Dr. Larry Granger named recipient of 2022 AVMA Public Service Award

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) August 1, 2022—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today honored Dr. Larry Granger, recently retired senior leader for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS), as the winner of the 2022 AVMA Public Service Award.

The award, established in 1968, recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian for outstanding public service or contributions to the practice or science of public health and regulatory veterinary medicine.

“Dr Granger has devoted his career to public service and public health,” said Dr. Lori Teller, president of the AVMA. “Dr. Granger’s impact and vision have led to substantial improvements in disease traceability and emergency readiness response and the development of our national animal laboratory network. His extensive career and proven leadership in the field of veterinary public health make him a most-deserving choice for this prestigious award.”

Dr. Granger graduated from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979, serving nine years in private practice before joining APHIS in 1988 as a field veterinary medical officer in Ohio. In 1990, he joined the Michigan Department of Agriculture as the pseudorabies eradication program manager and swine species specialist.

In 1994, he started his tenure as a senior leader with USDA’s Office of Economic Development. His responsibilities included development of value-added agricultural cooperatives, where his feasibility work resulted in the Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative and the most modern processing plant of that time. In 1999, he returned to the Animal Industry Division to lead the statewide Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program. After becoming VS associate deputy administrator for emergency management in 2003, he led the national surveillance for exotic Newcastle disease, the bovine spongiform encephalopathy response and surveillance effort, the H5N1 avian influenza response and the development of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the National Veterinary Stockpile.

After serving in this role, Dr. Granger went on to become the executive director of APHIS’ Science, Technology and Analysis Services and was director of the Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health from 2006-2013. In September 2014, Dr. Granger became a senior leader for the multi-agency initiative to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He then worked to revise and replace the National Aquatic Animal Health Plan and represented APHIS on the Aquaculture Subcommittee of the National Science and Technical Council.

Dr. Granger next oversaw the transition of the National Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic laboratory to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. He was co-founder of the One Health Academy in Washington D.C., an institution that promotes sharing of One Health initiatives among federal agencies and partners.

After more than 30 years serving the country and the profession in his roles at the USDA, Dr. Granger announced his retirement earlier this year.

“The Veterinary professional contract with society is demonstrated by our commitment to our Code of Ethics,” said Dr Granger. “Our greatest challenge is always to consider and serve the needs of the patient, the welfare of the client and the safety of the public in every aspect of the profession. I am proud to say that no one does that better than we do. I share this award with all of you who provide veterinary service and caring commitment.”

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell) or msanfilippoavma [dot] org (msanfilippo[at]avma[dot]org).