The NDSU-VDL is pleased to announce our new laboratory director, Dr. Heidi Pecoraro. Dr. Pecoraro has served as a pathologist and section head of the virology and serology laboratories at the VDL since 2018. Prior to her work at NDSU, Dr. Pecoraro was a Veterinary Anatomic Pathology resident at Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center and was a postdoctoral scientist at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. Dr. Pecoraro plans to build on the capabilities of the laboratory to continue our mission of serving livestock producers, veterinarians, pet owners, and the public health sector in the state and region. Her experience and expertise will be invaluable as the VDL continues to grow and adapt to new diagnostic challenges.
We would like to wish Dr. Brett Webb well as he transitions from laboratory director to a primary role in diagnostic work as an anatomic pathologist, and to thank him for his service as a director of the VDL since 2017. During his tenure, Dr. Webb has acted as a section head for nearly all laboratory sections, navigated the laboratory’s most recent full accreditation by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), has hired several highly skilled new faculty and staff members as well as the first anatomic pathology resident. Additionally, Dr. Webb has been a champion of new technology, steering the laboratory toward the first iteration of the website with a subsequent revamp in 2019 and was an integral part in the selection and development of the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) set to launch in the spring of this year. Dr. Webb has been an indispensable member of the faculty and was a key player in the design, construction oversight, and commissioning of the new laboratory building. His leadership has helped the laboratory through major transitions, which has postured the laboratory to meet the needs of our region.