Jen Ward |

Jennifer Ward DVM, DACVP

Dr. Jennifer Ward earned her undergraduate degree (BA English Literature) at Bryn Mawr College in 1989 and was pursuing a graduate degree in English Literature at the University of Hawaii when she discovered her true calling and began the journey of transitioning to a career in veterinary pathology. She gained her foundational love of the laboratory, along with a broad perspective of scientific research, while working as an assistant and volunteer in several laboratories at the University of Hawaii, where she completed her pre-veterinary coursework while simultaneously earning her MA in English Literature. As a veterinary student at Washington State University, she continued to explore her love of research as a participant in the Research Scholars Program, developing theoretical and practical proficiency in study design and in immunological techniques such as cell culture, antibody design and optimization, immunochemistry, and flow cytometry. After earning her DVM in 2002, Jen practiced small animal and emergency medicine in Washington and California for 2 years prior to pursuing a residency in Anatomic Pathology and an additional year as Dermatopathology Fellow, both at the University of Florida. She achieved ACVP board certification in 2007 and subsequently headed back west to Seattle, WA to be close to family. She founded SpecialtyVETPATH (SVP) in 2009. Collaborative research has always been a component of Jen’s vision for SVP, and she and Laura Black (SVP’s clinical pathologist) have been working to integrate collaborative research projects into their diagnostic practice since Laura joined the team in 2016. However, it was when Jen connected with Lisa Berman-Booty in 2020 that the full scope and potential of this vision came into focus. In 2021, Lisa joined the team to help launch and grow the SVP Collaboration Research Services. Jen is thrilled to offer the research community the same high standards of scientific expertise, communication, and client support that the diagnostic service at SVP has become known for.