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Matthew T. French, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

Department of Defense Advisor on Human Animal Bond
United States Army
Killean, TX, United States

Dr. Todd French, DVM, MPH(HAB), DACVPM. A Raleigh, NC native, Dr. French graduated from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. He was commissioned as an active-duty Army Veterinary Corps Officer and currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Army. In 2015, He earned a Master of Public Health with a Human-Animal Bond concentration from the University of Tennessee Department of Public Health and Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. While in Knoxville, Dr. French discovered his true calling in HAB program development and evaluation, collaborating with the Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT) and the Veterinary Social Work Programs. Since 2015, he has served as the Department of Defense Advisor on the Human-Animal Bond, transforming human-animal bond programs and policies across all military branches. His achievements include expanding animal-assisted activity programs, developing foundational policy and progressive change for the Department of Defense's HAB programs and initiatives worldwide, and groundbreaking research on the effect of inclusion of trained facility dogs in high-stress military work environments for deployed and non-deployed service members.

Dr. French has published peer reviewed journal articles and multiple information articles in military publications on HAB programs and the positive health measures that accompany the human-animal bond. He presents on HAB at numerous national-level conferences, including the AVMA, APHA, North Carolina Veterinary Conference, University of Tennessee-CVM Lecture Series, Army Public Health Conference (APHC), and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS). His pioneering work in the human-animal bond field has earned him numerous awards, including the John C. New Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health, induction into the Order of Military Medical Merit, and the prestigious "9A" proficiency designator from the Surgeon General of the US Army.

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Presentation(s):