The Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences welcomed Jessica McArt, D.V.M. ’07, Ph.D. ’13, as its new chair on July 1. McArt assumes this leadership position after taking a year-long sabbatical in Australia.

“I know I speak for myself and the entire college when I say that we are all excited to have Dr. McArt back after her time away, and I look forward to working with her in this leadership role,” says Lorin D. Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D. '94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

“I’m honored and excited to serve as Chair of the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences,” McArt says. “As a production medicine veterinarian, I enjoy understanding systems while also focusing on the individual. Although our department members have varied interests, our underlying mission is the same, and I look forward to supporting our faculty and staff across all the activities of the department. Every day I learn something new from this impactful group, and it makes me more passionate about what we do.”

McArt received both her D.V.M. and Ph.D. at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and has served as faculty, and eventually section chief, of the Ambulatory and Production Medicine Clinic. She is boarded of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Dairy Practice), and studies the identification, epidemiology and economics of periparturient diseases in dairy cows, using modeling to investigate the economic impact of transition cow diseases and promote evidence-based management and treatment practices.

As she steps into this new leadership role, McArt will continue to wear many other hats. “One of the things I love about my job at Cornell is that no two days are the same,” she says. “In addition to my work as chair, I have a clinical appointment within the Ambulatory and Production Medicine section doing farm calls, I teach dairy and epidemiology related coursework within the veterinary medicine curriculum, and I lead the McArt Dairy Cow Lab – a great group of individuals that investigates the identification, epidemiology, and economics of periparturient diseases in dairy cows. I also recently assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief at JDS Communications, a society publication of the American Dairy Science Association.”

Looking ahead for the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, McArt is excited to help the group clarify its future direction. “As we are a diverse department with respect to effort allocation to service, research, and/or teaching, one of my goals for the department is the collaborative creation of an atmosphere of respect and support in which faculty feel valued and can excel in their areas of interest,” McArt says. “On the personal side, as chair, I hope to further develop my leadership skills and, as always, appreciate the feedback and support of our department faculty and staff in my own learning.”

In addition to welcoming Dr. McArt to her new role, Dean Warnick expressed his sincere thanks to Dr. Diego Diel for his service as interim department chair this past year. “Dr. Diel has done an outstanding job keeping department programs moving forward, and has been a valuable member of the college leadership team.  I ask that everyone join me in sharing congratulations to Dr. McArt and expressing appreciation to Dr. Diel for his service.”

Written by Lauren Cahoon Roberts