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In recent decades, the global landscape of health has shifted dramatically. Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity and emerging zoonotic diseases have highlighted intricate connections between animals, humans and the environment, underscoring the fact that veterinary medicine is not just about the care of animals — it is essential to the health of people and the planet.

Few have advanced this realization more than Michael D. Lairmore, who served as dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine from 2011 to 2021 and is one of only a handful of veterinarians elected to the National Academy of Medicine, in 2010. A comparative pathologist and renowned retrovirologist, Lairmore has helped redefine the scope and impact of veterinary medicine — both as a groundbreaking scientist and as an academic leader. He currently serves as professor emeritus of pathology, microbiology and immunology in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

From his earliest days in dairy and small animal practice in rural Pennsylvania to his postdoctoral work at the Centers for Disease Control, Lairmore’s career has been shaped by the interplay of science, service and the deep bonds between animals and people. His research helped uncover how retroviruses such as human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, or HTLV-1, replicate and cause cancer in humans. That work has informed a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms for retroviral cancers. 

“My training and research findings taught me to think like the virus.”  Lairmore said. “Being a veterinarian helped me compare data across species and look for common mechanisms that allowed retroviruses to evade the immune system.” 

All about connections

But it is his vision for veterinary medicine as a central force in solving global health challenges that has perhaps had the greatest impact. At �鶹��ý, Lairmore championed interdisciplinary research and built an institutional culture rooted in collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Under his leadership, the school expanded student support services and global outreach efforts, launched new clinical trials infrastructure, and emerged as a global leader in One Health science — an approach that integrates veterinary, human and environmental health to tackle complex issues ranging from zoonotic spillovers to climate-driven ecosystem change.

“The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that life is interconnected,” Lairmore said. “When we understand the intricacies of the connections between people, animals, and the environments they must share, we are better prepared for the threats in our closely connected world.”

A leading voice

Through his career, Lairmore has authored more than 190 scientific papers and mentored dozens of veterinary scientists who now lead in academia, industry and public health. He has served as president of the American College of Veterinary Medical Colleges and the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, among other leadership roles. He continues to serve as a national and international advisor on One Health, faculty development and institutional strategy, including an appointment as the interim executive director of the newly formed .

He recently co-authored a book with Michael Wilkes, director of global health and professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, called . Belonging to Earth tells real-life stories — including from �鶹��ý — of One Health-related issues to help anyone see the importance of One Health in their daily lives. 

In an age when global health challenges are increasingly complex and interconnected, Lairmore’s career stands as a testament to what is possible when science, compassion and vision converge. 

“Veterinarians are peacemakers of a different kind” he said. “Their work brings light into the darkness and offers hope for a healthier, more sustainable future for all.”