The University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is proud to announce Jennifer Granick as the 2026 recipient of the Mark of Excellence Award. This annual honor recognizes a faculty member for outstanding productivity in generating new knowledge that directly elevates and advances the veterinary profession.

Granick’s work sits at the critical intersection of clinical practice and public health. An associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, she has spent the last 12 years building a world-class research program dedicated to one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As the co-director of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Initiative (ARSI) and the Companion Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (CAVSNET), she is transforming how the veterinary community tracks and manages the use of antibiotics.

Granick’s work lives not just on the pages of academic journals, but in the hands of practitioners. Along with her colleagues Amanda Beaudoin and Emma Bolig, Granick led the creation of the “Handbook of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Companion Animal Veterinary Settings,” a vital resource that provides evidence-based guidance for clinicians. By developing tools to track antibiotic use and producing educational videos, she has made the complex science of stewardship accessible to veterinary teams worldwide.

“Dr. Granick is an influential and invaluable force in our field,” says Cathy Carlson, chair of the CVM Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Granick’s nominator. “She inspires veterinarians and students alike to work together to elevate clinical practice through the judicious use of antimicrobials.”

The reach of Granick’s expertise is international. She co-chairs the Therapeutics Committee for the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, is the AAHA delegate to AVMA’s Committee on Antimicrobials, and is a founder of the Companion Animal Antimicrobial Stewards, a committee of the International Society of Companion Infectious Diseases. Because antibiotic resistance in animals can impact human health, her work has earned significant backing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With more than 40 publications and 100-plus presentations to her name, Granick has become a leading voice in the One Health movement, proving that protecting animal health is a vital component of protecting global human health.

Granick will be formally recognized at the 2026 Research Innovation, Discovery, and Education (RIDE) Summit on June 17.