Clinical pathologist receives research foundation professorship

Rick Alleman, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor of clinical pathology at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a UF Research Foundation professorship.

Sponsored by the university’s Division of Sponsored Research, the professorships are awarded to tenured faculty campuswide for distinguished research and scholarship. The honor includes a $5,000 salary increase each year for three years and a one-time $3,000 award for research support.

A board-certified clinical pathologist, Alleman graduated from Louisiana State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He worked in private practice as a veterinarian for several years prior to returning to the academic environment to complete a residency in clinical pathology at the UF veterinary college in 1992. Subsequently, Alleman received his Ph.D., also from UF, in 1995 in molecular biology of infectious disease.

Alleman began his UF faculty career as an instructor in 1994 in the college’s department of physiological sciences. Since then, he has progressed through the faculty ranks to become a full professor. His primary research focus has been on developing molecular methods of diagnosis and the persistence of infection from tick-borne pathogens, specifically Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. This work has resulted in the recognition of different antigens used in the serological diagnosis of infections with these pathogens, which commonly affect livestock in parts of the world, but which are also known to affect people and other animals, such as dogs.

He has co-authored four patents, three of which resulted in license agreements for market development.

A favorite with students, Alleman has twice been named the UF veterinary college’s Teacher of the Year. He also has received numerous other awards over the years for his teaching.

“Even more important than his list of career highlights is the fact that Dr. Alleman is an outstanding faculty citizen at UF,” wrote Alleman’s department chairman, Paul Davenport, Ph.D. in nominating him for the award. “He is always willing to collaborate with colleagues, and his mentorship of veterinary clinical pathology residents has helped lay the foundation for future clinical scientists.”