The National Pork Board (NPB) has recently filled multiple positions on the Swine Health and Production team and wanted to use this opportunity to introduce them. Please feel free to contact them with any questions about the work we are prioritizing at NPB in the swine health and production areas.
Dr Dustin “Dusty” Oedekoven has been the chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board since February 2022. In this role, he leads a team of veterinarians and swine production experts in checkoff-funded work. Notably, the team collaborates with state and federal animal health officials, the National Pork Producers Council, the Swine Health Information Center, universities, and other national organizations to identify and execute strategic action and research to prepare and protect the US swine herd from African swine fever and other costly threats.
Dr Oedekoven most recently served as State Veterinarian and Executive Secretary for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, where he provided strategic leadership and direction for the state’s animal health agency – a seven-member, governor-appointed board of livestock producers with responsibility for all animal health programs and disease control efforts in the state.
He received his BS from South Dakota State University and DVM from Iowa State University. Dr Oedekoven is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
Dr Patrick Webb is the assistant chief veterinarian at the National Pork Board, where he joined in 2005. He is responsible for the Pork Checkoff efforts for foreign animal disease (FAD) prevention and preparedness. Throughout his career, Dr Webb has worked extensively on emergency preparedness and planning at the local, state, and federal levels. He has developed and delivered numerous educational programs directed at training producers, veterinarians, county emergency managers, and first responders on how to respond to FAD disasters.
Dr Webb received his BS and DVM from Iowa State University.
Dr Meredith Petersen joined the National Pork Board in 2024 as Director of Swine Health. In this role, she collaborates with others on the Swine Health and Production Team on projects related to foreign and endemic disease programs. Before joining the National Pork Board, Dr Petersen was a post-doctoral research associate at the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC), a role focused on applied swine research, teaching, and clinical swine medicine. Her research with SMEC investigated the capabilities and limitations of telemedicine in swine practice.
Dr Petersen received her BS and DVM from Iowa State University and her MPH from the University of Iowa.
Dr Marisa Rotolo joined the National Pork Board as Director of Swine Health in November 2023. In this role, she manages the Swine Disease Research Task Force and works to support the National Pork Board’s efforts for FAD preparedness and response.
Dr Rotolo was previously a health assurance veterinarian with PIC, where she managed health and biosecurity programs for owned, elite, and multiplication herds. She also worked with the global dissemination team to execute successful live animal and liquid genetics exports to global customers. In this role, she supported efforts to implement FAD preparedness such as the development of Secure Pork Supply plans and keeping producers up to date on industry, federal, and state efforts. Before her time at PIC, Dr Rotolo worked as a veterinary epidemiologist cooperator at the US Department of Agriculture’s Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health and Iowa State University to help develop the swine hemorrhagic fevers surveillance plan and preparedness and response documents for the African Swine Fever Red Book. She continues to manage this cooperative agreement.
She received her PhD and DVM from Iowa State University.
Dr Brent Pepin joined the National Pork Board as Director of Swine Health in March 2024. In this role, he will collaborate on work with US Swine Health Improvement Plan and projects related to foreign and endemic diseases. Before his current position, Dr Pepin was the director of veterinary medicine for a biomedical research company. In this role, he oversaw critical aspects of swine biosurveillance, facility biosecurity, herd health management, and all surgical and medical interventions and served as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Attending Veterinarian. Before his time in the biomedical field, he was an associate veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services. In this role, he provided veterinary services to system farms and independent producers in conjunction with supporting the development and implementation of FAD preparedness, including Secure Pork Supply plans, and assisted in the execution of various research efforts. Before his time at Pipestone, he was an associate veterinarian for Postville Veterinary Clinic serving as a swine, dairy, and beef veterinarian.
He received his DVM and MS from Iowa State University.