Contact Information
Orange Park Florida Bldg 2
Phone: 423.869.7014
Email: donald.bergfelt@lmunet.edu
Overview
Dr. Don Bergfelt serves as Professor of Physiology at the Lincoln Memorial University – College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM). He brings extensive expertise in comparative physiology and a strong commitment to veterinary education. Guided by the Principle of Complementarity - Form Follows Function - Dr. Bergfelt emphasizes that a solid foundation in the structural and functional aspects of animal bodily systems fosters student confidence, competence, and long-term success as veterinarians and scientists.
His career began in the U.S. Navy, where he developed a philosophy centered on building relationships and open communication aligned with the Navy's core values for success - Honor, Courage, and Commitment. This approach shaped his academic and professional journey through an undergraduate program in animal science (BS) and graduate programs in veterinary science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (MS and PhD), a postdoctoral fellowship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, and leadership roles in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.
Role at OPCVM
Dr. Bergfelt’s team teaches veterinary physiology in association with anatomy and toxicology, while integrating clinically relevant concepts into the curriculum. This role also involves contributing to research and scholarly activity in comparative physiology, mentoring students, and engaging in service to the college, community, and profession.
Research Focus
Dr. Bergfelt’s research focuses on reproductive physiology, endocrinology, metabolism, toxicology, and human-animal interactions across terrestrial mammals such as horses and cattle and marine mammals including whales, dolphins, and manatees. His collaborative work within the One Health framework has resulted in more than 111 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals,10 book chapters in leading veterinary reference texts on equine reproduction, and supervision of multiple veterinary student trainees and graduate students (MSc and PhD).
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9361-791X
Education and Certifications
BS: University of Wisconsin-Madison
MS: University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD: University of Wisconsin-Madison
