Dr. O’Connor is an internationally recognized veterinarian and quantitative epidemiologist who is particularly interested in the application of epidemiology to better inform policy related to food safety, one health, animal welfare, animal health, and veterinary clinical practice. Dr. O’Connor has been a leader in veterinary science in efforts to translate research into practice by reducing research wastage and maximizing the value of research. She has led initiatives that seek to improve the reporting of all research involving animals; these initiatives have required international collaborations and have had international impact on reporting in veterinary science.

Dr. O’Connor's professional reputation is also documented through her extensive publications (>100 peer-reviewed manuscripts), invited national and international presentations at numerous producer and research meetings, and strong extramural funding record. Dr. O’Connor has a strong teaching and mentoring record of graduate and veterinary students. Dr. O’Connor also served as an advisor for the European Food Safety Authority and the Food and Drug Administration, as president for the Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and the Evidence-based Veterinary Medical Association, and as a faculty representative on university faculty senate committees.