Our Advisory Team
The purpose of ANSAT is to form a collaborative group of multidisciplinary experts who will work alongside Animal Necessity to establish a unique knowledge sharing platform for veterinary communities across the world.
One of the key components of the program is to identify and bring together fellow professionals with diverse knowledge and experience. In this way, we hope to create a nexus of experts, including practicing DVM's, specialists, scientists, managers and researchers who will help to identify and apply best solutions and practices to the Animal Health Care Industry.
Taking their expertise, we will position their thinking, best practices and protocols to non-referring animal owners who visit the web property.
Dr. Carmen Colitz
For Dr. Carmen Colitz, every day is a blessing and an opportunity to use her veterinary skills to improve the lives of animals.
Her passion for helping animals exudes not only from her work as one of the world's leading veterinary ophthalmologists, but also at her home that she shares with eight pets: three dogs and five cats, some named after football players.
Dr. Johanna Mejia-Fava
Co-Founder, Chief Medical Veterinarian, and Master Formulator, Animal Necessity LLC®
The Irma Dolphin Veterinary Consultant, Secretary on the Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder BOD, Dolphin DVM (The Dolphin Vet), Marine and Zoo Holistic Consultant.
Johanna Mejia-Fava, PhD, DVM, is a graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her PhD in marine mammal ophthalmology, testing intraocular pressures in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) to establish a normal reference range. She spent a year working at the Miami Seaquarium and then was accepted to an aquatic internship at Cayman Turtle Centre.
She then completed a residency in zoo and aquatic medicine at the University of Georgia and Georgia Aquarium. She currently works with Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder (DPMMR) as a marine mammal nutritional and holistic medicine advisor, Veterinary consultant, Research Associate, Development Consultant, and Secretary on the DPMMR BOD. Her research interests include ophthalmology, nutrition, supplementation, and discovering ways to better support geriatric animals naturally.
"Dr. Jo" (as we call her) is the first doctor to research and publish the use of CBD in marine mammals for ocular discomfort and immune support. She is the co-founder of Animal Necessity LLC®, where she devotes her time to researching the benefits of supplements in domestic, zoo, and aquatic animals. Dr. Jo is always trying to find the best holistic, diagnostic, and treatment protocols to provide preventive medical management for animals.
Her love for poodles is indescribable having two of her own, KeyKey (toy) and Jilly (standard). Her favorite job is being a mom to two beautiful children, Joey and Jovanna, and she can’t say enough of her partner, co-founder, and best friend, Joe Fava.