image: Dr. Linda Frank, veterinary dermatology professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, received a national award from the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. view more
Credit: Photo courtesy Dr. Stephen Kania, UT Institute of Agriculture.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The American College of Veterinary Dermatology has honored Dr. Linda Frank, a board-certified specialist in veterinary dermatology, with the 2018 Award for Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Education. As a professor of dermatology in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Frank excels as a clinician, teacher and researcher. She receives frequent invitations to speak at international conferences.
Frank's primary research interests include endocrine and other noninflammatory alopecic disorders of dogs and epidemiology and treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections. Frank and colleagues have developed a new vaccine to treat or prevent skin infections and other diseases caused by a certain type of staphylococcal bacteria. This organism, S. pseudintermedius, has developed widespread resistance to antibiotics. A clinical trial is currently underway to test the vaccine to determine if it stimulates an immune response in dogs with skin infections and assists their immune systems in destroying the bacteria.
Frank also serves as codirector of the college's Veterinary Scholars Research Summer Program that provides an opportunity for veterinary students to explore careers in research through participation in a hypothesis-driven project and associated training activities during the summer under the guidance of a mentor.
Frank has also received the 2014 Zoetis Animal Health Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, the 2016 Oxford Laboratories Award for Excellence in the advancement of knowledge concerning small animal endocrinology for best paper in basic science and best paper in clinical studies, and a recent UT Research Foundation Innovation Award.
Frank earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 1985.
Frank received the award at the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum in Maui, Hawaii, where she also presented an abstract about the new vaccine.
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One of 30 veterinary colleges in the United States, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine educates students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, promotes scientific research and enhances human and animal well-being.
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