Ernest Hovingh, DVM, PhD, has been named Resident Director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) effective March 1, 2023

On behalf of Dean Roush:

Ernest Hovingh to lead Penn State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory.

Ernest Hovingh, DVM, PhD, Research Professor, and Veterinary Extension and Field Investigation Team Leader in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Penn State University has been named Resident Director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) effective March 1, 2023. The ADL, part of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences, is a member of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS).

Dr. Ernest Hovingh earned his DVM degree from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada. After some time in clinical practice, he completed a PhD in Epidemiology, and a residency in Dairy Ambulatory Medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. He served on the faculty at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine before joining the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences in 2004, with a focus on veterinary extension, field investigation, and applied research.

At Penn State, Dr. Hovingh has assembled a productive program of research, extension, field investigation, and teaching focusing on high priority needs of dairy animals. Recognizing the challenges of economic losses, animal welfare, antimicrobial stewardship and public health, he has concentrated his extension and research efforts on problems such as lameness, Johne’s Disease, udder health, and milk quality. He has also investigated various aspects of antimicrobial resistance of bacteria, in close collaboration with colleagues at the United States Department of Agriculture. As a field investigator with the ADL since 2004, Dr. Hovingh has assisted the Commonwealth’s veterinarians and producers troubleshoot animal herd health concerns. With his expertise in biosecurity and epidemiology, he has collaborated closely with the PA Department of Agriculture to implement Johne’s Disease control and Secure Milk Supply programs, and assisted with biosecurity efforts to help control the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

As Resident Director, Dr. Hovingh will oversee both the daily operation and long-term planning of the ADL. The ADL provides cutting edge diagnostic and analytic services to assist veterinarians and the PA animal agricultural industries with the surveillance and detection of animal diseases, in order to safeguard animal health and welfare, and promote farm viability and profitability. In this function, the ADL has over the last year played a key role in diagnosis of avian flu.  Faculty at ADL develop new and improved disease diagnostic procedures, and provide timely recommendations to veterinarians, animal owners, and the PA Department of Agriculture on many animal health topics. The ADL also offers valuable opportunities for hands-on experience for pre-veterinary students, and the training of graduate veterinarians.