Dr. Pamela Ruegg, DVM, MPVM, David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, has been awarded the 2025 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence for her work using epidemiologic techniques to address dairy herd health and milk quality issues. In addition to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Ruegg also has appointments at MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension.
Since 1963, animal health company Zoetis has funded an annual award to recognize a researcher at each US veterinary school.
Ruegg’s research addresses critical challenges in the dairy industry, particularly those around treating bacterial infections like mastitis without worsening the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Her research areas include:
- Benchmarking antimicrobial usage on dairy farms to find connections to the dissemination of resistant pathogens and their genetic elements
- Performing clinical trials to determine when antimicrobials are appropriate to treat mastitis
- Exploring methods to boost cows’ immune response to infection
- Understanding how endemic disease influences response to bacterial infections
Her outreach further aims to help farms develop antimicrobial stewardship in a practical manner by training farm workers to maintain healthy cattle and use antimicrobials in a way that is economically and socially responsible. Another outreach example: the web training series, “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Milking Routines.”
“Dr. Ruegg brings together deep scientific insight with a practical approach that’s had a real impact on the dairy industry,” says Dr. Adam Lock, interim chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. “Her work on antimicrobial stewardship—especially training farm workers to use treatments responsibly—has helped improve herd health in ways that are both economically and socially meaningful. She and her team are highly deserving of this recognition.”
Ruegg earned undergraduate and DVM degrees at Michigan State and later completed a residency and master’s degree from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She then spent time in private practice, corporate technical service, and faculty positions at Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2017, she was appointed chair of the Department of Animal Science at the MSU College of Agricultural and Natural Resources.
As the inaugural David J. Ellis Endowed Chair, she leads and enhances research programs that complement MSU’s interdisciplinary initiatives to engage with the livestock production industry in sustainable One Health and animal health practices.
“The impact of Dr. Ruegg’s work goes beyond improving dairy farm practices,” says Dr. Jim Luyendyk, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Students and the Albert C. and Lois E. Dehn Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine. “It is also reflected in her exceptional mentorship of veterinary and graduate students, early-career researchers, and others.”
The award was presented during MSU’s 35th annual Phi Zeta Research Day.