ST. PAUL - Dr. Beth S. Thompson is Minnesota's new state veterinarian.
She replaces Dr. Bill Hartmann, who earlier announced his retirement for June 1. He has led the State Board of Animal Health and been state veterinarian since 2001. He has worked for the board since 1988.
Thompson joined the board as a senior veterinarian in 2008 after graduating from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School in 2007 and spending a year as a swine production system veterinarian for a Minnesota company.
She is assistant board director.
Thompson's new job was made public Tuesday during a House Agriculture Finance Committee meeting.
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The board deals with a variety of livestock issues, the most visible of which was last year's bird flu outbreak that resulted in the deaths of 9 million Minnesota turkeys and chickens.
