Head and shoulders image of Dr. Niels O. Nielsen, dean of Veterinary Medicine, 1974-1982.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Niels Ole Nielsen was born 3 March 1930 in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned his DVM in 1956 (University of Toronto), and his PhD in Veterinary Pathology in 1963 (University of Minnesota). He joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1964 as associate professor, was promoted through the ranks to full professor (1968), head of the department of Veterinary Pathology (1968), and dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (1974), a position he held until 1982. Dr. Nielsen was instrumental in the establishment of the Prairie Swine Centre and, among his considerable academic achievements, was one of the team of researchers who first established that mercury pollution was a problem in Canada and a potential hazard to humans. Dr. Nielsen moved on to the Ontario Veterinary College (1985-1994) at the University of Guelph. He is well-published in the areas of livestock disease, biomedical science, ecosystem health and conservation, and veterinary professional affairs and education. Dr. Nielsen was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016 “for his contributions to veterinary medicine in Canada as an academic and administrator”. Dr. Nielsen is Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathobiology, OVC (2023).