Dr. Margaret Slater, senior director of veterinary epidemiology, ASPCA, to give lunchtime and evening talks

Mark the date! Dr. Margaret Slater, senior director of veterinary epidemiology, ASPCA, will give lunchtime and evening talks at AVC on Tuesday, March 20, in lecture theatre A (sponsored by the SJDAWC, the Animal Welfare Club, CVER, and the PEIHS).

12:30 pm - “Saving cats' lives in animal shelters through data-driven programs” Dr. Slater will talk about identification research, adoption program research and a bit about the ASPCA’s “how do you tell if a cat is feral or just frightened?” research.

7:00-9:00 pm “Free-roaming Cats:  Issues and New Ideas for (their) Survival” Dr. Slater will talk about Trap-Neuter-Release, population dynamics, targeted spay/neuter programs and a lack of good data on changing people’s cat-keeping approaches.

Margaret Slater, DVM, PhD
Dr. Slater obtained her DVM from Cornell University in 1986 and spent a year in small animal practice. She returned to Cornell to complete her PhD in epidemiology in 1990. She then joined the faculty at Texas A&M University and was a Professor of Epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences there. Her focus has been on health and disease in companion animals, including research on chronic diseases, questionnaire evaluation and pet overpopulation. Dr. Slater is internationally recognized for her work on the sources, problems and potential solutions for free-roaming cats and dogs. She also has extensive teaching experience at the undergraduate, graduate and professional student levels. Dr. Slater joined the ASCPA in 2008 and currently provides epidemiological and statistical support for staff across the ASPCA, with emphasis on animal shelter focused research.

Dr. Slater has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications and 2 books. She has taught undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students in biostatistics, epidemiology, critical review of the literature, and the human-animal bond. She has worked with more than 20 pure bred dog clubs to develop and analyze breed specific health information. Her first book, Community Approaches to Feral Cats: Problems, Alternatives, and Recommendations, was published by the Humane Society Press in 2002. Her second book, Veterinary Epidemiology: An Evidence-Based Approach describes the process of using veterinary literature to bring new science into veterinary practice.