Prof Michael Doherty will take up the position of dean of veterinary medicine and head of the school on 1 September, a school representative told the Irish Farmers Journal this Monday.

Prof Doherty specialises in large herd animals’ health, primarily cattle and sheep. He teaches in the fourth and final years of UCD’s veterinary medicine degree.

His CV includes positions as former president of the European College of Bovine Health Management and he is Ireland’s representative on the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation.

According to UCD, he is the only European specialist in sheep health in the Republic of Ireland recognised by the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management.

Prof Doherty graduated from the University of Edinburgh and has a background in sheep and cattle practice, as well as teaching and research in Scotland and in Ireland.

Animal Health Ireland executive member

Prof Doherty is an executive member of Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and chair of the AHI technical working group on the control of BVD.

He is also involved along with UCD colleagues in the promotion and development of national dairy herd health programmes.

Prof Doherty contributes to the online delivery of postgraduate education in dairy herd health and is editor-in-chief of the Open-access Irish Veterinary Journal.

His research interests include the development of innovative disease management systems in dairy herds, genetic disorders, lameness in sheep and cattle, sheep flock health and the interface between herd health and the social sciences.

He is engaged in several research projects in collaboration with Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture.