Fletcher Part of First Class in Avian Pathologists Hall of Honor

Oscar J. Fletcher, a poultry health management professor and former dean at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), has been inducted into the American Association of Avian Pathologists hall of honor as part of its inaugural class.

Fletcher is one of 27 honorees announced at the group’s annual meeting this month in San Antonio, Texas. Those selected “are outstanding examples of avian medicine professionals who have given their time and talent for the betterment of the AAAP and the profession,” according to the group.

“Many members of AAAP have made significant contributions to this organization and to the field of poultry health,” says Dr. Fletcher, “so to be included in the inaugural class was humbling.”

Fletcher has been a professor in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at NC State since 2004. He served as CVM’s second dean from 1992 to 2004. He has been involved in the education of 20 poultry health residents at NC State and has provided support for a number of research projects involving the respiratory and nervous systems and infectious diseases. Fletcher, who served as AAAP president from 1994 to 1995, is the author or co-author of 147 journal articles.

He is the namesake of the Oscar J. Fletcher Distinguished Professor in Comparative Oncology Genetics, currently held by CVM genomics professor Matthew Breen.

Born in Bennettsville, S.C., and raised on a dairy farm in closeby McColl, Fletcher holds a B.S. from Wofford College, attended Clemson University for pre-veterinary courses and earned a DVM and M.S. in veterinary pathology from the University of Georgia. He later earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in 1968, serving for two decades there in various positions, including associate professor in avian medicine, associate dean for academic affairs, head of the Department of Avian Medicine and director of the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center.

Calling the hall induction a “significant honor,” Fletcher is also eager to point out that he’s proud that three other directors of the University of Georgia Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center were inducted as well.

And, as always, he’s looking out for his students. He says he has a “great sense of pride” to have three of his former students inducted as well: John Glisson, Chuck Hofacre and David Swayne.

For more information on the American Association of Avian Pathologists, go to aaap.info.

~Jordan Bartel/NC State Veterinary Medicine