Movement matters to dogs. It helps them work, compete, play, serve, explore, and enjoy daily life with the people who love them.
Canine sports medicine focuses on preventing injuries, optimizing performance, and keeping active dogs healthy, while canine rehabilitation restores strength, mobility, and comfort after injury, surgery, or illness. Together, these complementary fields help dogs of all ages and activity levels, from elite canine athletes to beloved family companions, stay active, recover successfully, and enjoy the best possible quality of life.
In 2025, the AKC Canine Health Foundation launched a first-of-its-kind investment in this growing specialty in veterinary medicine. Established in partnership with the American Kennel Club, the Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program supports advanced training for veterinarians preparing to become specialists in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation.
The First Residents Are Already Moving the Field Forward
The first CHF-funded residents, Dr. Tesa Stone and Dr. Alexis Heffernan, began their residencies in 2025 at two leading institutions: Penn Vet Working Dog Center and the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
At Penn Vet Working Dog Center, Dr. Stone is mentored by Dr. Cynthia Otto, Executive Director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. Dr. Otto described the importance of this support with deep emotion.
“It almost brings tears to my eyes, because without your support, we couldn’t do it,” Dr. Otto said. “It’s a new specialty, especially in the canine world, and we’re going to keep dogs moving longer and better.”
Dr. Stone’s path to the program grew from a lifelong connection to veterinary medicine and a strong interest in working dogs. She raised guide dog puppies for The Seeing Eye® and interned at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, experiences that brought together training, medicine, research, and canine performance.
“The first year of my residency has been extremely rewarding,” Dr. Stone told CHF. She has managed sports medicine cases, participated in educational opportunities, supported veterinary education, and begun two research papers focused on working dog medicine and rehabilitation.
At Colorado State, Dr. Heffernan brings a background that combines athletic experience and scientific training. A former varsity soccer player with a master’s degree in microbiology and immunology, she has spent her first year refining orthopedic examination and palpation skills while caring for a wide range of orthopedic and sports medicine cases.
“I’ve truly loved being a part of this specialty over the past year,” Dr. Heffernan told CHF. “One of the most rewarding aspects of the residency has been refining my orthopedic examination and palpation skills while working closely with clients and their pets.”
Welcoming the Next Resident
CHF is also proud to welcome Dr. Gabriela Medrano, who will begin her residency at Cornell University. Dr. Medrano earned her veterinary degree from St. George’s University, completed her clinical year at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and earned certification in veterinary acupuncture through Chi University.
“Support from the AKC Canine Health Foundation helps expand advanced training opportunities in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, an area that plays an important role in improving mobility, performance, and quality of life for dogs,” Dr. Medrano said.
She is especially drawn to the combination of orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation, pain management, and alternative therapies involved in these cases. For her, the work is about helping patients regain mobility, comfort, and function.
CHF’s investment in sports medicine and rehabilitation is a direct investment in dogs in motion. With donor support, CHF is helping train the specialists who will advance care for canine athletes, working dogs, service dogs, and active companions.
Support the future of canine sports medicine at akcchf.org/DogsInMotion.
