Athens, Ga. — The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine announces a lecture, “The Challenges and Opportunities Facing the National Animal Disease Diagnostic System,” given by Beth Lautner, D.V.M., M.S., director of the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The lecture will be presented Friday, Nov. 2 at noon in room 363 of the College of Veterinary Medicine as part of the Population Health Food Animal Seminar. All scientists, veterinarians, students, farmers, consumers and government officials involved in food production are invited to attend.
Lautner’s lecture will focus on the preparedness of veterinary diagnostic and research laboratories who respond to emerging and/or zoonotic diseases and animal health emergencies. The lecture will discuss the importance of having available rapid, state-of-the-art, accurate diagnostics and subsequent characterization capabilities with adequately trained personnel in well-equipped laboratories. Lautner will also discuss the many challenges of having this capability, as well as how this provides new opportunities for collaborations, partnerships and leveraging of current efforts. A reception immediately follows in room 222 of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The Population Health Food Animal Seminar, held in conjunction with specific food animal health classes, will focus on food animal health and management, as well as diagnostics. During Lautner’s two-day visit to campus, professional and graduate students will be given the opportunity to discuss issues in food animal health and food animal management, in addition to career options in this dynamic field.
Prior to her appointment as director of the National Veterinary Service Laboratory, Lautner served as director for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center within the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.She held this position from Jan. 2004 until March 2006. She has also served as vice president for science and technology at the National Pork Board, located in Des Moines, Iowa, and was in private practice in Le Mars, Iowa, for twelve years. She holds bachelor of science and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from Michigan State University, as well as a master of science degree from the University of Minnesota.
Funding for this seminar comes from a gift by Fred Thompson, a former faculty member and friend of the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Food Animal Health and Management Program.
The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals as well as people. The college benefits pets and their owners, food-producing animals and wildlife by offering the highest quality hospital and diagnostic laboratory services. Equipped with the most technologically advanced facilities located on a university campus, the college is dedicated to safeguarding public health by studying emerging infectious diseases that affect both animal and human health. The college enrolls 96 students each fall out of more than 500 who apply. It has more than 130 faculty members.
