Ian Dohoo upon receiving Honorary Doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island): Ian Dohoo, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, was presented with an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden on October 11, 2008.

The honorary doctorate was awarded as an acknowledgment of Dohoo’s high standard scientific contributions and outstanding achievements in epidemiology with respect to veterinary medicine. The honour also pays homage to his long-standing involvement in post-graduate teaching at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

“Dr. Ian Dohoo is known around the world for his expertise in veterinary epidemiology,” says Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. “He is a celebrated teacher who is committed to his students, excellence in research, and furthering collaborative partnerships. This honour is fitting and much deserved.”

Dohoo began teaching graduate epidemiology courses organized by the Nordic Forestry Veterinary and Agriculture Network almost 20 years ago. The courses, which rotate among the four Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, provide graduate students with intense training in veterinary epidemiology – the study of health and disease in populations of animals. His association with Scandinavia has led to a number of graduate students from that region coming to UPEI for graduate programs (or shorter study periods) and a number of collaborative research endeavours.

“To receive an honorary degree is humbling and exciting,” says DoPhotos by: Julio Gonzalez, SLUhoo. “I feel very fortunate to be able to teach in such a wonderful part of the world with such eager and bright students. I have developed many friendships and international contacts over the years through my association with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and I look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Dohoo’s recent honorary doctorate is added to a long list of awards and honours.

In 2005, he was one of only four veterinarians in Canada to be elected by national and international peers as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences – one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health science community. Dohoo is also the recipient of the Hessian Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, the Pfizer Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, the CVMA Schering Prize for Contribution to Large Animal Medicine in Canada, the UPEI Award for Scholarly Achievement, and the Beecham Award for Research Excellence.

Dohoo is the senior author of the widely used text Veterinary Epidemiologic Research and the associate editor of Preventive Veterinary Medicine.