Curriculum Vitae - College of Veterinary Medicine

AMY KATHLEEN SWINFORD
2111 Arrington Road
College Station, TX 77845
979-595-5558 (cell) or 979-690-9752 (home)
e-mail: akswinford@msn.com
Education:
M.S. Veterinary Pathobiology University of Illinois, 1995
D.V.M. Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois, 1992
B.S. Veterinary Science University of Illinois, 1990
B.S. Microbiology University of Illinois, 1984
Certification:
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (Virology) 1997
Veterinary Licenses: Nebraska, Illinois (inactive); Texas (special)
Awards:
TVMDL Director’s Excellence Award, 2010
Texas A&M Agrilife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, 2010
Current Positions:
January 1, 2011 – present: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. Veterinary
Pathobiology, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX
Duties: Course coordinator for VM3 elective “Diagnostic Veterinary Medicine” and
lecturer in VM1 Microbiology course (mycology lectures and laboratory)
February 1, 2012 - present: Microbiology Branch Chief, TVMDL
Responsible for oversight of the College Station Bacteriology, Serology, and Virology
Sections of TVMDL.
February 2005 – February 2012: Head, Diagnostic Bacteriology, TVMDL
The Section Head is responsible for the supervision of seven full-time technicians, one
full-time medical records transcriptionist, and two part-time student workers. Duties also
include: client communication with regard to test interpretation and sample submission;
development of new test protocols, and ensuring section implementation of the American
Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) Essential Requirements for
an Accredited Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. This laboratory performs
isolation and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens and antimicrobial sensitivity
testing on approximately 1000 cases per month. All work is performed by following
approved written Standard Operating Procedures. The lab participates in several annual
Quality Assurance programs, including the Veterinary Laboratory Association Quality
Assurance Program, National Veterinary Services Laboratories check tests, and the
AAVLD Internal Bacteriology Quality Assurance Survey.
Previous Positions:
2003 – 2005 Technical Services Veterinarian, MVP Laboratories, Inc.
Responsibilities included performing necropsies and sampling tissue for bacteriologic
culture, working in the diagnostic bacteriology lab, communicating diagnostic test results
to veterinarians and discussing bacterin options, providing technical support for products,
preparing study protocols and reports, managing clinical field trials, providing technical
information for promotional materials.
1998-2003 Manager, Clinical Research, Schering-Plough Animal Health
Responsibilities included reviewing and writing clinical research protocols for new
pharmaceutical and biological products; participating in animal clinical trials as study
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monitor or investigator; assisting in the implementation of GLP and GCP requirements for
the Clinical Research group.
1992-1998 Diagnostic Virology Laboratory Manager
Veterinary Diagnostic Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Responsibilities included daily supervision of laboratory personnel, client communication,
planning and prioritization of laboratory activities, training of technicians, analysis and
reporting of test results, and implementation of new test procedures.
1988-1991 Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois, Urbana
Responsibilities included performing research on the pathogenesis of pseudorabies virus
in swine. M.S. Thesis: Differential effect of pseudorabies virus infection on superoxidemediated
cytochrome c reduction and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in swine alveolar
macrophages. University of Illinois, 1995.
1986-1988 Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois, Urbana
Responsibilities included the instruction and supervision of 75-80 first-year veterinary
students in the laboratory sections of microbiology, immunology, and virology courses in
the veterinary professional curriculum. Prepared lesson plans; gave pre-lab lectures;
wrote, administered, and graded lab practical exams; prepared laboratory materials such
as virus stocks, bacterial and cell cultures, media, and diagnostic test reagents.
Additional Training:
2011, AAVLD Laboratory Quality Systems Training
2009, AAVLD Essential Requirements Training Course for Auditors
2008, NVSL Contagious Equine Metritis course for diagnostic bacteriologists
2008, Biolog Omnilog Training Course
2005, ISO/IEC 17025 Training Course
2005, 2006, 2010 Pfizer Animal Health Susceptibility Monitoring Program
2004, ASM Real-Time PCR workshop
Professional Organizations:
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)
AAVLD Accreditation Committee Member
American Society for Microbiology
American College of Veterinary Microbiology
Texas Johnes Working Group
Texas Animal Health Commission Trichomoniasis Working Group
Publications:
Davidson JM, Ondrak JD, Anderson AA, Swinford AK, Erol E. Effects of high
temperatures on the survival of Tritrichomonas foetus in InPouch TM media. J Am Vet Med
Assoc.2011; 239(12): 1589-1593.
Clavijo A, Feng J, Erol E, Sneed L, Swinford A. The influence of temperature and
simulated transport conditions of diagnostic samples on real-time PCR for the detection
of Tritrichomonas foetus DNA J Vet Diagn Invest 2011;23 982-985.
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Hall NH, Swinford A, McRuer D, Hall JS. Survey of Haircoat Fungal Flora in a
Population of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Virginia. J Wildlife Dis 2011;
47(3): 713-716.
