Michael Dolan
Michael Dolan is the current director leading the Merck Animal Health Global Quality team focusing on compliance excellence and operational excellence within large molecules.
Dolan is based in Luzern, Switzerland and has been with Merck for 24 years progressing through various functions within human health quality control, quality assurance, auditing, microbiology, sterility assurance and external manufacturing operations. Throughout the various roles Michael has lead investigations, presented to regulatory agencies and contributed to a wide range of complex root cause investigations extending through vaccines, ophthalmics, oral solid dosage and API’s from both internal sites and external contract manufacturers.
Michael Dolan continues to learn and develop his knowledge within the animal health section through interactions with sites and animal health organizations. He holds a B.S. in biology from Mount Saint Mary’s College and a M.S. in biology (parasitology) from Bloomsburg University. Prior to entering Merck, Michael worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania.
Kendall Graber
Kendall Graber is the inspection section leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Veterinary Biologics.
Graber became interested in the veterinary vaccine industry while working summers at a small veterinary vaccine company near his home in South Dakota. Following graduation from South Dakota State University in 1986, he accepted a job in Research and Development with Grand Laboratories. In 1990, he accepted a job at Fort Dodge Animal Health, a global manufacturer of agricultural and companion animal vaccines. While there, he held positions in R&D, quality control, production and quality assurance, reviewing and approving serial release of domestic and international veterinary biologics. During this time, he also served on the USP 1237 Virology Test Methods Ad hoc Advisory Panel as well as the Fetal Bovine Serum Advisory Panel of the United States Pharmacopeia.
Graber's experience grew following the Pfizer Animal Health acquisition of Fort Dodge Animal Health and subsequent sale to Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. in 2009. One of the highlights of this period was learning the different products, processes and raw materials used in different products at different sites. In 2010, Graber was offered a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Veterinary Biologics in Inspection and Compliance working with the Quality Section. In February 2022, Graber assumed the role of inspection section leader with responsibilities involving management of firm inspections, product inspection and release, and implementing the provisions of the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (VSTA) to assure that pure, safe, potent and effective veterinary biologics, are available for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of animal diseases. His experiences have afforded him the opportunity to participate in and review a wide range of inspections, internal audits, investigations and root cause analysis evaluations.
Terrie Jo Hamtak
Terrie Jo Hamtak started her career in human health as a microbiologist from California State University-Long Beach, before entering the animal health world at the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic, University of Missouri, Columbia. From the veterinary diagnostic arena, she moved into the animal health industry working for several large firms in various departments from Quality, Virus Production, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Quality Technical Support and most recently Compliance Programs.
Hamtak is currently the director of Large Molecules Compliance Programs for Intervet Inc. d/b/a Merck Animal Health with a major focus on regulatory and quality management compliance. She also actively pursues activities in animal health organizations, including but not limited to, the Animal Health Institute (AHI) and the Association of Veterinary Biologics Companies (AVBC).
One never stops learning, even after 40 years in the industry. She notes that she learn something new and exciting about the world of animal health and compliance every day. On a personal note, Terrie Jo keeps very busy with training her puppy training as a service dog for her husband, as well as being a gardener with a love of roses.