New executive director of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory named

Denise Imai-Leonard has been named the executive director of the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, or VDL. She will assume the role Oct. 1.

Imai-Leonard comes to MSU from the University of California, Davis where, as a health sciences clinical professor, she advanced to positions of increased leadership in the School of Veterinary Medicine over the past 12 years. Most recently, she served as director of the Comparative Pathology Laboratory, a research animal diagnostic laboratory and pathology core, and vice chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. For the first half of 2025, she also served as the highly pathogenic avian influenza crisis management director. In that role, she facilitated communications and operations to share information and expertise, represented experts to other stakeholders, and advocated for the needs of primary responders.

Prior to her career at UC Davis, she served as a clinical instructor of anatomic pathology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and has additional experience as a pathologist for SeaWorld Parks in San Diego and Zoo Exotic Pathology Service in Sacramento.

Imai-Leonard earned both her doctor of veterinary medicine and doctorate in comparative pathology from the University of California, Davis. She completed her residency in anatomic pathology with zoo and wildlife emphasis at UC Davis and the Zoological Society of San Diego. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University.

In her new role, Imai-Leonard will advance the VDL’s mission and vision by promoting its standards of excellence and commitment to quality. She will also strengthen diverse, transdisciplinary teams to address evolving needs in animal and public health. In addition, she will represent the VDL in collaborations with state and federal agencies, animal industry groups, agricultural organizations and professional associations at both the state and national levels.

“I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to utilize and strengthen my abilities as an academician, diagnostician and investigator, but my passion is for developing talented, high-performance teams,” said Imai-Leonard. “I am incredibly excited to join the MSU VDL not only because of its national and international reputation, but to elevate the VDL team’s capacity to fulfill its critical mission to protect animal health in Michigan and beyond.”

Her professional interests include comparative pathology, geropathology, health surveillance, academic and service unit leadership, and program and talent development.

“Dr. Imai-Leonard brings new energy and a fresh perspective that will carry the VDL into its next chapter,” said Kimberly Dodd, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “She is passionate about building collaborative teams and shaping innovative directions that will position the laboratory for continued leadership — on our campus, across Michigan and on the global stage. I’m excited to welcome Dr. Imai-Leonard to the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and look forward to working alongside her to continually expand the reach and impact of the VDL.”

Animal health stakeholders and campus partners are invited to meet Dr. Imai-Leonard at an informal reception held at the laboratory from 2–4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, a service unit in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, is a premier, full-service, fully accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory. A member of key federal networks charged with protecting animal and public health in Michigan and beyond, the laboratory works with national, regional and local officials to investigate and counter emerging and reemerging threats such as African swine fever, antimicrobial resistance, avian influenza, bovine tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus and more. The MSU VDL delivers on its promise of core diagnostics, expert service and innovative solutions to over 10,000 clients in all 50 states and more than 25 foreign countries.