Wendy E. Vaala, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, is a senior equine technical services veterinarian at Merck Animal Health and specializes in internal medicine and equine neonatology and perinatology. Prior to joining Merck Animal Health in 2004, Vaala was an assistant professor in large animal medicine at New Bolton Center, where she helped develop the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and high-risk pregnancy program. After leaving academia, Vaala served on the staff of Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center and BW Furlong and Associates in New Jersey, where she started NICUs, foaling programs for mares with high-risk pregnancies, and medicine referral services at both practices. She is board certified in large animal internal medicine and an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She has been an invited lecturer at seminars and symposiums for horse owners and veterinarians in North and South America, Australia, and Europe. She also has authored articles for veterinary journals and is an assistant editor for the textbook Equine Reproduction.