Kenefic LJ, Pearson T, Okinaka RT, Chung WK, Max T, Trim CP, Beaudry JA, Schupp
JM, Van Ert MN, Marston CK, Gutierrez K, Swinford AK, Hoffmaster AR, Keim P. Texas
isolates closely related to Bacillus anthracis Ames. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008; 14(9):1494-6.
Kwang J, Yang S, Osorio FA, Christian S, Galeota-Wheeler J, Lager KM, Low S, Chang
L, Doster AR, White A, Wu CC. Characterization of antibody response to porcine
reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus ORF5. J Vet Diag Invest 1999; 11: 391-395.
Campbell RE, Lu W, White AK, Duhamel GE. Molecular and immunologic
characterization of group A bovine rotavirus field isolates with P8(11) spike protein.
Archives of Virology 1998; 143(5):1021-1028.
White AK, Hansen-Lardy L, Brodersen BW, Kelling CL, Duhamel GE, Hesse RA.
Enhanced immunohistochemical detection of infectious agents in formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded
tissues following heat-mediated antigen retrieval. J Vet Diag Invest 1998;
10(2):214-217.
Webb DM, Duhamel GE, Mathiesen MR, Muniappa N, White AK. Cecal spirochetosis
associated with Serpulina pilosicoli in captive juvenile ring-necked pheasants. Avian
Diseases 1997; 41(4):997-1002.
Cravens RL, Ellsworth MA, Sorensen CD, White AK. Efficacy of a temperature-sensitive
modified-live bovine herpesvirus type-1 vaccine against abortion and stillbirth in pregnant
heifers. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996; 208(12):2031-4.
White AK, Ciacci-Zanella J, Galeota J, Ele S, Osorio FA. Comparison of the abilities of
serologic tests to detect pseudorabies infected pigs during the latent phase of infection.
Am J Vet Res.1996; 57(5):608-11.
Presentations:
Swinford AK, et al. Bovine Respiratory Disease Panel and Salmonella Case
presentation, TVMA Conference, March 5, 2011
Swinford AK, TAMU Biodefense Research Seminar Series entitled: Identification of
Bacterial Pathogens – State of the Art from a Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Perspective, November 23, 2010
Swinford AK, Lingsweiler S, “Bacterial Podermatitis in a Uromastyx,” AAVLD Bacterial
Case Presentations, Minneapolis, MN, November 12, 2010
Swinford AK, “TVMDL’s Role in Veterinary Diagnostics” at the TAMU Beef Cattle Short
Course, August 4, 2010
Swinford AK, et al, Panel Discussion on Bovine Trichomoniasis, Annual Meeting of
American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, October 9, San Diego,
CA, October 10, 2009.
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Swinford AK, Lewis B, Lingsweiler S. Trichosporonosis in a Catahoula Hound. 52 nd
Annual Meeting of American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians,
Bacteriology Case Presentations, San Diego, CA, October 10, 2009.
Swinford AK, Erol E, Sneed L, Clavijo A. Analytical sensitivity of real-time PCR for the
detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in samples exposed to various temperatures. 52 nd
Annual Meeting of American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians,
Parasitology Committee Meeting, San Diego, CA, October 9, 2009.
Swinford AK, Lingsweiler S, Weigel W. Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus
(Streptococcus bovis) infection in turkeys and pigeons in Texas. 51st Annual Meeting of
American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Bacteriology Case
Presentations, Greensboro NC, October 25, 2008.
Swinford AK. Disseminated hyalohyphomycosis caused by Acremonium sp. In a Vizsla
dog. 50th Annual Meeting of American Association of Veterinary Laboratory
Diagnosticians, Bacteriology Case Presentations, Reno, NV, October 20, 2007.
White AK. Update on Autogenous Vaccines. North Carolina State University Senior
Elective class and NC Swine Veterinarian Regional Meeting, November 2003.
White AK, Hansen-Lardy L, Brodersen BW, Kelling CL, Duhamel GE, Hesse RA.
Enhanced immunohistochemical detection of three infectious agents in formalin-fixed,
paraffin-embedded tissues following heat-mediated antigen retrieval. 39 th Annual Meeting
of American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Little Rock, AR; 1996.
White AK, Ciacci-Zanella J, Galeota J, Ele S, Osorio FA. Efficiency of screening and
differential pseudorabies serologic tests in detecting latent carriers of PRV. American
Association of Swine Practitioners Annual Meeting, Omaha, NE; March 7, 1995.
White AK, Ciacci-Zanella J, Galeota J, Ele S, Osorio FA. Serology as a means to detect
latent pseudorabies virus infections (poster). 75 th Conference of Research Workers in
Animal Diseases, Chicago, IL; November 14, 1994.
White AK, Ciacci-Zanella J, Galeota J, Ele S, Osorio FA. Detection of latent
pseudorabies virus infections. 37 th Annual Meeting of the American Association of
Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Grand Rapids, MI; October 31, 1994.
White AK. Update on serologic assays used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases of
swine. George A. Young Swine Conference, University of Nebraska; August 2, 1994.
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