Dr. David Galligan stands in the Marshak Dairy at New Bolton Center.
Dr. David T. Galligan of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has earned the prestigious Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. Galligan is one of eight faculty members at Penn to receive the award this spring.
Galligan is the Marilyn M. Simpson Endowed Professor of Animal Health Economics at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center where he serves as director of the Center for Animal Health and Productivity (CAHP). He is also the director of Penn Vet’s VMD/MBA combined-degree program.
"I've been most fortunate for the opportunity to work with wonderful colleagues and interact with many talented students over the years, all who share my passion for food animal veterinary medicine," said Galligan.
"David Galligan is a passionate, data-driven, animal production scientist and economist that has reshaped the way we deliver on-the-farm veterinary practice and outreach service," said Dr. Andrew M. Hoffman, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "His teaching has inspired countless veterinary students to integrate innovative approaches to production science, business, and finance into their practices. His enthusiasm is larger than life, and we thank him for his devotion to experiential learning, and further, for his commitment to agriculture and food security in the Commonwealth and beyond."
One student nominator submitted, "Dr. Galligan's classes provided me with a solid background and understanding of the forces that influence production systems and taught me how to think about complex systems without getting overwhelmed. His dedication to constant improvement of one's self and knowledge inspires me to keep pushing myself in veterinary practice and to never stop cultivating and advancing the services I offer to my clients."
Another student wrote, "I have witnessed Dr. Galligan mentor many students with diverse, “non-traditional” interests in veterinary medicine, many of whom are my peers. He has always been the "go-to" faculty mentor for students with interests in production medicine, economics, business and entrepreneurship, and I also credit him for bringing new students, like myself, into these areas of study who did not know they had an interest."
Galligan's current research includes the development of several visual analytical tools that empower dairy farmers to implement economically sustainable practices into their operations. He is keenly interested in further defining veterinary medicine’s dynamic role in our food system, particularly in how veterinarians can couple improved animal health with economic and environmental efficiencies to meet emerging demands for animal products across the globe.
Galligan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology. Upon completion of his veterinary training at Penn Vet, Galligan entered dairy practice with Gap Veterinary Associates in Gap, Pennsylvania. He returned to Penn Vet to complete a residency in clinical dairy nutrition. Galligan also earned a Master of Business Administration from Penn's Wharton School, with a focus on decision sciences.
About the Lindback Award
The Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania was established in 1961 with the help of the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation. Christian Lindback was president and principal owner of Abbotts Dairies, Inc. and a trustee of Bucknell University. The Foundation established Lindback Awards for Distinguished Teaching at colleges and universities throughout Abbotts Dairies, Inc.’s service area in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
The University bestows eight Lindback awards each year: four to those in health-related disciplines, and four to those in other departments and divisions. Award winners are determined by nominations and recommendations made by faculty and students based on detailed criteria.