Colleagues,
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has named Amy Swinford, DVM, MS, DACVM, as sole finalist for director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
As you are aware, Dr. Swinford has been serving as interim director of TVMDL since July, following the retirement of Dr. Bruce Akey. During her 16 years at the agency, Dr. Swinford has been instrumental in continuing the excellence of TVMDL and its mission of service to Texas and abroad. She has served as the agency’s associate director for six years and assisted in executive operations of the agency, including at the laboratories housed in Canyon, Center and Gonzales. She also recently served as interim resident director for the Canyon laboratory.
Prior to becoming associate director, Dr. Swinford was the microbiology branch chief and bacteriology section head at the College Station laboratory.
During Dr. Swinford’s tenure as associate director, she elevated TVMDL’s testing services and ensured the agency maintained a strong presence across national organizations, such as the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.
Dr. Swinford is most recently noted for promoting TVMDL’s ability to test human samples for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the wake of the pandemic, she advocated for state and federal entities to allow TVMDL to begin testing human samples for the first time in agency history. These efforts led to expanded capacity for COVID-19 testing in Brazos County and the Texas Panhandle, with over 51,000 tests performed using TVMDL equipment and expertise.
We are pleased that Dr. Swinford has been selected as sole finalist to lead TVMDL and continue the agency’s legacy as a global leader in innovative veterinary diagnostic services.
Thank you,
Patrick J. Stover, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor and Dean, Agriculture and Life Sciences
Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
