Joni Scheftel, DVM ’82, ’01 MPH, has been named “Veterinarian of the Year” by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. 

Scheftel received the honor at the virtual MVMA 124th Annual Meeting on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. The award recognizes individuals who are considered outstanding, well-rounded members of the veterinary profession and have given back to their community through their time and talents.

Scheftel currently serves as the state public health veterinarian for Minnesota and supervises the Zoonotic Diseases Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. She is responsible for zoonotic disease surveillance and zoonotic disease outbreak investigation. In her role, Scheftel serves as a liaison between the Department of Health and Minnesota’s animal agriculture agencies for issues involving human health and animal health.

She recently was chosen to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in light of her work as the chair of the AVMA Committee on Antimicrobials. 

Scheftel graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in 1982 and joined a mixed practice in Watertown, Minn. In 2001, she earned an MPH in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health.