Penn Vet Announces Forthcoming Retirement of Faculty Member, Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD

By: Martin J. Hackett Date: Dec 20, 2024

Cynthia Otto with a black lab — Cynthia “Cindy” Otto, DVM, PhD

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine announced the forthcoming retirement of Professor of Working Dog Sciences and Sports Medicine, Cynthia “Cindy” Otto, DVM, PhD, effective on July 1, 2026, after 33 years of dedicated service to the School. Her pre-retirement sabbatical will begin in July 2025.

Otto is the 2012 founding director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC). Inspired by her experience caring for working dogs following 9/11 at Ground Zero, Otto’s initial vision for the PVWDC has grown into a thriving organization with a mission to use science to improve the breeding, training, care and effectiveness of working dogs. Today, the Center has graduated 160 dogs in careers in search and rescue, medical detection, and law enforcement.

During her tenure, Otto has achieved numerous milestones, including:

Publishing over 150 papers, reviews, book chapters, and editorials on the topic of canine olfaction, and canine health and fitness.
Securing well over 100 grants totaling more than $8 million.
Garnering national and international awards including the 2002 Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year award; the 2005 ACVECC’s Hill's Dr. Jack Mara Scientific Achievement Award for sepsis; the Ohio State University’s Alumni Recognition Award (2006) and Distinguished Alumnus Award (2008); the 2018 AVMA’s Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award; the 2019 International Canine Sports Medicine Symposium’s Mark Bloomberg Award; the 2021 Asa Mays, DVM Excellence in Canine Health Research Award; the 2021 VECCS Ira M. Zaslow Distinguished Service Award; and the 2024 International Canine Health Awards in the Special Award category.

Otto’s contributions have left an indelible mark on Penn Vet’s academic community; enhancing the reputation of the School and inspiring a new generation of students and early-career scholars.

An international search will commence in 2025 to identify Otto’s successor for a seamless transition, with a full public announcement and a timeline forthcoming. During the next 18 months, the PVWDC’s mission-essential functions will remain fully operational and will continue unabated.

About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 34,600 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,200 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 18,700 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.