Jesse Hostetter

When the University resumed classes in fall 2020, the logistics for testing thousands of people on campus for COVID-19 each week were daunting. But with help from partners across campus, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s diagnostic laboratories in Athens and Tifton were up for the challenge. Under Jesse Hostetter’s leadership, the University continued to innovate as the year progressed, developing a saliva test that made COVID-19 testing easier and less invasive for patients than a nasal swab.

Over the academic year, nearly 75,000 tests were administered, helping UGA monitor and contain outbreaks.

Multiple UGA partners were crucial to this effort, including the University Health Center and UGA’s VetView, which provided technical support.

It has been my great privilege to be part of UGA’s SARS-CoV-2 testing program. To work with teams across campus who made this testing possible has been an amazing experience. This effort and the support of our donors have helped keep our UGA community safe.