pre-Veterinary Medical Association and the CVM sponsor a dog program.  She is assisting with data collections and analyzing kinematic data.
LeeAnn Kaiser Britt Larson (2006-present), Britt is a freshman majoring in Zoology with the intention of attending veterinary medicine school.  She is a member of the MSU Pre-Veterinary Medical Association and Undergraduate Bioethics Society.  She is studying the inertial properties of the horse’s head and neck during movement and its affects on rein tension. 

Research Students
LeeAnn Kaiser Sarah Gray (2005-present), Sarah is a senior majoring in Animal Science with the intention of attending veterinary medicine school. She competes on the MSU Equestrian Team and is a member of the MSU Pre-Veterinary Medical Association. Sarah is studying the hoof morphology associated with the Physiological Trim.
Brianna Groubert Brianna Groubert (2006-present), Bri is a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with a pre-veterinary focus.  Her work in the McPhail Center has given her the opportunity to work with the equine population.  She is helping with the collection and analysis of kinematic data that are being used to evaluate the effects of the physiological hoof trim.
LeeAnn Kaiser Erin Tans (2005-present), Erin is a sophomore majoring in Lyman Briggs Animal Science with a pre-veterinary focus.  She is the founding president of the MSU Dressage Club and is a member of the MSU Pre-veterinary Medical Association.  Her duties in the McPhail Center include assisting with data collections and analyzing kinematic data.
LeeAnn Kaiser Audrey Seling (2006-present), Ms. Seling is a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with the intention of attending veterinary medicine school.  She is the educational chair of the MSU Dressage Club.  She is helping with data collections and analyzing kinematic data.  By working at the McPhail Center, Ms. Seling is gaining valuable experience in research.      
LeeAnn Kaiser Farees Syed (2005-present), Farees is a senior majoring in Animal Science with the intention of attending veterinary medical school. He is helping with the collection and analysis of kinematic data that are being used to evaluate the effects of the physiological hoof trim.       

 

Lameness Clinician
LeeAnn Kaiser

Dr. Rob van Wessum (2005-present), - Dr. van Wessum was appointed as the Sport Horse Lameness Clinician at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in April, 2005. A native of the Netherlands, Dr. van Wessum received his veterinary degree from Utrecht University in 1991. He spent his next 5 years as an equine practitioner in a private practice in Weesp. In 1996, Dr. van Wessum began his own equine lameness clinic specializing in in-depth diagnostics for lameness, sports medicine, and pre-purchase examinations. In 1996, he was also appointed to the Department of Equine Internal Medicine at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht where he performed research in sports medicine and electromyography.

From 1991 to 2003, Dr. van Wessum served as the veterinarian for the Canine and Mounted Division for the Police Department of Amsterdam. In 2003, he was appointed as the first director of the Animal Science Center of the Dutch National Police Agency, at the mounted and tracker dog division. Some of Dr. van Wessum's responsibilities included animal forensic cases, the management of all horses and dogs for the Dutch police and all animal related cases in the State Funerals as well as the Royal Wedding of Prince William-Alexander and Princess Maxima.

Dr. van Wessum was a member of the veterinary committee of the CDI's/CSI's Jumping Amsterdam and Indoor Brabant from 1991 to 2004 and served as treating veterinarian on 4 World Cup Finals (2 jumping and 2 dressage).

Dr. van Wessum, an accomplished trainer and rider, has competed in the FEI classes in the Netherlands, Prix St. George and Intermediare I. He is a Royal Dutch Horse Federation certified instructor and trainer and National Judge for all classes up to Intermediare I and Freestyle to Music.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. van Wessum please contact the Large Animal Veterinary Hospital at Michigan State University (517) 353-9170.


Veterinary Technician
LeeAnn Kaiser Susan M. Rosser BS, LVT, Ms. Rosser worked in private practice from 1973 through 1983. In 1984, after earning her Animal Science degree, she became employed at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Her nursing experience has included Small Animal ICU, Equine Surgery, Sports Medicine and Theriogenology. In 2001, Susan prepared and managed technical duties for the McPhail Equine Performance Center’s visiting veterinarian, Dr. Marta Prades. Currently, her position involves assisting in the diagnostic work-ups of Dr. van Wessum’s patients. Her duties include record keeping, assisting in radiography, electromyography, patient fitness evaluations, and public relations.
 
Past Staff