Dorte Dopfer, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor
Department of Medical Sciences
Office: 2002
Website
Titles and Education
- I teach the Applied Epidemiology Elective during Fall of each year. The course is a 2-week rotation for fourth year veterinary students and MPH students.
Research
My research interests are focused on veterinary epidemiology, Food Safety and Global Health. Applied mathematical modeling for the emergence and persistence of verotoxinogenic Escherichia coli (VTEC, syn. STEC) in the bovine reservoir is my particular area of research.
Interdisciplinary communication to optimize the communication and interaction between multidisciplinary researchers and their policy makers and stake holders represents a second area of research that I am working in.
Finally, bovine lameness and the epidemiology of digital dermatitis (heel warts) in cattle has lead to research about the best-practice for hoofbathing to prevent and control digital dermatitis in cattle at the lowest cost and best efficiency.
Clinical Interests
The best practice and management of hoofbaths to control and prevent digital dermatitis in cattle is linked to the modern paradox of animal husbandry in relation to lameness (Dopfer and Bonino 2008). It is therefore my aim to link applied mathematical modeling to the spread of infectious diseases such as claw diaseases and especially digital dermatitis in order to promote this interdisciplinary approach during the training of animal health managers such as veterinary students, veterinarians, hoof trimmers, farmers and other stakeholders. In addition, defining data-based standards for elite dairy herds applying innovative statistics and modeling approaches to end-uder oriented communication of results are at the focus of my interests.
Graduate Training
Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany, Veterinary medicine, Veterinary surgeon, 1992
University of Hannover, Germany, Veterinary medicine, DVM, 1994
Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Veterinary epidemiology, MSc, 1994
Utrecht University, Academic teaching degree, 1999
Utrecht University, Veterinary microbiology, PhD, 2000