By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Recently, during the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) quarterly board meeting, two senior directors announced their retirement from serving a multi-year term at the state agency.

On July 26, Paul Dieterlen, director of the meat and poultry inspection division and John Johnston, director of the swine division at BOAH announced they will serve the state as agency directors only for a few more weeks.

Dieterlen, who provided eight years of service said that “this division is well-prepared and my leaving will have little impact.” Dieterlen’s last day as director will be Aug. 24.

Bret Marsh, state veterinarian and state director of BOAH, said that Dieterlen was “far too modest,” and that “Dr. Dieterlen has done an absolutely amazing job, so good in fact, that it’s a division that I’ve never had to worry about, it’s always been well under control.”
Dieterlen, who has worked in the animal health industry as a veterinarian or employee of BOAH for nearly 50 years said that the “most satisfying part of my 50-year career has been the last eight.”

“I’m extremely proud of the way the meat, poultry and dairy industries are inspected in the state of Indiana, and it has been a delight to serve my state in this capacity,” concluded Dieterlen.

Johnston, who has worked as BOAH’s swine division director for 13 years will also begin his retirement at the end of August.

“It has been great to have worked at this agency with the guidance of the current and past members of this board for the past thirteen years,” said Johnston in a farewell report at the quarterly meeting.
“Through our Swine Health Advisory Committee that was led by the various board members representing the swine industry, and the actions of the board, we were able to eradicate Pseudorabies, even though many people thought it could never be done.”

“Dr. Johnston finished the Pseudorabies program I started many years ago and has done a great job leading our swine division ever since,” said Marsh. “We have some pretty big shoes to fill in our meat inspection and swine division, I don’t know how we’re going to do it, these two have done a tremendous job serving our state.”

In addition to the staff announcements, BOAH directors and board members discussed and passed two proposed agency rule changes. The first rule change, invoking some discussion during the meeting was a rule concerning the National Animal Identification System. The change in the rule indicated that the NAIS program is still considered voluntary in the state of Indiana. While, the premise identification program is required in the state, the rule change on document No. 07-295 made it absolutely clear that participation in the USDA’s animal ID program is voluntary in Indiana.

For more information, visit the BOAH website at www.in.gov/boah