On December 1, 2017, Dr. Bettina Wagner began her new role as the Chair of the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Her broad experience as a faculty member, involvement in diagnostic service as well as basic and applied research and work in college leadership puts her in an excellent position to serve as Chair,” said Dr. Lorin D. Warnick, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

Wagner received her DVM in 1990 and her Dr. med. vet. degree in veterinary immunology in 1993 from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, and completed a postdoctoral position in 1994 studying the isolation and characterization of IGHC genes in the horse.

She joined the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine community in 2002 as a Visiting Professor for College’s Baker Institute for Animal Health where she also served as a Senior Research Associate from 2004 to 2006. In 2006 she joined the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences as Assistant Professor of Immunology and became an Associate Professor in 2010. In 2014 she was appointed Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education where she was responsible for the strategic leadership and advancement of research and graduate education at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to administrative responsibilities, Wagner conducts research in equine immunology, equine herpes virus infections and Lyme disease.