White, McCallum Join Equine Disease Communication Center

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC), an industry-funded hub for efficient communication of information about equine infectious diseases and disease outbreaks, has announced the appointments of Nat White, DVM, MS, DACVS, as director and administrative consultant and Bailey McCallum as communications manager.

Dr. White, professor emeritus of equine surgery at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, will oversee the operation and objectives of the EDCC. Dr. White received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1971. He is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and chaired the association’s National Equine Health Plan Task Force, which established the EDCC.

McCallum will seek, receive, coordinate and communicate infectious disease information for industry stakeholders, including horse owners, veterinarians, and state and federal animal health officials. Among her responsibilities are creating and managing content for the EDCC’s website and recently launched social media platforms. McCallum joins the EDCC from her alma mater William Woods University, where she was as an adjunct professor in the equestrian studies program and served as the on call emergency contact responsible for first aid and basic veterinary care for all of the program’s horses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in equine science and a master’s degree in equestrian education.

The EDCC works to protect horses and the horse industry in North America from the threat of infectious diseases by seeking and reporting real-time information about disease outbreaks and providing biosecurity and disease information. By helping mitigate and prevent the spread of disease, the EDCC improves horse welfare and helps prevent the negative economic impact that can result from decreased horse use due to a fear of spreading infection.

The EDCC website is located at www.equinediseasecc.org and includes continuously updated disease outbreak alerts; comprehensive information concerning diseases, vaccinations and biosecurity; and contact information for state veterinary offices. Alerts and other information are also posted on the EDCC’s social media platforms. “Like” the EDCC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EquineDiseaseCC and follow @EquineDiseaseCC on Twitter.

The EDCC is based in Lexington, Ky., at the AAEP’s headquarters with website and call center hosting provided by the United States Equestrian Federation. The EDCC is funded entirely through the generosity of organizations, industry stakeholders and horse owners. To learn how you can make a tax-deductible contribution to the EDCC, visit www.equinediseasecc.org and click the “Sponsors” link.