LSU AgCenter faculty member named state veterinarian of the year

At the recent annual meeting of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, the extension veterinarian for the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, was named state veterinarian of the year.

Christine Navarre, Louisiana state veterinarian of the year (Photo courtesy of LSU AgCenter).

The LVMA members chose Navarre for the Ralph C. Cooper Veterinarian of the Year Award, an honor bestowed to the veterinarian who gives “the most of themselves in time, energy and ideas to the veterinary profession in the state of Louisiana,” according to the awards criteria.

“I've had so many people that have mentored me and supported me,” Navarre expressed, in a university release.¹ “My parents gave me a love of agriculture. My husband has been behind me. I couldn't do all the things and travel and all the extra stuff that I volunteer for without his support.”

Navarre is an alumna of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, who worked in northeast Texas and then earned a master’s degree at Texas A&M University. Then, she spent 11 years as an instructor and researcher at Auburn University.

In 2005, Navarre started as the AgCenter extension veterinarian, and she knew this would be an ideal fit for her. Her father, Jim Beatty, who was the state dairy specialist for the AgCenter, served Louisianians and was her role model. Thus, informing and assisting people through extension came naturally to Navarre. “I got to see his passion for helping people,” she said. “That's how I wanted to spend the second part of my career.”

As the extension veterinarian, Navarre is the livestock health specialist for the AgCenter. She writes various publications about animal health and travels the state visiting veterinarians and agricultural producers. Additionally, she partners on research with colleagues at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and serves as a guest lecturer for different classes.

“When I took this position, I had to really learn how to be a communicator for producers because I'd spent my time talking to veterinarians and writing research papers, which is a different level than writing fact sheets for a broader audience,” she said. “I've really enjoyed it.”

Navarre spends most of her time with producers raising cattle and horses, which are the largest animal industries in Louisiana, though she also works with a range of other animals, including sheep, goats, rabbits, and even crawfish.

“There's never a dull moment,” she said. “You never know what you're going to come across.”

Reference

Peveto K. AgCenter faculty member named state veterinarian of the year. Lousiana State University College of Agriculture. February 28, 2023. Accessed March 1, 2023. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1677622336524