The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) annually presents the Director’s Excellence Award to individuals who embody the agency’s mission. Each year, TVMDL employees nominate peers they believe exemplify excellence through testing services, quality assurance, technological advances, and overall dedication to TVMDL.
TVMDL is pleased to announce Gayla Lovell, as a 2020 recipient of the Director’s Excellence Award in the technical category.
Lovell has been an imperative part of TVMDL’s Amarillo laboratory for over 26 years. Since joining the agency, Lovell has distinguished herself as a skilled technician trained in both modern and classical virology testing techniques.
Lovell is one of the few technicians in the agency skilled at culturing and maintaining primary cell lines; a process that requires a thorough understanding of the science behind the technique and an artistic capability to perform it. This was the primary means of virology testing for many years and Lovell was integral in ensuring TVMDL’s virology provided exceptional service. As diagnostic techniques evolved, so did Lovell’s skillset.
Currently, Lovell is the technician in her section primarily responsible for performing testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD). Each year, she processes and tests upwards of 25,000 samples, often staying late to ensure clients receive timely test results.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Lovell maintains a large inventory of virus isolates from bovine, equine, porcine, ovine, and caprine clinical submissions. Many of the unique virus isolates, such as Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and Bovine parainfluenza 3 (BPI3) are in demand within veterinary diagnostic research. Due to Lovell’s dedication to this inventory, TVMDL is able to contribute information regarding these viruses to research groups across the United States and world.
Lovell is charged with maintaining quality assurance documents, training section staff, and communicating with clients. She was also instrumental in ensuring a seamless transition during the Amarillo laboratory’s recent relocation to Canyon.
“Gayla is a dedicated and loyal solider for TVMDL and has proved, with her technical and management skills, her value to the agency over the past 26 years,” Virology Section Head Owais Khan, BVSc, MVSc, DACVM, said. “She is very cheerful, upbeat and contributes positivity to each section. There is no doubt she deserves this recognition.”
Please join TVMDL in congratulating this year’s Director’s Excellence Award recipients.