Huston Appointed to Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A professor at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has been appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB).

The PACCARB was codified into legislation in 2019 and serves to provide advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding programs and policies intended to support and evaluate the implementation of U.S. government activities related to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The council is comprised of government employees and liaison representative members from various organizations.

MSU CVM Professor and MSU Beef Extension Veterinarian Dr. Carla Huston was nominated by the American Association of Extension Veterinarians (AAEV) and will serve a two-year term as their representative to the council. The AAEV is an organization of public veterinarians involved in extension, education, and outreach. The AAEV is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of food-producing animals and in contributing to public health through the education of the public, the agriculture industry, and the veterinary profession in many areas such as animal welfare and judicious antimicrobial use.

Huston obtained her DVM from the Ohio State University in 1994 and was in private mixed animal practice in Ohio before pursuing a PhD in epidemiology focusing on Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance in dairy cattle. She joined the MSU CVM faculty in 2001. With over 25 years of experience in livestock health and emergency management, she teaches classes focusing on preventive veterinary medicine, epidemiology, population medicine, and disaster management.

As an extension veterinarian, Huston develops and conducts veterinarian, producer, and youth educational programs focusing on livestock quality assurance and health management. She applies the latest research findings and technologies to the field while serving as a liaison between private, public, and regulatory entities.

In addition to her duties as professor and extension veterinarian, Huston serves as MSU CVM Director of Enhanced Clinical Education, a program which facilitates student educational opportunities with local veterinary practitioners in rural settings.

Huston’s two-year appointment to PACCARB began on September 9.