Prof Michael Thrusfield

Personal Chair of Veterinary Epidemiology

Biography

Background

Michael Thrusfield is Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology in the University of Edinburgh.  He graduated in veterinary medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1970.  He worked in the East Indies, and then gained postgraduate qualifications in tropical veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and in virology at the Medical School of the University of Birmingham.  After a period of time in general practice, he returned in 1976 to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, where he was appointed epidemiologist.  He has published the only general textbook on veterinary epidemiology (now in its fourth edition, and 32nd year, and translated into Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic), and over 170 papers, articles, reviews and book chapters.  His research interests include diseases of small animals (infectious tracheobronchitis, pyometra and urinary incontinence), the development of computerised disease recording systems, clinical trials, the control of tropical diseases, animal abuse, foot-and-mouth disease and, most recently, diseases of tropical coral reefs.  He has travelled extensively in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, Europe, the Far East and the Pacific, advising government veterinary authorities, the European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the development of disease control programmes, and lecturing at veterinary schools, research institutes and the European Commission.  He is responsible for training European Union veterinarians in epidemiology, and was seconded to the State Veterinary Service during and after the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.   was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in 1996 for his contribution to veterinary epidemiology, was the first Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons recognised specialist in epidemiology, and is a foundation Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health. In 2012 he was awarded the veterinary profession’s Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal for work of outstanding merit, which will encourage the advancement - and dissemination of knowledge - of veterinary science.

Responsibilities & affiliations

UG teaching staff

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