Assistant Professor, Faculty Technical Advisor of the Veterinary Innovation Hub

Dr. Benjamin Blair received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and PhD in pathobiology, specializing in epidemiology, from the University of Illinois. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a background that informs his engineering-driven approach to solving challenges in animal health.

Dr. Blair’s career spans academia, industry, and consultancy. Prior to his current role as assistant professor in Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois, he worked as a private consultant for large pharmaceutical companies, venture firms, and startups alike, aiding in the research and development of products. In these positions, he focused on integrating advanced analytics, machine learning, and computer vision into livestock production systems to improve disease detection, animal welfare, and operational efficiency.

His expertise centers on swine disease ecology, modeling transmission dynamics in cull sow and production networks, and developing innovative monitoring tools to support veterinary decision-making. Dr. Blair has shared his work widely through presentations at scientific conferences and professional meetings across the United States.

He is passionate about bridging technology and veterinary medicine to create practical solutions for producers and veterinarians.

A Conversation about Technology-related University Initiatives: Current Success, Longterm Effects

Join Dr. Bob Rowland (Professor and Head of Pathobiology, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine) and Dr. Ben Blair (Assistant Professor and Faculty Technical Advisor of the Veterinary Innovation Hub, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine) for a conversation about new technologies with immense promise and potential unknown consequences.  We will explore some current examples of success as well as approaches to adoption of new tools from the perspective of acceptance, risk, and ethics.