Bill Sischo
A nationally recognized expert in food safety, Dr. Sischo will direct the School for Global Animal Health’s new doctoral program in animal health policy and metrics. The first program of its kind in the nation, it aims to educate the next generation of leaders in animal health to develop and implement effective science-based policy
Dr. Sischo’s research and teaching interests are at the intersection of animal agriculture systems and the rural, suburban, and urban communities that interact with these systems. Understanding and supporting efficient, sustainable, and healthy food systems that promote food security and public health are major research interests. Dr. Sischo’s current research is directed at understanding the ecology of zoonotic and food-borne pathogens in animal production units with a particular focus on dairy beef and milk production. His interests are not only on the fundamental biology of the organisms but also their impact on the productivity of dairy operations and the marketability of dairy products. Much of Bill's work affects quality management strategies for dairy farms, including the development of risk assessments for practices with public health significance. With a primary focus on Salmonella, the risk factors and biology for occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and issues involving the rural and urban geographic interface, Dr. Sischo's research and teaching has resulted in an active program to transfer research knowledge to inform agricultural, animal health, and public health policy. He has created a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary program integrating the fundamentals of leadership, communication, and policy formulation to address the compelling issues that face our global animal health systems.