College honors veterinary graduate student

Tara Creel Anderson, D.V.M., M.P.H., a graduate student at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of epidemiology and biostatistics.

The award was made in honor of Anderson’s professional practice and exceptional leadership in the advancement of the health professions. Anderson will be honored during PHHP reunion activities Oct. 16.

Anderson is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the veterinary college. She received her D.V.M. degree from the UF veterinary college in 2003 and her M.P.H. degree from PHHP in 2007. Because of her interest in both the veterinary and public health fields, she was active in the creation of the joint D.V.M./M.P.H. program at UF that same year.

Anderson’s research interests include emerging and zoonotic viral diseases, epidemiology and public health. She currently is studying canine influenza virus under the mentorship of Cynda Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Paul Gibbs, D.V.M. Her research focuses on diagnostic test development, epidemiology and mathematical modeling.

Anderson was a UF Alumni Fellow from 2005-2009 and a Morris Animal Foundation Fellow from 2008-2009. She also received two notable awards earlier this year: the Madelyn Lockhart Dissertation Fellowship Award from the Association for Academic Women and the Emerging Scholar Award from the Office of the President. After graduation, Anderson hopes to pursue a career in infectious disease research that will benefit both animal and public health.