LSU SVM alumna receives top food safety veterinarian award

FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FOOD SAFETY VETERINARIANS PRESS ROOM

Dr. Kristin G. Holt (LSU SVM 1983) was selected by the American Association of Food Safety Veterinarians (AAFSV) as the 2012 Food Safety Veterinarian of the Year in recognition of her superior service in preventing foodborne Illness as USDA Food Safety and Inspective Service (FSIS) Liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The AAFSV is the only allied organization of the American Veterinary Medical Association that represents solely food safety veterinarians in the AVMA House of Delegates. The award was presented to Dr. Holt at the AAFSV annual meeting by President Bonnie Buntain on August 6, 2012, at the AVMA Annual Convention in San Diego, Calif., where Dr. Holt gave a presentation on the USDA FSIS role in corroboration on foodborne illness investigations and prevention with the CDC.

Dr. Holt is currently the USDA FSIS liaison to the CDC in Atlanta, Ga. Since 2001, she has been in the liaison position, where she facilitates communication and scientific collaboration between FSIS and CDC and provides scientific input on public health and food safety issues related to FSIS regulated products. Dr. Holt oversees the FSIS interagency agreements that support the FoodNet, OutbreakNet, and FoodCORE projects. She also serves USDA as one of two representatives on the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR).

Dr. Holt has worked on numerous foodborne outbreaks and authored or co-authored presentations and manuscripts on foodborne outbreaks and surveillance studies for both domestic and international audiences. She has received numerous FSIS awards, Secretary of Agriculture Honor Awards and was the recipient of the FoodNet Star Award in 2007.

Dr. Holt earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University and immediately started public service with USDA FSIS in-plant as a GS-9 Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) in 1983. Prior to selection for the FSIS liaison position in the Office of Public Health Science (OPHs), she served in the FSIS Office of Field Operations (OFO) program area in Georgia for 18 years, gaining experience and professional acumen. She was promoted from GS-9 VMO to GS-11 VMO and then GS-12 Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer and Inspector-In-Charge (SVMO/IIC).

As SVMO/IIC she performed additional collateral duties serving as: a Southeast Regional Trainer implementing new poultry slaughter inspection systems including SIS and NELS, EEO Counselor, Acting Circuit Supervisor, and Southeast Region Federal Women’s Program Manager. Off-duty, she drove up to 600 miles each week to classes at Emory University to pursue a Master of Public Health with a focus in epidemiology and completed the MPH in 1992. Prior to assuming the FSIS Liaison to CDC position, Dr. Holt served as an FSIS OFO: Assistant Georgia Area Supervisor, Acting Georgia Area Supervisor, Circuit Supervisor, Deputy Atlanta District Manager and Acting Atlanta District Manager.

Photo: Dr. Kristin Holt (right) receives the Food Safety Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Media Contact: 

Ginger Guttner   

Director of Public Relations

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

225-578-9922 or gguttner@lsu.edu

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