Faculty
Ariana Hinckley-Boltax, D.V.M., PGDipVetEd
Assistant Professor, Clinical Skills & Communication I and Clinical Skills II Course Director
she/her/hers
I grew up in the Long Island suburbs, which is where I developed my opinions about bagels and pizza. Although I identify with wanting to be a vet ever since I was little, I questioned my career direction in college when I fell in love with science education and research. From developing exhibits at science museums, to designing a research class with a liberal-arts spin, I’ve been passionate about finding innovative ways to help people learn and grow for years. The summer after my sophomore year, I decided to do some intensive veterinary work to prove to myself that I was going to change directions (including participating in AVM at Tufts!). You can see how that turned out. I decided to combine my loves of teaching, research, and veterinary medicine. After graduating from Cornell’s vet school, I stayed there to complete a postdoc in Veterinary Education and then joined the faculty as an Instructor. I joined the Tufts community in February of 2021. I am also two years into a three-year Masters in Veterinary Education. My projects are numerous, but they are unified by the goal to acquire and train more competent, confident, and mentally well veterinarians.
Outside of work, I love to snuggle with my cat, Beaker, challenge myself to replicate dishes from restaurants, play video games, and go rock climbing. My current obsession is to be somewhat decent at chess – let me know if you ever want to play a game with me! Ask me about the latest in science education, music by Sammy Rae & The Friends, board games, video games, Schitt’s Creek, Letterkenny/Shoresy, Ted Lasso, TikTok memes, or the NPR Sunday Puzzle. Come visit my office in the Large Animal Hospital Pathology Suite, first door on the right (1906A), to chat, to get a hug from one of my giant plush microbes, to attempt my nerd puzzles, or to admire my assortment of things in jars or posters from the video game Portal 2.
Department: Comparative Pathobiology
Office: Pathology Suite, Rm. 1906A, HLA Building
Phone: (508) 887-4663
Email: ariana.boltax@tufts.edu
W. Michael Karlin, D.V.M., DACVS-LA, DACVS-SA
Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Simulation Program
Bio coming soon.
Department: Clinical Sciences
Office: FHSA Building
Phone: (508) 887-4675
Email: mike.karlin@tufts.edu
Staff
Shannon Conley, FFCP (Veterinary)
Small Animal Teaching Technician
she/her/hers
Bio coming soon.
Department: Office of Professional Education
Office: Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory, Rm. 0004, HLA Building
Phone: (508)-887-4255
Email: shannon.conley@tufts.edu
Jill Franko, B.S., CVT, FFCP (Veterinary, Equine)
Simulation Laboratory Manager (Large Animal Clinical Skills Laboratory)
she/her/hers
I began my career as a veterinary technician in 1995 at the VA/MD College of Veterinary Medicine and started working at Tufts’ Hospital for Large Animals in 2002. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to contribute to the education of hundreds of students over the years, and I’m looking forward to continuing that aspect of my career as the new Large Animal Simulation Lab Manager.
Outside of the workplace, I enjoy spending time with my family in Mendon MA, and Virginia. I grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, and attended Va Tech to receive a degree in Animal Science. I didn’t move to Massachusetts until 1999, but I love it here and have made it my home. I’m someone who has always enjoyed working with animals, which is why I’ve made a career out of helping animals in need, and teaching others how to do the same. For pets, I have a lovely Jack Russell Terrier named Roman Jerome, and a small family of chickens…oh…and some fish too. My hobbies include anything involving water and snow… and one of my newer passions is playing the cello : D…
My career goal moving forward is to provide the tools and support that is necessary for students to be successful and confident when entering their clinical year of vet school. I’ll strive to create the environment needed to make a positive impact on the education and success of our future veterinary professionals.
Department: Office of Professional Education
Office: Peabody Pavillion
Phone: (508) 887-4349
Email: jill.franko@tufts.edu
Joe Popowski, B.B.A., A.S.
Clinical Sciences Senior Teaching Technician
Bio coming soon.
Department: Clinical Sciences
Phone: (508) 887-4533
Email: joseph.popowski@tufts.edu
Mike Santasieri, B.S., CVT, LVT, FFCP (Veterinary)
Simulation Laboratory Manager (Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory)
he/him/his
I’m born and raised in Massachusetts, growing up in Lunenburg, moving to Worcester for several years, and now residing in Grafton. I wasn’t always planning a career in veterinary medicine, but in high school, got “my” first dog and enrolled in a puppy class at a local training school. I became the student who never left, and became an apprentice instructor, assisting with, and eventually teaching, classes for puppies, advanced obedience, Rally-O, agility, and for reactive dogs.
