- Fear Free appointed Dr. Natalie Marks and Dr. Kerri Marshall to its board of directors.
- The appointments support the organization’s continued growth and expansion across veterinary medicine.
- Dr. Marks brings clinical experience, industry leadership, and her role as CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network.
- Dr. Marshall previously held leadership roles at Banfield Pet Hospital and Trupanion.
- Fear Free focuses on improving animal emotional wellbeing through education, certification, and training for veterinary professionals.
Fear Free has appointed veterinary leaders Dr. Natalie Marks and Dr. Kerri Marshall to its board of directors as the organization continues expanding its influence across veterinary medicine and companion animal care.
Fear Free provides education, certification programs, and tools designed to help veterinary professionals reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals during care and handling.
Doug Korn, chief executive officer of Fear Free, said the additions strengthen the organization’s leadership as it continues growing its global network of veterinary professionals.
“As Fear Free continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact across the veterinary profession, having leaders like Dr. Marks and Dr. Marshall on our board is a tremendous asset,” Korn said.
Natalie Marks joins board with clinical and entrepreneurial perspective
Dr. Marks brings a combination of clinical experience, education leadership, and industry engagement to the board.
A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and a Certified Veterinary Journalist, Marks has worked as a practicing veterinarian while also educating other veterinary professionals.
Her involvement with Fear Free dates back to the organization’s early development. Marks previously served on the Fear Free Executive Council, earned Elite Fear Free Certified Professional status, and helped lead her practice to become the seventh Fear Free Certified Hospital in the United States and the first in Illinois.
Marks also serves as chief executive officer of the Veterinary Angel Network and advises several early-stage veterinary companies.
“In my career, there have been two breakthroughs that have completely changed how I practice while improving the quality of life of my patients and their caregivers,” Marks said. “One was the development of new treatments for allergic itch, and the other was the Fear Free movement recognizing that veterinary teams must address both the physical and emotional health of patients.”
Kerri Marshall brings industry leadership and innovation experience
Dr. Marshall joins the board with extensive leadership experience across the veterinary and pet care industries.
A graduate of Washington State University’s veterinary program, Marshall also holds an executive MBA from Oregon State University.
During her career, she has held executive leadership roles at Banfield Pet Hospital and Trupanion, where she helped lead technology initiatives and develop new models of care delivery.
At Trupanion, Marshall helped create Trupanion Express, a real-time direct payment system designed to allow veterinary hospitals to receive insurance payments instantly.
Her work has focused on improving access to veterinary care and addressing financial barriers that can limit treatment options.
“Fear Free has fundamentally changed the way veterinary professionals approach patient care, going beyond treating illness to transforming the entire healthcare experience for pets and their families,” Marshall said.
Founded in 2016, Fear Free focuses on improving the emotional wellbeing of animals by educating veterinary professionals, pet care providers, and animal caregivers. The organization offers certification programs, continuing education, and training resources designed to help veterinary teams reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals during care.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
