Dr. Rick Sibbel Appointed to Leader of Food Animal Technical Services for Merck Animal Health

June 1, 2016 — 

Rick Sibbel, D.V.M., has been named Executive Director of Technical Services for Merck Animal Health’s recently formed U.S. Food Animal Team. In his new role, Dr. Sibbel oversees the technical services and pharmacovigilance groups for the company’s ruminants, swine and poultry businesses. [Source: Merck Animal Health, May 31, 2016]

“I’m delighted to lead this group of talented and committed veterinarians and Ph.D. ruminant nutritionists – a group committed to working across the food production sectors to help ensure we can continue to help put safe, high-quality meals on the tables of families around the world,” said Dr. Sibbel. “At the same time, it’s also our job to help make sure we are focusing on animal well-being for those animals under our veterinary care. Balanced animal well-being husbandry practices, using sound science and the proper use of technologies are critical to animal health and performance and pivotal to the safe, efficient production of food.”

With more than 35 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Dr. Sibbel has helped bring more than 20 vaccines the livestock and poultry markets. He played leading roles in the development and launch of the first genetically engineered pseudo rabies vaccine, the first influenza vaccine for swine and the first viral-vectored vaccine for poultry. He held previous roles at the company including Director of U.S. Beef Cattle Technical Services and Global Ruminant Technical Services Group Director.

Dr. Sibbel chairs the American Veterinary Medical Association Regulatory Advisory Panel, sits on the Board of Directors for the National Institute of Animal Agriculture and serves on the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Interviewing Committee. Past President of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, he is active with the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

Dr. Sibbel has lectured and trained veterinarians on food animal issues in more than 30 countries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.