Dr. Cheryl Waldner has been named the recipient of the 2024 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. Waldner received the award at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, being held this week at Saskatoon, Sask.
“Dr. Waldner’s work has no doubt improved the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian beef industry,” says Craig Lehr, chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) and a beef producer near Medicine Hat, Alberta. “Her extensive and proactive efforts while supporting others is greatly admired and appreciated.”
Waldner is a professor and researcher at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She is the current NSERC/BCRC Industrial Research Chair in One Health and Production-Limiting Diseases. Her work focuses on research in health and productivity of cow-calf herds with a special interest in developing tools for on-farm decisions using new technologies.
“Dr. Waldner's ability to translate complex scientific findings into actionable guidance for producers is unparalleled,” says Dr. Stephanie Smith, chief veterinary officer at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. “Through her efforts, Dr. Waldner has also advanced our understanding of geographical risk factors for mineral deficiencies, providing producers and veterinarians with valuable tools to preemptively address potential health issues.”
Waldner’s research has contributed to the development of tools for veterinarians and producers to monitor antimicrobial resistance and identify respiratory viruses and bacteria, including the recent creation of a Johne’s Disease testing decision tool to help manage the disease in beef herds.
She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1988 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Saskatchewan in 1999. As a researcher, professor and veterinarian, Dr. Waldner has more than 270 peer-reviewed publications, has supervised 15 PhD, eight MSc students, four post-doctoral fellows, one MPH thesis student, eight MPH non-thesis students, six research associates, and numerous summer students.
“Leadership has many styles, and Cheryl’s style is to quietly come alongside,” says Dr. Leigh Rosengren, the Canadian Cattle Association chief veterinary officer. “She never seeks accolades, attention or limelight. She works tirelessly on behalf of her students and colleagues and sets an example of exacting professionalism paired with a demanding work ethic. She promotes her student’s successes while downplaying her own.”
