Early Innovators

Dr. Ival A. Merchant (1898-1985) DVM, MS, PhD, CPH
Dr. Merchant was one of the organizing members of the National Board of Veterinary Public Health. He joined the VMPM faculty in 1925, and early on he recognized the importance of veterinary medicine in public health. He spent a year (1933-34) at the School of Public Health, Yale University College of Medicine, receiving the C.P.H. 

After returning to ISU, he wrote the textbook Veterinary Bacteriology, first published in 1940. Through six editions, Dr. Merchant's book was the primary microbiology textbook used in veterinary colleges for decades. The title in later editions expanded to Veterinary Bacteriology and Virology and included Dr. R. A. Packer as a co-author.  

Dr. Merchant was head of the department from 1943 to 1952; and dean of the College from 1952 to 1963.

Dr. R. Allen Packer (1914-1999) DVM, MS, PhD
Dr. Packer was a distinguished professor and microbiologist whose career in veterinary medicine began with graduation from ISU in 1940. He taught  microbiology from 1943 until his retirement in 1985. He served as VMPM Dept. Chair from 1952 to 1980.

Because of his worldwide reputation as a microbiologist, he was chosen as a section chair for the 18th World Veterinary Conference in 1967. He served as president for the World Association of Veterinary Microbiologists meeting in 1973.

Dr. William P. Switzer DVM, MS, PhD
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Through his research, Dr. Switzer has made major contributions to our understanding of swine respiratory diseases. The vaccines he developed for atrophic rhinitis and kennel cough have had a major impact on the prevention of these important diseases. Those two patents rank in the top five of all ISU patents generating royalty income for the ISU Research Foundation.

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