David Haworth, DVM, PhD is president and co-founder of Vidium Animal Health. With a proven executive management track record, Dr. Haworth is responsible for Vidium’s overall strategic vision and ensures Vidium’s mission is carried out in everything we do.

David also serves as a strategic consultant to companies and investors in the animal health and wellness space. He is the former President of PetSmart Charities in the US and Canada, the largest funder of animal welfare in North America and former President & CEO of Morris Animal Foundation, the largest non-profit funder of veterinary medical research in the world. Prior to those roles he spent 11 years at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis, Inc) in various roles including Director of Global Alliances within the Business Development group and Director of Clinical Development within R&D. Before starting his corporate journey, he was an associate veterinarian at a small animal and emergency clinic in Washington State. Dr. Haworth received his bachelor of science in biology from the College of William & Mary and his doctor of veterinary medicine and doctor of philosophy degrees from Colorado State University. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Colorado State University’s Flint Animal Cancer Center.

David, his wife Claudia and their Golden Retrievers Bridger & Breck split their time between Denver, Phoenix and Bozeman and occasionally get to see their two grown children.

As Vidium’s chief scientific officer and founder, Will Hendricks, PhD is working to bring precision medicine to veterinary healthcare through Vidium’s genomic diagnostics. Rooted in the core belief that science should be both transparent and unimpeachable, Will’s approach to serving the veterinary community guides overall research and development efforts.

Dr. Hendricks maintains an Assistant Professorship in the Integrated Cancer Genomics Division at TGen, where his research led to the development of our inaugural assay. Before joining TGen in 2013, Will was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Graduate Student at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he trained with founders of the field of cancer precision medicine, including Drs. Vogelstein, Papadopoulos, and Kinzler. He has a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a BS from Arizona State University, and a BA from Grand Canyon University.

Will and his family rescued their dog Jake in 2017 and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Jake is one of many Hendricks pets that fuel Will’s drive to provide a better future for pets everywhere. But Jake doesn’t know that. All Jake knows is that zoomies after bathtime and burying hot dogs in the front yard are his favorite pastimes, and he couldn’t be a happier, more lovable dog.

As co-founder of Vidium, Katie is driven by the belief that pets deserve access to the best medicine science can provide—the same access to personalized medicine that has successfully extended lives in humans. An integral member of our leadership team, she heads all operational efforts in the company, including marketing, legal, and human resources functions, to support our mission of advancing the care of pets with cancer.

Katie has an extensive background in both operations and advertising. Prior to her role at Vidium, she served as Business Development Operations Manager at TGen, a position to which she brought 14 years of operational and marketing experience in advertising, working at industry giants such as Ogilvy & Mather and Moses Anshell. Katie has a BA from the University of Arizona.

A proud pet mom, Katie loves spending time with her 2 dogs, Copper and Caramel, and her cat, Talula. Their favorite activities include frisbee fetch (Copper), stealing Copper’s frisbee (Caramel) and finishing everyone’s cereal bowl (Talula). They all love to cuddle.

Dr. Derick Whitley is a seasoned veterinary pathologist, recognized as an expert in the fields of oncopathology and dermatopathology. His wealth of relevant expertise and experience are guiding the strategy and innovation initiatives at Vidium.

A graduate of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Derick completed his pathology residency at Texas A&M University and subsequently became a board-certified pathologist. While at Texas A&M, he developed a passion for cancer pathology and immunology. Before joining Vidium, he was a diagnostic pathologist and assistant chief of anatomic pathology at a leading diagnostic company. Derick is an assistant adjunct professor at the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health.

Derick and his wife have 4 children, 3 cats (Bird, Big Tuna, and Zebra), and a dog (Luna). Derick and his family rescued Luna in 2018, and she’s been a part of the family ever since. Luna is happiest when she gets to go on long walks with the family, and of course enjoys the adoration and hugs from all the kids.

Dr. Guannan Wang joined Vidium as the head of clinical curation in 2021 with the shared goal of enabling Precision Medicine in Veterinary Oncology and giving the dogs we love the fullest lives possible. Previously a Senior Research Investigator at the University of Pennsylvania, Guannan led canine cancer genomic studies and the development of precision medicine tools for dogs. As a trained molecular biologist and cancer genomics scientist, Guannan is determined to dedicate her knowledge and skills to better understand the biology of cancer and to improve cancer care for companion animals. She brings to Vidium her insights of the genomic landscape of canine cancers and her vision of leveraging genomic information for better care in companion animals.

Dr. Wang lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two kids. In her spare time, she likes to travel, read, cook, try out new food, and hang out with friends.

Dr. Esther Chon joins Vidium as its head of veterinary affairs with the goal of making a global impact on how we treat and care for pets with cancer. Being at the interface between Vidium and veterinarians, Esther uses her veterinary oncology training and experience to make precision medicine a reality in veterinary practice.

Esther received her DVM from the University of California, Davis and became Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) after completing her residency in medical oncology at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison. She did a post-doctoral research fellowship and spent time as a clinical instructor at UW-Madison before joining private practice. As a veterinary medical oncologist, she has helped many beloved pets and their families through their cancer journey and holds each patient close to her heart.

Andy (aka “Mr. Man”) rescued Esther and her family in 2011. His coat color and size leave everyone guessing his mix of breeds (Jack Russell Terrier with a sprinkle of Chihuahua?). He adores car rides, walks, and warm laps. While most people see a “tough” small-dog exterior, few know of Andy’s uncanny ability to catch flies, despite a blind left eye. His best skill, however, is embodying immense joy and demonstrating the importance of pets in our lives. He’s also a great nap buddy.

Dr. Barb Powers has a legacy that includes decades of experience and impact in the field of veterinary oncopathology with additional expertise in equine endometrial pathology and oral and orthopedic pathology. After receiving her DVM from Purdue University, she completed a small animal internship at Colorado State University, then went on to complete a pathology residency and PhD. As a board-certified pathologist, Barb has served for 4 decades as a pathologist and researcher in academia, veterinary associations, and industry. A key opinion leader in pet cancer pathology, she has authored more than 200 articles pertaining to small animal oncology, radiation pathology, and orthopedic pathology.

In her free time, Barb enjoys spending time at her mountain log home that her husband built, where she hikes, gardens, and hangs out with her dogs, Summer and Tango.

Dr. Jeffrey Edwards has demonstrated expertise in oncopathology and osteopathology along with 30 years of experience in providing exceptional pathology consultation. Prior to joining Vidium, Jeff served as Chief of Anatomic Pathology for a leading diagnostics provider. He graduated with his DVM from Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine. Jeff received his MPH and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in comparative pathology from Johns Hopkins University. As a board-certified pathologist, he served as a diagnostic veterinary pathologist for NIH’s Oregon Regional Primate Research Center as well as the Texas State Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Completing Jeff’s household are 3 adopted orphan dogs: “Taz” Mania, Rollover “Willow,” and “Abbie” Normal.