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United States Animal Health Association
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For immediate release:

MICHIGAN STATE VETERINARIAN RECEIVES APHIS ANIMAL HEALTH AWARD

        GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 25, 2004 -- Dr. Joan Arnoldi, Michigan State Veterinarian, 
was presented with the APHIS Animal Health Award by Dr. Ron DeHaven, administrator of 
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) during the opening joint general 
session of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the American Association 
of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD).  More than 1,200 veterinarians, livestock 
producers, scientists, and others concerned with animal health are at the week-long joint 
conference here, a record-breaking attendance for the third consecutive year.

	In presenting the award -- also known as the "Administrator’s Award" -- Dr. DeHaven 
noted that prior to taking her present position as Michigan State Veterinarian, Dr. Arnoldi 
has served APHIS in a number of leadership capacities.  "As director of our National 
Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, she oversaw laboratory testing for 
domestic and foreign animal diseases, disease control and eradication support, import and 
export certification, and laboratory certification," Dr. DeHaven said.  "She also directed 
NVSL’s foreign animal disease diagnostic training seminars for state and private 
veterinarians."

	Dr. Arnoldi moved on to become the nation’s Chief Veterinary Officer, leading APHIS’ 
Veterinary Services program efforts to protect the health, quality, and marketability of 
U.S. animals, animal products, and veterinary biologics.  "She was instrumental in building 
the capabilities to help us meet animal health challenges in this new age of globalization," 
Dr. DeHaven said.  "She also helped make progress in eradicating bovine brucellosis and 
tuberculosis and pseudrorabies in swine.  She later rose to become APHIS’ Associate 
Administrator before retiring from federal service."

	Before joining APHIS, Dr. Arnoldi served as Wisconsin State Veterinarian.  She has 
also had several leadership roles within USAHA, including serving as the organization’s 
Second and Third Vice-Presidents.  Currently, she is chair of the USAHA Committee on 
International Standards, which deals with key international animal health trade issues.  
Recently, Dr. Arnoldi served on a National Academy of Science committee studying the 
threat of bioterrorism to U.S. agriculture.

	As Michigan State Veterinarian, Dr. Arnoldi was responsible for bringing together 
key industry representatives and regulatory officials to satisfy USDA’s criteria for 
Michigan attaining split-state status for bovine tuberculosis.  This status, conferred 
on Michigan earlier this year, allows the majority of producers in the state to move 
their livestock more freely interstate.

	She also helped prepare Michigan for potential emergency animal disease situations 
by aggressively promoting training in the incident command system (ICS) and planning 
exercises.  The Michigan Department of Agriculture has held numerous field and tabletop 
exercises on animal health emergencies to meet national homeland security guidelines 
in this area.

	Dr. DeHaven said the APHIS Animal Health Award is presented each year at the 
USAHA annual meeting to an individual who has made a significant difference in protecting 
and improving the health of animal agriculture in the United States.

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