HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today welcomed Dr. Craig Shultz, a Pennsylvania native and experienced large animal veterinarian, as state veterinarian and director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services.
Dr. Shultz will assume his new duties on Sept. 29. In his position as bureau director, he will also serve as executive director of the Pennsylvania Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission.
“Dr. Shultz brings with him an unrivaled knowledge of the state’s regulatory veterinary medicine industry and a keen understanding of the role veterinary medicine plays in the production and processing of food,” said Wolff. “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Shultz to the Department of Agriculture and look forward to working with him to protect and promote Pennsylvania’s animal industry.”
Dr. Shultz brings more than 30 years of diverse veterinary experience to his new role, working previously as a private practice veterinarian, relief veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission and, more recently, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services. Since 1994, Dr. Shultz has been the Food Safety and Inspection Services’ veterinarian-in-charge at a large meat processing plant.
Shultz has worked extensively with multiple species, including equine, dairy and beef cattle, and poultry. Through his past work experience Shultz has developed extensive leadership and management skills.
Shultz was raised on a dairy farm in Berwick. He holds a Bachelor of Science in animal science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. He has been recognized for excellence throughout his career, earning numerous awards including the 2000 Veterinarian of the Year award from the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, a 2003 Public Health Veterinarian mentor award, and the 2006 Outstanding Public Health Veterinarian Mentor award.
“Dr. Shultz’s strong and substantive background in veterinary medicine, particularly in the area of public health, is a perfect fit to oversee the department’s animal health activities,” said Wolff. “His extensive work in Pennsylvania has provided him an exceptional familiarity with local, state and federal aspects of regulatory veterinary medicine.”
The Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services is responsible for the control and eradication of diseases in livestock and poultry that affect human health or cause significant economic loss to the agriculture industry. The bureau administers regulatory programs for animal health certification, containment of diseased animals and elimination of disease agents.
For more information about the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, or any of the Department of Agriculture’s regulatory animal health programs, visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/ and click on “Bureaus.”
CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder
717-787-5085
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,+1–717-787-5085
Web Site: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/
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