MacDonald Farnham

Dr. MacDonald Farnham is a public health veterinarian and epidemiologist serving as Senior Global Operations Manager at the University of California Davis, One Health Institute. In his current role, Dr Farnham serves as a global consortium liaison for the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), one of two regional One Health university networks supported by the USAID One Health Workforce - Next Generation project, where he helps lead implementation of One Health teaching, training and capacity building efforts for the SEAOHUN network’s 100+ member universities across the Southeast Asia region. He also provides leadership and operations management for a first-of-its-kind Rift Valley Fever virus vaccine trial funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) just getting underway in Tanzania, and a USDA funded Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus project in Tanzania and Sierra Leone.

Dr. Farnham has broad experience as a public health veterinarian with postdoctoral training in epidemiology, zoonotic disease, veterinary virology, risk analysis, disease surveillance and control. Prior to joining UC Davis’ One Health Institute he served a two-years as Director of Training for the Global Health Program at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; completed a tour as agricultural attaché at the US embassy in Tokyo, Japan; spent six years on teaching faculty at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Public Health; and led the East Africa technical programs for the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats RESPOND project from 2010-15. He has a track record of success working cooperatively with counterparts in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central and South America implementing sustainable improvements in disease surveillance and response systems, outbreak preparedness and effective risk communications.

Dr. Farnham enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, visiting unique places, learning about diverse cultures, and finding shared interests with people he meets around the world. He and his wife have two young boys, ages nine and eleven. Adopted pets, Juney, Yoko, Kevin, Skittles and Rooster round out a busy household menagerie.