Melissa Holahan

Biography

• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Field Disease Investigation Unit
• Lecturer, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Melissa Holahan grew up in the suburbs of Southeast Michigan but always wanted the farm life. She received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University in 2006. After graduation, Melissa completed a 1-year internship at the University of Pennsylvania and a 3-year critical care residency at Michigan State University. After 12 years in small animal medicine, she decided to pursue her passion for small ruminants and started a mobile large animal practice in 2022. As a small ruminant farmer herself, she realized that there were limited veterinary services available for these species throughout Michigan. Her mobile veterinary practice currently services sheep, goats, camelids, and honeybees throughout Michigan with a focus on small ruminant reproduction. She is a member of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP), remains active in multiple small ruminant organizations, teaches small ruminant medicine to pre-vet students and vet tech students through summer internships, and honey bee education through SEMBA beekeeping school and externships. She enjoys sharing her experiences as a veterinarian, farmer, and beekeeper through local and national speaking engagements. Dr. Melissa is passionate about practicing evidence-based medicine, supporting local farmers, and sharing her veterinary education with producers & colleagues to promote happy & healthy livestock, which is what brought her to WSU. She joined the FDIU in 2023, and through analysis of the WADDL small ruminant database she will be working to provide evidence-based recommendations for disease prevention, preparedness & response.

Education

• DACVECC, Michigan State University, 2010
• DVM, Michigan State University, 2006
• BS, Michigan State University, 2002

Certifications

• FAMACHA©️ Certified Instructor
• Langston University Certified Milk Tester