Meet the VetPharm Team

Denni O. Day
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder

Denni has more than 25 years of health care experience spanning the fields of clinical nursing, hospital and long-term care administration, management consulting, information systems design and implementation, teaching, and research. She received an undergraduate degree in biology from American University, a nursing degree from Alfred University, and a master of science degree in public health from the University of North Carolina.

Before starting VetPharm, Denni was the chief financial officer of the Clinical Research Institute at the University of Rochester. She also created and directed the Community Research Network, an academic consortium that grew to include more 1,400 private-practice physicians who participated in industry-sponsored clinical trials. Prior to that, Denni served on the faculty of the University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and also was the associate director for administration and finance of the Clinical Trials Coordination Center. In that role, Denni managed two international research consortia, enrolling more than 350 investigators and coordinators, and oversaw over 40 clinical trials, 125 research accounts, and 65 faculty and staff.

Denni is the author of numerous professional publications. She also is a member of the Animal Health Institute, the Society of Clinical Research Associates, the Drug Information Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Hospital Association, the Association for Worksite Health Promotion, the American Medical Records Association, the Hospital Information Management and Systems Society, and Sigma Theta Tau (international nursing honor society).

Denni raised Springer spaniels for 25 years before rescuing an Airedale terrier named Julie.  After losing Julie to hemangiosarcoma, she rescued Ida Mae, a "blue" standard poodle.
 

Patrick B. Niland
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Co-Founder

Pat holds both a BSE in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Finance (with distinction) from the University of Michigan.

Prior to joining VetPharm, Pat founded and operated First Funding of New York, LLC, a commercial mortgage firm that originated almost one billion dollars in new financing. Before that, he was a project manager for several real estate organizations, overseeing diversified portfolios of commercial property. Earlier in his career, Pat was a budget analyst at W. R. Grace & Company and a financial analyst in the Treasurers Department of Exxon Corporation, where he also was a member of the team that financed the last section of the TransAlaska Pipeline.

Between his undergraduate and graduate programs, Pat served almost three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bogota, Colombia.  He grew up with a small zoo of animals and later rescued a Doberman, Rosie, and an Airedale, Archie.  He now enjoys caring for his latest rescue, an Airedale named Bowser.

Michael S. Spensley, DVM
Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Spensley's career in animal health spans more than 35 years and includes private clinical practice, academia, and corporate research and development. He came to VetPharm from Abbott Laboratories' Animal Health Division, where he was Senior Manager, Clinical Research and Development and directed non-clinical and clinical trials.

Prior to joining Abbott, Dr. Spensley held a variety of senior pharmaceutical research and leadership positions at Pfizer Animal Health, where he contributed to the development and registration, in the United States, Asia, and Latin America, of a variety of pharmaceutical and biological products for use in companion animals and livestock. Previously, Dr. Spensley participated in new animal product development at Beecham Laboratories, SmithKline Beecham Animal Health, and Solvay Animal Health.

Dr. Spensley began his career as an associate equine practitioner in Charles Town, West Virginia and owned and operated a mixed-animal practice in Manchester, Michigan. After seven years of practice experience, he completed a residency in equine reproduction at the University of California, Davis, and was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine at Davis.

Dr. Spensley and his wife, Nancy, have raised three daughters (Allison, Courtney, and Chelsea) and currently reside with three cats (Calvin, Emma, and Mary), a chocolate Labrador retriever (Gordie), and a Welsh Corgi (Amo).
 

Sara J. Phillips
Managing Director – Clinical Operations

Sara directs all of VetPharm’s clinical operations and assures that we deliver “Better Data, Quicker” to each and every client. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from The State University of New York at Brockport and her Six Sigma certification from Villanova University.

Sara is an accomplished business leader with strong team development skills focused on successful project execution. She has special interests in quality control, process improvement, and performance optimization. Prior to joining VetPharm, she progressed through a series of management positions with increasing responsibilities at Choice One Communications.

Sara, her husband, and three daughters enjoy playing with their 11-year-old Maltese, Parker.
 

Jennifer L. Carter, PMP
Project Leader

Jennifer directs the day-to-day activities of investigators and field monitors in VetPharm-managed clinical trials. She brings a wealth of project management experience to her role. Prior to joining VetPharm, Jennifer was Special Projects Manager at Sutherland Global Services, Inc., where she coordinated the integration of a major acquisition and led the development and initiation of three international call centers. Earlier in her career, she was a Client Services Manager with a $40 million account base. Jennifer has a degree in business administration from Elmira College. She also is a Member of the Project Management Institute.

Jennifer is an avid animal rights supporter and a proud member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. Jennifer and her husband share their home with Shea, their one-year-old Shepherd mix, and Putty, their 10-year-old Tuxedo cat.
 

Lynn N. Kachurak
Project Leader

AnnMarie Loveland
Data Manager

Pamela B. Ebersold
Finance Administrator and Office Manager

Pam has over 25 years experience in office management and bookkeeping, working with QuickBooks accounting software since its introduction as Version 1.0. She also has a strong background in customer service, a skill she learned growing up in the family grocery store business.

Pam has been a local church organist for 45+ years, which could explain why her 6-year old Cocker Spaniel’s name is Melody. She also has a 15-year old cat named Joe and several fish. She enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren and keeps busy with projects around the house that has been in the family for four generations.