Ohio veterinarian Dr. K. Fred Gingrich, II, will become executive vice president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) later this year when Dr. M. Gatz Riddell, Jr., retires.

Riddell has led the 5,000-plus AABP membership into a new era where animal welfare, judicious drug use, regulations and consumer perceptions have taken center stage in shaping livestock production.

In March 2015 AABP formed a search committee made up of a diverse group of AABP members with a long history of service and leadership to AABP, in addition to hiring an executive search consultant. The AABP Board of Directors chose Gingrich in February of this year.

Gingrich, who is the current AABP president, has had a long association with the organization since he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.

Gingrich owns Country Roads Veterinary Services, Inc., in Ashland, Ohio. Gingrich will leave private practice to become the full time AABP executive vice president on Jan. 1, 2017.

After graduating from veterinary school, he practiced in Visalia, Calif., for two years in a large dairy practice, then returned to Ohio and currently is in a practice primarily serving dairy farmers, but some cow-calf and beef operations. He has been there 19 years.  

Gingrich has a special interest in judicious drug use on beef and dairy farms, including the upcoming Veterinary Feed Directive. He has been actively involved in organized veterinary medicine and with AABP has been involved with the Committee on Pharmaceutical and Biologic Issues, and as president with the AABP Executive Committee. He has been involved with the AVMA Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee, the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, and the National Milk Producers Federation residue avoidance manual.

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Gingrich has been married to his wife Michelle for 23 years and has four children.

AABP plans to have a six-month transition with both Dr. Gingrich and Dr. Riddell on staff from July through December 31, 2016. During this time, Gingrich will set up an office and support staff in Ohio. Gingrich will step down as AABP president July 1, and Immediate Past President Dr. John Davidson will return as AABP president for July, August and September 2016 up until the 49^th Annual Conference September 15-17 when President-Elect Dr. Mark Thomas will become the AABP president.

Gingrich will be the fourth AABP executive vice president following:

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