USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact:  Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

DR. WILLIE REED AND DR. TERRY MCELWAIN RECEIVE APHIS ANIMAL HEALTH AWARD 

	MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Oct. 15, 2006 -- Dr. Willie Reed and Dr. Terry McElwain were 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).  

	In presenting the awards, DeHaven noted that both recipients have served as president of AAVLD -- 
Reed in 2003 and McElwain in 2004.  “Both of these men are passionate about veterinary diagnostics,” DeHaven 
said, “and each will take every opportunity to share their vision with anyone who will listen.”

	DeHaven also noted that both Reed and McElwain have been instrumental in collaborating with USDA 
and APHIS in developing and implementing the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).  NAHLN is 
part of a national strategy to coordinate the nation's federal, state and university laboratory resources.  Networking 
federal laboratory capacity with the extensive infrastructure of state and university laboratories allows authorities to 
better respond to animal health emergencies.  

	Reed recently accepted the position of Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University.  
Prior to that he was Director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory at Michigan State University as well as 
Chair of the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation there.  

	McElwain is Executive Director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.  He is a Diplomate 
of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and holds an academic appointment as full Professor of Pathology 
in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology at Washington State University.
 
	“The dedication, pride and integrity that Dr. Reed and Dr. McElwain demonstrate every day reflect positively 
on the activities they direct and on their states, AAVLD, USAHA and animal agriculture in this country,” DeHaven said.

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