Olafson, Peter

Abstract

Memorial Statement for Professor Peter Olafson, D.V.M., M.S. (1897-1985) who was Assistant Professor (1926), Professor (1936), and Head (1946) of the Department of Pathology and Bacteriology at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. He made fundamental contributions toward understanding a number of cattle diseases. In particular, Dr. Olafson was the "first to describe virus diarrhea and to define listeriosis, he also studied muscular dystrophy in calves and lambs, toxoplasmosis, cardiac anomalies, 'wobblers', brain tumors, and sterility in all animals. His crowning achievement, however, was his work on hyperkeratosis in cattle." "Through his influence on his graduate students, much of his dedication has been retained in succeeding generations of pathologists. To many of these men Peter Olafson was the 'Father of Pathology'." The memorial statements contained herein were prepared by the Office of the Dean of the University Faculty of Cornell University to honor its faculty for their service to the university.