Dr. Theresa Bernardo
UPEI Distinguished Alumnus

Dr. Theresa Bernardo was recently awarded the honour of being one of UPEI's Distinguished Alumni. The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest honour presented by the Alumni Association and are presented annually to graduates who have made an outstanding contribution to knowledge, the arts, the community, to the University, or have made a special contribution to an area of service to humanity.

Theresa completed her DVM at the Ontario Veterinary College in 1984 and, in 1986, came to UPEI as the University's first graduate student (working under the supervision of Dr. Ian Dohoo). Despite the graduate program being in its infancy, Theresa completed her program on schedule and went on to a very distinguished career in international veterinary medicine (working in Trinidad/Tobago and Costa Rica). In 1997 she returned to academia as the Director of the Information Technology Centre at Michigan State University, where she has remained (except for a one year leave of absence to work at the Pan-American Health Organization). Theresa's main interest now is in the use of new technologies (particularly social media) to address complex health problems (both animal and human).

To see the sort of areas that Theresa is currently working on, watch her “Ted talk”.

Congratulations Theresa.