INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Kyle Shipman has been named Indiana state veterinarian, a role he said he sought because he wanted to continue to grow in his career and contribute to the work of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) at a higher level.

Shipman had been interim state veterinarian since November, when former long-time state veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh left the agency to become dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Indiana state veterinarian serves as chief administrative officer for the state’s two animal-focused boards under the umbrella of the Indiana Center for Animal Policy – BOAH and the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, according to a release. 

“In my nearly 10 years with BOAH, I have come to appreciate the important work this agency does and how it contributes to the lives and livelihood of Indiana citizens and farmers,” Shipman told Farm World. “In applying, I felt that my experience at BOAH in the field and in the central office, coupled with my farm background, would be a strong foundation for the position.”

BOAH announced the appointment Feb. 17. He was one of three candidates for the position.

Shipman began serving in the interim role during the midst of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which, at press time, had led to the depopulation of more than 6.9 million commercial chicken egg layers, turkeys and ducks, and non-commercial birds, in the state. The current nationwide bird flu outbreak began in Indiana in 2022.

“Assuming the role of interim state veterinarian on short notice felt like drinking from the proverbial fire hose,” he explained. “The addition of HPAI has only turned up the water pressure. Fortunately, I’ve been through this process before – in my role as animal programs director and as a field veterinarian. I can fall back on that experience and the lessons learned as we move forward in this HPAI incident.”

Shipman joined BOAH in 2016, and played a significant role in the agency’s response to an HPAI event in Dubois County in 2016, the release said. He also helped lead the response to bovine tuberculosis in cattle in southeastern Indiana.

Marsh was head of the agency 30 years and Shipman said he hopes to carry on a legacy of public service to the citizens and animal owners of the state by leading a team committed to providing access to expertise, outreach on important topics, representation for all sectors, and responsiveness when situations arise.

“This agency’s work is important to every farmer in Indiana whose livelihood depends on the work this team does,” Shipman said. “My goals for the future of this agency are to foster a culture that values retention of current talent and encourages recruitment of excellent people, (and to) remain national experts in animal health by embracing and implementing new ideas and technologies.”

He also wants the agency to adapt quickly to changes and remain attuned to new opportunities and improvements, and to focus on delivering exceptional service in all interactions.

Other goals he mentioned are to “understand and strive to incorporate the priorities of our constituents in every decision we make, (and to) apply practical solutions that are easy to understand and implement, ensuring decisions are logical and are grounded in science and experience.”

Shipman grew up on his family’s beef cattle farm in Dearborn County. The farm has been in his mother’s family for eight generations.

“From my cattle experience and working part-time for a local veterinarian, I planned a career in cattle reproductive medicine,” he recalled. “That is, until a day in 2011, when BOAH veterinarian Dr. Jodi Lovejoy visited my family’s Dearborn County farm to place a quarantine because bovine tuberculosis had been diagnosed nearby. Until that day, I did not know that regulatory veterinary medicine was a career option. Once it was on my radar, I applied to BOAH’s internship program when I was in vet school, which cemented my desire to work in public service.”

Part of his family’s farm once belonged to former state veterinarian Dr. J.L. Axby (1933-1945), Shipman added.

Shipman is a graduate of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture (animal sciences).

He said most Hoosiers are probably not aware of BOAH and the breadth of the work the agency does. “Most of our work focuses on animal agriculture,” Shipman said. “However, we touch the lives of every Indiana citizen – from pet owners who make sure their dogs and cats have current rabies vaccinations to kids who enjoy milk on their breakfast cereal to livestock owners who need to move their animals to market. BOAH is small, but mighty.”