Don R. Bergfelt, MS, PhD
Biomedical Sciences
Location: Academic Hub
Room #35-105
Phone: +1 869-465-4161 Ext. 401-1367
dbergfelt@rossvet.edu.kn
Subsequent to volunteer military service in the US Navy, Dr. Don Bergfelt obtained a Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Veterinary Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Thereafter, Dr Bergfelt served as a post-doctoral fellow at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, a senior scientist at the school of veterinary medicine back in Wisconsin, study director of toxicological studies at a contract research organization in Wisconsin and Virginia, and a federal senior scientist and technical advisor at the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC.
Dr Bergfelt returned to academia in October 2014, joining Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) where he currently serves as Professor and Department Head of Biomedical Sciences. Apart from his administrative responsibilities to maintain day-to-day operations of the department and support respective faculty and staff, Dr Bergfelt provides lectures and labs in anatomy, physiology, endocrinology, and toxicology to the students.
Dr Bergfelt has 194 publications that include peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals, abstracts in proceedings from scientific meetings, and book chapters in veterinary reference texts. He has established collaborations with several major aquatic institutes and been awarded multiple internal/external in grants to support various studies in cetaceans and other marine mammals. Dr Bergfelt has mentored as supervisor or co-supervisor numerous graduate students for MSc or PhD degrees.
BS Animal Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MS Veterinary Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD Veterinary Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Reproductive Physiology, University of Saskatchewan
Comparative physiology encompassing reproduction and metabolism across multiple terrestrial and aquatic mammals. Immuno-analysis and proteomics are used to gain a fundamental understanding of the impact various biological and physical events and environmental factors can have on the endocrine system in accord with the concept of One Health – animals humans, and the environment.
Bergfelt, D.R., Canales, R., Vences, M., Smallcomb, M., Sanchez-Okrucky, R. 2023. Circulating concentrations of cortisol in cows and calves during weaning in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Aquatic Mammals 49(4). https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.49.4.2023.
Segabinazzi, L.G.T.M, Gilbert, R.O., Ambrosia, R., Bergfelt, D., Samper, J.C., Peterson, E., French, H.M. 2023. Ovarian and uterine structural and functional dynamics during the estrous cycle in donkeys in Eastern Caribbean. Animals 13(1):74. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010074
Bergfelt, D.R., Vences, M., Merritt, D., Machado, M., Hervé-Claude, L.P., Dzikiti,, L., Canales, R., Sanchez-Okrucky, R. 2022. Cortisol, lactate, and ammonia plasma concentrations associated with performance-based physical activities in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 48(3):287-295. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.3.2022.287
Segabinazzi, L.G.T.M., Roberts, B.N., Peterson, E.W., Ambrosia, R., Bergfelt, D., Samper, J.C., French, H.M., Gilbert, R.O. 2022. Early pregnancy in jennies in the Caribbean: corpus luteum development and progesterone production, uterine and embryo dynamics, conceptus growth and maturation. Animals 12(127):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020127
Artemiou, E., Hutchison, P., Machado, M., Ellis, D., Bradtke, J., Mauldin Pereira, M., Carter, J., Bergfelt, D. 2021. Impact of human-animal interactions on psychological and physiological factors associated with veterinary school students and donkeys. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8:1-7. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.701302
Ignácio, F.S., Montechiesi, D.F., Bergfelt, D.R., Orlandi, C., Carvalho, L.R., Puoli Filho, N.J., Meira, C.2021. Ultrasound-guided aspiration of dominant follicles (≥25 mm) followed by luteinization and progesterone production during the estrous cycle in mares. Theriogenology 160:128-133.
Ambrosia, R.L., Gilbert, R., Bergfelt, D.R., Samper, J., Peterson, E.W., French, H.M. 2020. Sample handling has minimal effect on blood progesterone concentrations in jennies. Clinical Theriogenology 12(2):121-123.
Bergfelt, D.R., Davis, S., Conan, A., Martinez, M., Vences, M., Canales, R., Sanchez-Okrucky, R. 2020. Plasma concentrations of corticosteroids associated with performance-based physical activity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 8(3):152-159.
McCormack, M., Fielding, R., Kiszka, J., Paz, V., Jackson, B., Bergfelt, D., Dutton, J. 2020. Mercury and selenium concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios in small cetaceans taken off St. Vincent, West Indies. Environmental Research 181:108908. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108908
Miller, B.A., Chapwanya, A., Kilminster, T., Scanlon,T., Milton,J., Osório,H., Oldham,C., Greeff,J., Bergfelt,D.R., Campos,A.M.O., Almeida, A.M. 2019. The ovine hepatic mitochondrial proteome: Understanding seasonal weight loss tolerance in two distinct breeds of sheep. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212580. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212580
Miller, B.A., Selevsek, N., Grossman, J., Kilminster, T., Scanlon, T., Daniels, M., Nanni, P., Milton, J., Oldham, C., Greef, J., Chapwanya, A., Bergfelt, D.R., and de Almeida, A. M. 2019. Ovine liver proteome: assessing mechanisms of seasonal weight loss tolerance between Merino and Damara sheep. Journal of Proteomics 191:180-190. DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.02.018