Amy Swinford named interim head of Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases
Former Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory director to ensure continuity of research priorities
Amy Swinford, DVM, director emeritus of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, will serve as the interim director for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, IIAD.
Her appointment was made after IIAD director Heather Simmons, DVM, passed away on May 6. Swinford started on June 1 and will remain in place until a permanent director is appointed.
IIAD research crosses many borders
Established as a global leader in veterinary services, IIAD works in translational research and development, with a focus on emerging zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases in the livestock-human-wildlife interface.
IIAD has trained over 500,000 domestic and international personnel in more than 90 countries in animal health, epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics and livestock industry concepts, including veterinary services professionals, graduate students and youth.
As interim director of IIAD, Swinford will supervise and coordinate all aspects of the institute’s operations and its associated research priorities. She will oversee implementation of the institute’s research agenda; coordinate research activities and initiatives with allied institutions, stakeholder associations and organizations; and represent the agency’s interests in local and regional organizations.
A lifetime of veterinary service and leadership
Swinford’s career as a veterinarian has led her to work in diagnostic laboratories, serve as a public health officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, become a technical services veterinarian and perform clinical research for biopharmaceutical companies.
In 2005, she joined TVMDL as the bacteriology section head in Bryan-College Station. She became microbiology branch chief in 2012 and was promoted to associate agency director in 2015. She became the director of TVMDL in 2021.
Swinford led the agency through multiple animal disease challenges and high-volume testing events, including the spread of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer and the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and dairy cattle.
Since her retirement in December, Swinford has remained actively engaged with TVMDL and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Veterinary Science Certificate Program.
