College of Veterinary Medicine Expands Beef Extension and Production Medicine Team

“Dr. Grant Dewell has extensive connections throughout the U.S. beef industry, a broad knowledge of beef production medicine and economics, and proven research skills,” said Dr. Pat Halbur, chair of the VDPAM department. “Dr. Reneé Dewell will be a great addition to our food safety and clinical beef production medicine research, teaching and outreach programs. Together they will strengthen our expertise in beef production and health management, food safety and epidemiological research, and increase the depth and scope of resources for beef producers and veterinarians in the region.”

Dr. Grant Dewell joined the department in November of 2008 as an assistant professor with a combined extension and research position.  He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University (CSU) in 1993 and practiced in a beef-focused veterinary clinic in South Dakota for two years before returning to CSU.   Dr. Dewell completed an internship in food animal medicine and surgery and earned a Master of Science in Agriculture Economics from CSU while working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Dr. Dewell then worked four years as a clinical beef veterinarian at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center (GPVEC) in Clay Center, Nebraska before returning to CSU in 2002 to pursue a Ph.D. in epidemiology while working at the Animal Population Health Institute and at the Horton Research Center. Dr. Dewell completed his Ph.D. in 2008 while focusing his research on pre-harvest food safety issues of high relevance to the industry and public, including E.coli, Salmonella, and BSE. Dr. Dewell is nationally recognized for his leadership roles in the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC). 

Dr. Reneé Dewell joined the department as a clinician in January of 2009 with primary research responsibilities in food supply medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M in 1990 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1996. She owned and operated a private large animal veterinary clinic in Nebraska for three years and worked as a clinical instructor at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center (GPVEC) in Nebraska for four years. Dr. Dewell earned a master’s degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Nebraska in 2001. Since 2002 she has been a post-doctoral researcher at the Animal Population Health Institute at CSU working with Dr. Mo Salman. Dr. Salman's group is one of the leading research groups in the world focused on pre- and post-harvest food safety issues in beef and dairy cattle. Dr. Dewell serves on several committees and in several leadership roles in the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, the National Institute of Animal Agriculture and the AABP. She was awarded the James A. Jarrett Young Leader Award in 2006 by the AABP. 

“The Dewells are well prepared to help veterinarians and producers integrate the best research evidence with quality clinical expertise and producer expectations to establish best practices for profitable beef production,” said Halbur. “They join about 50 other faculty members in VDPAM who are focused on teaching a  pre-eminent comprehensive program in food supply veterinary medicine to veterinary students, providing comprehensive and high quality diagnostic services, leading research initiatives in food animal infectious diseases, food safety and risk assessment, and extension of knowledge to veterinary practitioners and livestock producers and the public.“