Looking for cash to buy my first car, I got a job at a veterinary clinic as a kennel attendant. The veterinarians and technicians there, especially the practice owner, took me under their wings when they saw my fascination with veterinary medicine, something completely new to me at the time. I quickly made the decision that I wanted to make it a career. I progressed quickly to an uncredentialed technician position, which sealed the deal for me. I thought my career would be focused on behavioral medicine, but once I got some emergency exposure in college, I was hooked.
I received an A.S. in Veterinary Technology and a B.S. in Veterinary Science from Becker College in Worcester/Leicester, MA. This is also where I met the love of my life, Ashley (now an Oncology Technician, here at Tufts!). Throughout high school and college, I worked in general practice. I continued to work per-diem in general practices until the end of 2017. In 2013, I started working at an Emergency and Critical Care practice and knew I’d found my niche. I moved to Tufts in 2015 as an ECC technician, and later, a Dialysis/ECC technician, until the end of 2020.
I’ve always had a passion for teaching, but in November 2020, I got my first opportunity to move towards teaching as a career path when I moved to a newly-created Hospital Technician Development Coordinator position in our small and large animal hospitals. A little over two years later, I completed my transition to an academic role, and became the first Simulation Laboratory Manager of the Joseph Kelley, DVM Simulation Laboratory. I absolutely love my job and that I get the privilege of helping students achieve their goals and become competent and compassionate clinicians.
My biggest clinical interests are CPR (I’m a Certified RECOVER Instructor), trauma, working dog and sled dog medicine, renal replacement therapies, therapeutic apheresis, and pre-hospital care. My professional interests include educational model/simulator design and fabrication, psychological safety during medical simulation, simulation to teach clinical reasoning and resilience to uncertainty, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship, patient harm reduction, and the human-animal bond.
When I’m not working, I’m an avid hiker with a penchant for bourbon and craft beer, and an amateur woodworker. I volunteer for Not One More Vet as a Lifeboat companion (a free, anonymous, and asynchronous peer-support platform for veterinary professionals), as a Nero’s Law trainer (training EMS providers in MA how to treat police K9’s injured in the line of duty), and on the veterinary team for the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races. Besides Ashley, I live with the world’s best rescue dog, Gingersnap, our cantankerous geriatric rescue turtle, Ethel, and our two goofy chickens, Kassandra, and Darlene.
Department: Office of Professional Education
Office: Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory, Rm. 002D, HLA Building
Phone: (508) 887-4937
Email: michael.santasieri@tufts.edu
Allison Sedlock
Large Animal Teaching Technician
Bio coming soon.
Department: Office of Professional Education
Office: Rm. 0004B, HLA Building
Phone: (508) 887-4204
Email: allison.sedlock@tufts.edu
Student Employees
Lia Kelly, B.S., V28
Simulation Laboratory Assistant (Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory)
I grew up in eastern Massachusetts and earned my B.S. in Biology/Biotechnology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where I discovered my passion for contributing to medical advancements through research. My other veterinary interests include exotic companion animals and laboratory animal medicine, but I’m exploring all my opportunities at Tufts with an open mind. Outside of school, I like to run and to play video games with my friends. I have two sassy lovebirds named Rio and Mr. Green Jeans who keep the house lively with their playful chirps!
Haley Portlock, B.A., V28
Simulation Laboratory Assistant (Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory
Haley Portlock is from Bedford, MA and has grown up in New England for all her life. She attended Saint Anselm College from 2020-2024 where she gained a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in Chemistry on the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Track. After graduation, Haleydecided to continue her studies by directly attending Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in the fall of 2024. She is currently a first year, V28, student in the combination DVM/MPH program. Her veterinary experience includes working in a small animal general practice hospital in Brookline, MA, animal husbandry and study through NH-INBRE funded research, and a summer internship with the MSPCA at Nevin’s Farm in Methuen, MA. At her family home in Bedford, Haley has 3 dogs (Madden, Callie, and Ginger) and with her at Tufts is her rabbit, Marshall!
Shakthi T. Sivaram, B.S., V27
Senior Simulation Laboratory Assistant (Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory)
I’ve always known I wanted to do something relating to biology, but I landed on veterinary medicine after adopting my lab/hound mix Simba in middle school! I completed a B.S. in Animal Sciences at Rutgers University (with a minor in music!). During undergrad, I worked as a veterinary assistant/receptionist at an exotic animal clinic and as an intern at a wildlife refuge in New Jersey. Because of these experiences, one of my vet-med interests is wildlife conservation medicine! I’m also interested in swine medicine and diagnostic imaging, but am looking forward to exploring all the possibilities during my next four years.
In my free time, I love to play piano and electric guitar, solve crosswords and cryptograms, and play video games! I’m from South Brunswick, a town in central Jersey in proximity to Princeton and NYC. As a result, I love exploring cities and trying new foods, so I’m excited to do the same in Boston!
Peer Clinical Educators
For more information about our Peer Clinical Educators, please visit the Peer Clinical Educatation page.