Staff

Dr. Melba S. Ketchum grew up in Texas City, Texas. She is a Moody Scholar and attended Texas A&M University where she received her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine after five years at the university. She had a mixed veterinary practice until she founded DNA Diagnostics. Dr. Ketchum has shown horses extensively and has a ranch in Texas where she still maintains registered Quarter Horses and American Paint Horses as well as a herd of Charolais cattle. Dr. Ketchum is the president and founder of DNA Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a Shelterwood Laboratories. Established in 1985, DNA Diagnostics has become a leader in all types of DNA testing including: human and animal forensics, human and animal paternity and parentage testing, disease diagnostics, trait tests, animal and human identity testing, species identification and sex determination. Most common species of animals are tested at DNA Diagnostics. Dr. Ketchum has also established a research program ranging from gene mapping to developing the VeriSNP™ (patent pending) platform for universal genetic evaluation in multiple species of animals. Other research includes genetics of disease, population genetics and other genetically important traits such as coat color in animals. Dr. Ketchum is a past three-term Chairperson of the International Society for Animal Genetics Equine Genetics Standing Committee. She has also been Dog Map Chairperson and a Committee member on the Dog and Cat Parentage Committee. She is currently the Treasurer for AFDAA, The Association of DNA Analysts and Administrators. Dr. Ketchum has a daughter and a son and lives on her Attoyac Valley Ranch in East Texas.

Hanna Wasiluk, B.S., M.S. 

Hanna Wasiluk was born and raised in Gdansk, Poland. She joined the team at DNA Diagnostics in October, 2006 in a supervisory position. She has helped with the development and validation of the VeriSNP™ universal genetic evaluation and has overseen all aspects of testing at the laboratory. As far as her education, she completed her Masters Degree in Molecular Biology in 2000 from the University of Gdansk. Competitive entrance examination scores are requirements for admissions and enrollment in this University, which is an accredited institution of higher learning in Poland. During enrollment, Ms. Wasiluk had completed coursework and examinations in general studies and specialized areas of expertise including Molecular Evolution, Application of Genetic Engineering in Biotechnology, Biochemical Principles of Gene Expression, Cell Development and Differentiation, Taxonomy of Vertebrates, Histology of Vertebrate Animals, and other related courses. She also completed research over purification and crystallization of cloned protein-Methylotransferase FokIA. Ms. Wasiluk obtained her masters degree with four marks on studies and five on research. Hannah is a highly skilled researcher  and analyst  and is currently the lab supervisor for the VeriSNP™ program at DNA Diagnostics. Hannah and her husband have three sons and enjoy visiting the mountains and taking their children  to the beach.