Our Team & Partners

    Who We Are

    We are an interdisciplinary team of veterinarians and scientists who work locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to maximize the center’s impact. We have expertise in epidemiology, methanogenesis, agricultural biosecurity, animal protection technologies, antimicrobial resistance, food animal behavior, health and welfare, precision agriculture, agri-food systems, food waste stewardship, host-microbe interactions, and zoonotic disease transmission.

    Ag Center Team

    Leadership Team

    Zhengxia Dou

    Zhengxia Dou, PhD

    Professor, Agricultural Systems

    After completing PhD training in soil sciences, Dr. Dou has been working at the Center for Animal Health and Productivity at Penn Vet. Her research addresses agricultural nutrients and sustainable […]

    Thomas D. Parsons

    Thomas D. Parsons, VMD, PhD

    Professor of Swine Production Medicine

    Addtional Titles Marie A. Moore Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, New Bolton Center Dr. Parsons is the Marie A. Moore Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, and director of […]

    Meghann K. Pierdon

    Meghann K. Pierdon, VMD, DACAW

    Assistant Professor, Clinical Production Medicine
    Dipti Pitta

    Dipti Pitta, PhD

    Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition

    Dr. Pitta is an associate professor at Penn Vet New Bolton Center. Her research includes ruminant nutrition, nutrient uptake and utilization, feed additives, feed supplements, total mixed rations, and modeling […]

    Laurel E. Redding

    Laurel E. Redding, VMD, PhD, DACVPM

    Associate Professor of Epidemiology

    Laurel E. Redding, VMD, PhD, DACVPM, is a veterinary epidemiologist specializing in the epidemiology and transmission of microbes at the human-animal interface. Her research focuses on antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary […]

    Members

    Gary Althouse

    Gary Althouse, DVM, PhD, DACT

    Professor of Reproduction and Swine Health

    Additional Titles: Associate Dean of Sustainable Agriculture and Veterinary Practices Marion Dilley and David George Jones Endowed Chair in Animal Reproduction Dr. Althouse joined the School of Veterinary Medicine faculty […]

    Linda Baker

    Linda D. Baker, VMD, DACVIM

    Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Medicine

    Additional Titles: Faculty Coordinator of Operations, Teaching and Research, Marshak Dairy Supervisor of Dairy Personnel, Operating Budget Oversight Dr. Baker has served the agricultural communities for the past 39 years, […]

    Joseph S. Bender

    Joseph S. Bender, DVM

    Associate Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Medicine

    Dr. Bender received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Findlay (2003) and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master’s Degree (Preventive Medicine) from Iowa State University (2010). […]

    Ann Dipastina

    Ann Dipastina, DVM

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Food Animal Field Service
    Mary Jane Drake

    Mary Jane Drake, VMD, PhD, DABVP

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Food Animal Field Service

    Mary Jane (MJ) Drake, VMD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Food Animal Field Service at the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center. She earned a PhD in Cell […]

    Julie C. Ellis

    Julie C. Ellis, PhD

    Adjunct Associate Professor of Pathobiology

    Additional Titles: Interim Faculty Director of the Environmental Innovations Initiative Senior Research Investigator, Pathobiology

    Marie-Eve Fecteau

    Marie-Eve Fecteau, DVM, DACVIM – LA

    Professor of Large Animal Surgery (CE)

    Additional Titles: Section Chief of Large Animal Surgery Dr. Fecteau is a Professor of Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery in the Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania […]

    Andrew Hoffman

    Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM

    Professor, Large Animal Medicine

    Additional Titles: Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Andrew Hoffman is a large animal veterinarian who started his career in rural New England private practice.  He is the […]

    Michaela A. Kristula

    Michaela A. Kristula, DVM

    Associate Professor of Field Service (CE)

    Additional Titles: Section Chief, Field Service

    Lisa A. Murphy, VMD, DABT

    Professor of Toxicology, Department of Pathobiology

    Additional Titles: Associate Director, Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases Director, Wildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology Resident Director, PADLS New Bolton Center, Department of Pathobiology Lisa Murphy, VMD serves […]

    Eduardo Rico

    Eduardo Rico, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Population Medicine, Sustainable Agriculture, and Food Security

    Eduardo Rico, PhD, is the Assistant Professor of Population Medicine, Sustainable, and Food Security in the Department of Clinical Studies — New Bolton Center. Following his work as an applied […]

    Aliza Simeone

    Aliza Simeone, VMD

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity

    Dr. Simeone received her BS in Animal Bioscience from the Pennsylvania State University and her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania. Following her initial experience in private practice large animal […]

    Billy Smith

    Billy Smith, DVM, MS, DABVP

    Associate Professor of Medicine in Field Service (CE)

    Dr. Smith earned his DVM from Louisiana State University in 1991 and an MS in Veterinary Science from the University of Florida in 1996. He is a Diplomate of the […]

    Darko Stefanovski

    Darko Stefanovski, PhD

    Associate Professor of Biostatistics

    Additional Titles: Section Chief of Population Medicine, New Bolton Center Dr. Stefanovski specializes in the development and application of novel statistical and mathematical modeling methodologies for analyzing biomedical data. As […]

    Penn Partners

    Partner Organizations

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