Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Names New Director

Dr. Yan Zhang has been named as director of the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, (AZVDL), beginning May 16. The lab provides accurate and timely diagnostic assistance in animal health to veterinarians, animal owners, University researchers and state and federal agencies. 

Dr. Zhang joins the University of Arizona with 24 years of diagnostic laboratory work, including most recently serving as interim director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He also worked as an adjunct professor of preventative medicine at The Ohio State University and was principal investigator on major grants from the Center of Disease Control VET-LIRN surveillance system and special projects, and the USDA. Since 2012 he has been awarded more than $2.5 million in grants for disease surveillance and genome sequencing.

Dr. Zhang earned a Ph.D. in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University; a Master of Science, Fishery Resources, from University of Idaho; and a Master of Science in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Xinjiang Agricultural University in China.

His goals for the lab are to provide comprehensive high-caliber diagnostic services with timely and accurate results; nurture and inspire a team of highly trained professionals who are capable, flexible, and able to meet any diagnostic challenge and disease outbreak to minimize economic consequences; maintain strong customer service and relationships; and be at the forefront of diagnostic technology and sciences, including the lab’s new MALDI-TOF for faster, more accurate analysis.