Robert Dyar Labrador Memorial Lectureship in Epidemiology

Robert Dyar, MD endowed the Robert Dyar Labrador Memorial Lectureship in Epidemiology to recognize the School of Veterinary Medicine's pioneering achievements in veterinary epidemiology; encourage further development of the discipline; and stimulate student interest in veterinary epidemiology.

Some time before his death Dr. Dyar told Dr. Calvin Schwabe, UCD’s first professor of epidemiology, that he would like to do something which would, at the same time, recognize the pioneering achievements of UC Davis in the field of veterinary epidemiology and encourage future development there of that discipline, but also reflect his personal gratitude for the very close companionship he, as a bachelor, had enjoyed all his life with a long series of Labrador Retriever friends, plus the kind and competent help he and they had received over the years from practicing veterinarians. Thus began Dr. Robert Dyar’s generous endowment of the Lectureship in Epidemiology on this campus with the inaugural lecture in 1994.

The Dyar Memorial Lecture is hosted by the Department of Population Health and Reproduction. For more information please contact Dr. Bart Weimer, Department Chair.

Archive of Previous Dyar Lecture Dates and Titles

November 27, 2018: Annette O’Connor
Lecture:   Why being an epidemiologist is awesome?
Lecture:   Approaches to (and the importance of) meta-analysis to animal health

September 15-16, 2017: Stephanie R. Ostrowski
Lecture:  Security and Sustainability Concerns for the 21st Century: vaccine-preventable disease and environmental health
Lecture:  The MPVM Degree -- Foundational and Transformative for Your Veterinary Public Health Career

May 20, 2015: Sander Greenland
Lecture:  Limitations of DAGs and causal models for observational epidemiology
Lecture:  A case study in how expert witnesses obstruct justice and endanger patient care

April 24-25, 2014: Janet M. Scarlett
Lecture: What Are The Risks Associated With Neutering Dogs And Cats? How Will You Decide?
Lecture: Is Epidemiology A Sub-Specialty Of The Clinical Sciences?

May 9, 2013: Muin J. Khoury
Lecture: Translational Genomic Medicine: From The Science Of Discovery To The Science Of Action
Lecture: Fundamentals of Human Genome Epidemiology

October 12, 2012: Stanley B. Prusiner
Lecture: The Molecular Biology Of Mammalian Prions
Lecture: Brain Injuries: Soldiers, Football Players and Alzheimer’s Patients

May 31 & June 1, 2006: Margaret Slater
Lecture: Evidence, Epidemiology & Companion Animal Practice: How Fun Is That? (pdf)
Lecture: Homeless Pets, Health & Changing Public Perceptions (Lecture available on UCTV) (pdf)

May 14-15, 2003: Bryan Perry
Lecture: Veterinary Epidemiology & Its Opportunity For Impact In Africa: The Sky Is The Limit
Lecture: Proverty Reduction in the Developing World: What Role Can Animal Health Research Play? (Lecture available on UCTV)

May 8-9, 2002: Marguerite Pappaioanou
Lecture: Improving Global Health In The 21st Century: Veterinary Medicine Steps Up To The Plate To Protect & Promote Human Health & Well Being (pdf)
Lecture: The Strange Case Of The Veterinarian Working In Public Health

May 30-June 1, 2001: Lonnie J. King
Lecture: Tuberculosis In Michigan Deer: A Study In Epidemiology & Public Policy (pdf)
Lecture: Microbe Hunters For The 21st Century: Reinventing Epidemiologists (pdf)

April 26, 2000: Michael T. Osterholm
Lecture: Bioterrorism: Media Hype Or Real Nightmare?
Lecture: Emerging Infections Revisited: The Next Chapter

May 11-13, 1999: Wayne Martin
Lecture: Pursuing Causation: Should Academic Epidemiologists Open the Black Box?
Lecture: What Should A Veterinary Epidemiologist Do?

April 23-24, 1998: Jean Blancou, General Director of OIE from 1991 to 2000
Lecture: The Evolution Of Rabies Epidemiology In Wildlife (pdf)
Lecture: The Importance Of The Species Barrier In Infectious Diseases (pdf)

April 8-10, 1997: Martin M. Kaplan
Lecture: Moral Choices In Science & Technology (pdf)
Lecture: Some Uses & Misuses Of Epidemiology (pdf)

December 5-7, 1995: Peter M. Schantz
Lecture: Of Pigs, Paupers & Au Pairs: The Emergence of Neurocysticercosis In The Unites States
Lecture: Epidemiological Aspects Of Parasitic Zoonoses & The Veterinarian’s Role In Prevention

December 6-7, 1994: Calvin W. Schwabe
Lecture: The Future Of Africa’s Pastoral Millions: An Epidemiologist’s View (pdf)
Lecture: Comparative Medicine In Ancient Egypt: Origins Of Early Biomedical Theories (pdf)