Dr. David Swayne

Dr. David Eugene Swayne, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVP, DACPV

Current Roles: Owner & Private Consultant at Birdflu Veterinarian, LLC; Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia and Texas A&M University.

Specialization: Veterinary Pathology, Avian Pathology, Poultry Veterinary Medicine, Pathobiology & Control of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease.

Education & Postdoctoral Training

• Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology (1984–1987) – University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA.

• M.Sc. in Veterinary Pathology (1981–1984) – University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO.

• D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) (1980–1984) – University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine (Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian).

• B.Sc. in Agriculture / Domestic Animal Biology (1976–1980) – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (High Honors).

Board Certifications & Credentials

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists (DACVP, 1988/1989).

• Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians (DACPV, 1992).

Professional Experience

1. Birdflu Veterinarian, LLC

• Title: Owner & Private Poultry Veterinary Consultant

• Duration: 2022 – Present

• Key Responsibilities: Providing international expert consulting on avian influenza control, biosecurity, vaccination strategies, and poultry pathology.

2. USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) – Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL)

• Center Director & Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (2005 – 2022): Led high-biocontainment research facilities, international reference laboratories, and research programs targeting viral poultry diseases including Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease.

• Research Leader & Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (1994 – 2004): Overseeing research teams on pathogenesis, epidemiology, and emergency control response.

3. World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH / OIE)

• OFFLU Scientific Officer / Sabbatical Advisor (Paris, France, 2010 – 2011): Conducted a 16-month scientific sabbatical analyzing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) national control programs and terrestrial code updates.

• Chair & Steering Committee Member, OFFLU (Joint WOAH/FAO Animal Influenza Network): Directed international technical networks and international disease control missions.

4. Academic Appointments

• Adjunct Professor – Department of Population Health, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.

• Adjunct Professor – College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University.

• Associate Professor & Assistant Professor (1987 – 1994) – Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and Department of Poultry Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Key Achievements & Scholarly Contributions

• Publications: Over 350 peer-reviewed scientific papers and more than 110 book/proceedings chapters.

• Editorial Roles:

  • Editor-in-Chief of Diseases of Poultry (13th & 14th Editions).

  • Editor of Avian Influenza textbook (Wiley-Blackwell).

  • Associate Editor for journals including Emerging Infectious Diseases and Avian Diseases.

• Global Field Missions: Participated in scientific missions and expert panels across more than 44 countries concerning avian influenza biosecurity, biosafety, and emergency outbreak response.

Selected Honors & Scientific Awards

• WOAH Meritorious Award (2023)

• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Science Hall of Fame (2020)

• WVPA-Boehringer-Ingelheim Innovation in Vaccination Award (2019)

• XIIth International Veterinary Congress Prize, American Veterinary Medical Association (2018)

• USDA Secretary’s Group Award for Excellence (Hong Kong H5N1 Avian Influenza Research Group Leader) (2000)

• AAAP New Investigator Award (1992)