Contact Information

Email: plruegg@msu.edu

Education

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine

Research Interests

• Using epidemiologic techniques to solve critical issues related to animal health and milk quality
• Bridging the gap between research and practical applications on dairy farms

Dr. Ruegg is the David J. Ellis Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance and Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Her research and outreach are focused on helping dairy producers improve animal health and farm sustainability. She previously served as chair of the Dept. of Animal Science at MSU and spent 20 years as a Professor and extension milk quality specialist in the Dept. of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Ruegg has academic degrees from both Michigan State University and the University of California, Davis.

She has had varied professional experiences including private veterinary practice, academic positions at both Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the College of Veterinary Medicine at MSU and corporate technical service. She maintains a research program focused on ensuring antibiotic stewardship on farms by optimizing antibiotic usage and identifying animal, environmental and pathogen factors that can be manipulated to reduce mastitis and identify optimal treatment strategies.

Dr. Ruegg is active in industry organizations and is a past president of the National Mastitis Council. Throughout her career she has received a number of awards for research, extension and international outreach programs and has published over 170 peer-reviewed articles and numerous lay publications.