Tracy Otterson and Karen Olsen have been honored with highly competitive awards for their decades of excellence, innovation, and dedication, highlighting the VDL’s role as a national leader in diagnostic science and public health.
Tracy Otterson (L) and Karen Olsen (R) in their labs at CVM's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
At the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), excellence comes in many forms: the decades-long dedication of veteran leaders, the relentless pursuit of speed and innovation in cutting-edge technology, and the unwavering commitment to rapid, accurate results that safeguard Minnesota's agriculture and public health. This fall, the VDL had occasion to celebrate it all.
Senior Scientist and Assistant Manager of Molecular Diagnostics Tracy Otterson has been honored with the University of Minnesota's Research Technical Staff Award, and Bacteriology Manager Karen Olsen has received the inaugural Giles-Scientific Excellence in Technical Veterinary Microbiology Award from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). Their commitment to technical excellence are foundational to the VDL's essential role as a national leader in diagnostic science and public health.
For over 25 years, Tracy Otterson has been a pillar of innovation within the Molecular Diagnostics Section, guiding the VDL through revolutionary advancements in genetic testing and high-consequence outbreak response. Her award, presented by the Research and Innovation Office (RIO at the University of Minnesota), recognizes her exceptional leadership and technical mastery, which has continuously elevated the VDL's testing capabilities and positive impact on the research community.
As a senior scientist, Tracy has directly contributed to the development or refinement of over 50 diagnostic assays. Her expertise is crucial in maintaining the VDL's reputation for speed and precision. She has championed the use of advanced sequencing technologies, which enable the lab's 50+ high-throughput tests—essential for the VDL's over half a million annual diagnostics.
In addition, she plays a key leadership role for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). There, she serves as a core member of the Methods Technical Working Group, co-advising over 60 U.S. laboratories to harmonize diagnostic standards for major threats like HPAI (Avian Influenza) and Foot and Mouth Disease.
Michele Leiferman, Molecular Diagnostics Manager at the VDL and one of Otterson’s nominators for the award, praised her critical technical role: "A true expert in her field, Tracy is the laboratory’s go-to resource for troubleshooting complex issues—from interpreting real-time PCR curves and gel images to evaluating quality control performance."
For Tracy, the reward of her work is immediate and tangible. "Being able to tell clients what they need to know quickly and accurately is the brightest spot of my job," she says. "If they have an infection and they’re not sure what’s going on in their herd, being able to tell them confidently what's going on, fast enough that they can respond. It’s a great benefit."
Karen Olsen’s recognition as the inaugural recipient of the Giles-Scientific Excellence in Technical Veterinary Microbiology Award is a testament to her decades-long influence on the field. The award, presented by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and sponsored by Giles Scientific, recognizes a member who has made significant contributions to diagnostic veterinary microbiology.
Since joining the VDL after graduating from the U of M, Karen has built a career focused on diagnostic rigor and direct impact, marked by over 35 years of service. Her institutional knowledge and technical standards have been integral to the Bacteriology Section's reputation; her team is known to routinely out-perform human diagnostic bacteriology labs in proficiency testing.
Karen’s current focus on surveillance places the VDL at the frontline of public and animal health. For example, she plays a key role in working with the FDA to monitor antibiotic resistance patterns in food animals. "A lot of bacterial pathogens in swine and cattle have gotten more resistant over the years," she explains. "I’m glad people are starting to notice—the VDL has been right on the front lines for detecting it."
Carrie Wees, one of her nominators, highlighted Karen’s unique leadership: "Not only does she care about the science and the work, she deeply cares about her staff. Karen does an excellent job of training her staff and organizing the operation of the VDL Bacteriology Section."
While deeply honored by the recognition, Karen maintains a humble perspective that drives continuous improvement. "I was surprised to receive the award... I’m striving to always do more," she shares. "Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something new comes along to learn."
These awards reflect the commitment of the entire University of Minnesota VDL to its mission: to protect and promote animal and human health through early detection and monitoring of animal diseases.
As Minnesota’s only full-service, fully accredited animal health laboratory, the VDL’s success is built on the work of leaders like Tracy Otterson and Karen Olsen driving the research, developing the cutting-edge diagnostic assays, and upholding the gold standard of quality that supports veterinarians, livestock producers, and public health across the nation.
