Most everyone is aware that universities teach students enrolled in various degree programs and generate new knowledge through scientific research. The nation’s land-grant universities also have a third mission to disseminate and teach this new knowledge to the citizens living throughout the state so that it can be applied to their lives, businesses, and communities. This is accomplished through outreach education and the Cooperative Extension System which was established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 as a federal-state-local partnership between the USDA, the land-grant university system, and local county governments. Extension provides unbiased research-based information that is practical and helps people help themselves. The needs are identified at the local level and the programming is developed using a bottom-up approach.
The Ohio State University is Ohio’s land-grant institution and Ohio State University Extension has an office located in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. These offices serve as the public’s front door to the university. Ohio State Extension focuses on four major program areas: 1) Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2) 4-H Youth Development, 3) Family and Consumer Sciences and 4) Community Development.
The Veterinary Extension Unit located within the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine is part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources program area and consists of Extension Specialists (i.e., Extension Veterinarians). Veterinary Extension Specialists often work though local Extension Educators (formerly known as agents) in the counties to reach clientele. The primary clientele of Veterinary Extension include producers and practicing veterinarians.
While the Veterinary Extension Unit at Ohio State was created in 1974, the Cooperative Extension System as a whole is now over 100 years old. The system was developed to transfer and apply the latest scientific research in order to address local needs which are constantly changing. Any organization or system that has been around for this long must be able to adapt and confront challenges. One of the current challenges involves the moniker of “best kept secret”. Too often, people around the country aren’t aware or forget that this resource of unbiased research-based information is available to them. This is also true with veterinarians around the state. Extension Veterinarians are always available as a resource for continuing education, as a partner for investigating herd/flock problems, or as someone to consult with and discuss specific issues regarding animal health and welfare.
Here is a list of the current Veterinary Extension Specialists within the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine indicating some of their areas of expertise. Other areas involving animal health and diseases can also be addressed.
Veterinary Extension Unit, Columbus Campus
- Dr. Luciana da Costa – Milk Quality & Udder Health in conventional and organic dairy herds.
- Dr. Mo El-Gazzar – Poultry Health & Disease Management, Mycoplasma, etc.
- Dr. Katy Proudfoot – Animal Welfare & Behavior, Dairy Housing & Management, etc.
- Dr. Bill Saville – Epidemiology & Public Health, West Nile Virus, Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, etc.
- Dr. Gustavo Schuenemann – Dairy Production & Population Medicine, Reproduction, Personnel Management, etc.
Food Animal Health Research Program, OARDC Wooster Campus
- Dr. Chang-Won Lee – Veterinary Virology, Avian Influenza, Vaccine Development, etc.
- Dr. Jeff LeJeune – Preharvest Food Safety, Antimicrobial Use & Resistance, etc.
- Dr. Gireesh Rajashekara – Foodborne zoonotic pathogens, etc.
More information regarding this program is available at: http://extension.vet.osu.edu