Charles E. Benson
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Charles E. Benson is a Professor of Microbiology and Chief of Clinical Veterinary Microbiology in the Laboratory of Microbiology in the Department of Pathobiology of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He has a secondary appointment in the Department of Clinical Studies at New Bolton Center. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Franklin College in Indiana, a Master’s degree from Miami University in Ohio and a doctoral degree from Wake Forest University. He received post-doctoral training in the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and was a Scholar in the Medical School Program to Develop Scientists in Medical Research.

Dr Benson began his teaching and research career in the School of Allied Medical Profession of the University and later transferred to the faculty of The School of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on the molecular epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of bacterial intestinal pathogens and has focused primarily on infections caused by Salmonella. Most of the research has been focused on horses and food animals but he has ventured into some small companion animal work. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Benson was one of the UP researchers to study “Potomac Horse Fever” and isolated the etiological agent of that disease. He developed the Salmonella Reference Center (SRC) to complement the endeavors of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The SRC has grown to serve the State-sponsored studies as well as serving many other States and producers throughout the country. He served as the chairman of the Department of Clinical Studies at New Bolton Center from 1989 to 1994. A new addition to the research program is a study to develop non-antibiotic treatments of diseases in food animals. He founded a course Food Safety and Quality Assurance for the fourth year veterinary students in the School five years ago.

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