The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has established the Josephine Deubler Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory. The laboratory is part of a service that encompasses a genetic testing and counseling program in the School's Section of Medical Genetics. It is named after the School's first female graduate, Dr. Josephine Deubler, V'38, who served on the faculty until 1987 and is still active in school affairs.

The director of the Josephine Deubler Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory is Dr. Urs Giger and the Research Specialist is Adam Seng who handles most of the testing and of communication with veterinarians and owners. Adam Seng went to Kutztown University in Pennsylvania and received a Medical Laboratory Technician degree from the American Center for Technical Arts and Sciences. He has worked in the Clinical Laboratory of the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is now the Research Specialist in the Josephine Deubler Genetics Disease Testing Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania and is responsible for processing and analyzing all samples from animals to be tested for known hereditary disease.

Hereditary diseases of companion animals are an important problem for breeders and owners. More than 350 inherited disorders have been identified in the dog and over 150 in the cat. The Section of Medical Genetics at the School has been in the forefront of reporting hereditary diseases in companion animals for more that 20 years. Many diseases were first discovered by Penn researchers who often also characterized the disease course, determined the mode of inheritance and developed tests to identify affected animals. Since most of the diseases are recessively inherited, tests to identify carriers who are clinically asymptomatic but can pass on the abnormal (mutant) gene have been developed. With recent advances in molecular genetic technology several DNA-based tests that are more accurate have been introduced.

The genetic testing laboratory is enhances by weekly Pediatrics and Genetics clinic at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (VHUP) and the Canine/Feline Genetic Disease Information System to provide counseling and advice on the management of affected animals and on breeding companion animals free of genetic diseases and will aid in the identification of new hereditary diseases.

The Genetic Testing and Counseling Program has become a reliable resource at an affordable rate. It is a non-profit operation under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, supported by donations and modest service fees.

Dr. Josephine Deubler

Dr. Deubler was the first female graduate of the School (1938), she was also the first female veterinary graduate of the School to earn a Ph.D. (1944)

She was appointed to the faculty in 1941 as a pathologist/microbiologist. During the years 1946 to 1952 she worked with then Dean Kelser in bacteriology on research on feline panleukopenia and bovine keratitis. She published 15 scientific papers and served as the head of the School's clinical pathology laboratory from 1950 to 1959. Her teaching and research spanned the disciplines of pathology, parasitology, bacteriology, virology and clinical pathology. Dr. Deubler retired from the faculty in 1987 and now has Emeritus status.

For many years Dr. Deubler wrote the "Ask the Veterinarian" column in Popular Dogs, helping dog breeders and owners understand and prevent their dogs' medical problems. Three decades ago Dr. Deubler perceived the need for education of owners and breeders of dogs. She was instrumental in establishing the Annual Canine and Feline Symposium here. It was the first such event and it became a model for the multitude of educational events available today to dog and cat fanciers.

Dr. Deubler is show chairman for the largest outdoor show in the country, the Bucks County Kennels Club show, and for the world's largest terrier show, the Montgomery County Kennel Club show. She has also been Best of Show judge at the Westminster Kennel Club show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

It appears most appropriate to dedicate the Genetic Disease Testing and Service Laboratory at Penn in Dr. Deubler's name. Donations in support of the Josephine Deubler Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory are greatly appreciated and tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to: Trustee University of Pennsylvania/Deubler Laboratory.