What is your educational training and background?
I graduated from Ross University Veterinary School and went on to complete my Master of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. I worked as a public health veterinarian with the USDA before joining the MDA.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I figured out early on in veterinary school that I wanted to focus on public health. After that, opportunities in food safety began to present themselves. Most notably, I got to spend time in rural Uganda testing animals for brucellosis (a foodborne disease) and educating community members on how to protect themselves.
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
I value getting to know the hardworking folks in our agricultural community and working alongside them to teach AND learn how we can bring consumers the safest products possible.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Your veterinarian is your best resource. Make sure you have established a veterinary-client-patient relationship. If you don't know what this is, check out our resource page!
What is your educational training and background?
I graduated from Ross University Veterinary School and went on to complete my Master of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. I worked as a public health veterinarian with the USDA before joining the MDA.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I figured out early on in veterinary school that I wanted to focus on public health. After that, opportunities in food safety began to present themselves. Most notably, I got to spend time in rural Uganda testing animals for brucellosis (a foodborne disease) and educating community members on how to protect themselves.
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
I value getting to know the hardworking folks in our agricultural community and working alongside them to teach AND learn how we can bring consumers the safest products possible.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Your veterinarian is your best resource. Make sure you have established a veterinary-client-patient relationship. If you don't know what this is, check out our resource page!
Outreach veterinarians (OVETs) perform customized outreach by visiting with farmers one-on-one. Farmers can sign up for these visits as a proactive measure to protect themselves against drug residues or a farmer may be contacted for a visit as a result of a drug residue violation in tissue or milk. Their visit with the OVET consists of a discussion about on-farm practices, including drug use and treatment protocols and customized recommendations for what farmers can consider to improve drug residue prevention practices on their farms. Connect with one of the contacts listed on this page to set up a visit!
Please note - OVETs are not meant to replace the farm veterinarian, but rather to help strengthen the veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) by identifying potential problem areas for the farmer to discuss with his/her veterinarian.
Outreach veterinarians (OVETs) perform customized outreach by visiting with farmers one-on-one. Farmers can sign up for these visits as a proactive measure to protect themselves against drug residues or a farmer may be contacted for a visit as a result of a drug residue violation in tissue or milk. Their visit with the OVET consists of a discussion about on-farm practices, including drug use and treatment protocols and customized recommendations for what farmers can consider to improve drug residue prevention practices on their farms. Connect with one of the contacts listed on this page to set up a visit!
Please note - OVETs are not meant to replace the farm veterinarian, but rather to help strengthen the veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) by identifying potential problem areas for the farmer to discuss with his/her veterinarian.
Outreach is also carried out at events and through other avenues that allow communication with many people at once. You may see the DRPP team at conferences, state and county fairs, teaching 4-H and FFA participants, and teaching students anywhere from elementary school all the way up to graduate level courses. Additionally, we are expanding efforts to educate people virtually through development of online trainings and videos! Check out the MDA Events Calendar to look for upcoming events with the DRPP team.
Outreach is also carried out at events and through other avenues that allow communication with many people at once. You may see the DRPP team at conferences, state and county fairs, teaching 4-H and FFA participants, and teaching students anywhere from elementary school all the way up to graduate level courses. Additionally, we are expanding efforts to educate people virtually through development of online trainings and videos! Check out the MDA Events Calendar to look for upcoming events with the DRPP team.
Yes! Veterinarians are required to attend continuing education courses to make sure they stay up-to-date on current veterinary practices. Outreach veterinarians (OVETs) work with practicing veterinarians throughout the state of Minnesota to improve their knowledge, specifically on why drug residues are happening in the field. This, in turn, helps veterinarians guide their clients on how to use drugs appropriately on their farms. OVETs meet with veterinarians one-on-one, in-person, and also attend conferences or other events that would allow for interaction and conversation on the topic.
Yes! Veterinarians are required to attend continuing education courses to make sure they stay up-to-date on current veterinary practices. Outreach veterinarians (OVETs) work with practicing veterinarians throughout the state of Minnesota to improve their knowledge, specifically on why drug residues are happening in the field. This, in turn, helps veterinarians guide their clients on how to use drugs appropriately on their farms. OVETs meet with veterinarians one-on-one, in-person, and also attend conferences or other events that would allow for interaction and conversation on the topic.
Yes! We have printable fact sheets, record-keeping booklets, signs, and more. Visit Drug Residue Prevention Resources for our producer resource libraries. Many of these resources were developed as a result of talking with farmers about their needs in the field. If you are looking for resources, have a suggestion on how to improve an existing resource, or have an idea for a new resource, please reach out to one of the contacts listed on this page!
