Contact Information
Orange Park Florida Bldg 2
Phone: 423-869-6416
Email: kerry.gainor@lmunet.edu
Office Location: TBD
Overview
Dr. Kerry R. Gainor is a veterinarian and virologist with over a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, research, applied epidemiology, and veterinary education. She earned her PhD and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM). Her doctoral research investigated viral diversity, evolution, and interspecies transmission in domestic animals and wildlife, including several first reports from the Caribbean region. She has been formally recognized by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses for the discovery of novel Circovirus and Cyclovirus species. Dr. Gainor has held teaching roles in anatomy and veterinary preparatory curricula, mentoring veterinary and graduate students in laboratory, field, and classroom settings. Her professional background in the Caribbean also includes applied wildlife and non-human primate translational research. She continues to practice veterinary medicine as a relief veterinarian in Florida.
More recently, she has served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Parasitic Diseases Branch. In this role, she managed nationally notifiable parasitic diseases, investigated foodborne and transplant-associated infections, and provided subject matter expertise to healthcare providers and public health agencies. She has led and contributed to interagency preparedness and response efforts for the potential reintroduction of New World screwworm in the United States.
Dr. Gainor is committed to advancing veterinary education at LMU-OPCVM through evidence-based teaching, mentorship of future veterinarians and scientists, and integration of clinical, research, and One Health perspectives.
Role at OPCVM
Dr. Gainor serves as Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Veterinary Medicine at OPCVM, where she provides pre‑clinical and clinical instruction with a domain emphasis split between anatomy and veterinary medicine. Her teaching responsibilities include anatomy, histology, parasitology, and clinical skills, supporting students in developing a strong foundational and systems‑based understanding of animal structure and clinical application. In this role, she fosters student learning and contributes through ongoing research and scholarly activity aligned with his areas of expertise.
Research Focus
Dr. Gainor’s research focuses on investigating viral diversity and evolution in veterinary and zoonotic pathogens, as well as applying epidemiologic and surveillance methodologies to public health investigations of parasitic diseases. Her expertise spans viral genomics, zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases, outbreak investigation and response, parasitic disease surveillance, and veterinary anatomy education. Through collaborative work situated within the One Health framework, she contributes to advancing scientific understanding across animal and human health interfaces while supporting the training and professional development of students and early‑career scientists.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9259-6005
Education and Certifications
BS: Marist College
DVM: Ross University
