I was born May 12, 1959 in Osborne KS. Iam a 1977 graduate of Waconda East High School, in Cawker City KS. It was in high school that I met and started dating Joan (Winkel) and we were married in 1979. Following graduation from high school in May of 1977, I attended Kansas State University the next fall majoring in Wildlife Biology. I was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in the fall of 1980. I was awarded his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1982 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1984.
After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Joan, our son Shawn, and I moved to Beloit KS, where in May of 1984 I worked as a mixed animal practitioner with Dr. Charles Luke at the Solomon Valley Veterinary Hospital. In August 1985, Joan, Shawn, ans I moved to Wichita where I was employed as a small animal practitioner at Bogue Animal Hospital West.
Then in July 1986 I was accepted as a Graduate Research Assistant in Veterinary Parasitology at Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Joan, Shawn, and I moved to West Lafayette, IN. in August 1986. While at Purdue my graduate studies included both Veterinary Parasitology and Medical/Veterinary Entomology. With my primary research focus being the biology of fleas infesting dogs and cats. At Purdue University I earned both a Masters Degree (May 1988) and a PhD (May 1990) in Veterinary Parasitology. It was while a graduate student at Purdue that the veterinary students started calling me Dr. Flea.
Upon completion of the graduate program I accepted an offer from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University and in June of 1990 Joan, Shawn, daughter Sarah, and I moved to Manhattan KS.
At the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University I head a research team that has been involved in three areas: 1) biology and control of fleas and ticks infesting dogs and cats, 2) investigations into the interactions and disease transmission of urban wildlife with domestic pets and humans and 3) diagnosis and control of parasites of dogs and cats.
Research projects in the area of flea and tick biology and control have constituted the majority of this research effort. The research team has conducted laboratory and field evaluations of prospective flea and tick products in Manhattan KS and Tampa FL, including investigations of the largest selling flea and tick products in the world; Advantage®, Capstar®, Comfortis™, Frontline plus®, K9 Advantix®, Program®, Promeris®, and Revolution®.
The second area of active research involves investigating the interactions of urban wildlife with humans and their pets. As a result of continual urbanization, displaced wildlife often find refuge and seek food in suburban areas. Interactions with some of the most common species of urban wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks or opossums may pose serious health risks. Past research projects in this area are focused on studying the prevalence and distribution of urban wildlife and the diseases they carry.
The third area of research includes investigations into the diagnosis and control of parasite transmission in dogs and cats.
Conducting such a large research program has necessitated cooperative research with numerous faculty and students. The team has co-authored research grants and publications with faculty and graduate students in the Departments of Clinical Sciences, Entomology, Biology and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Kansas State University. I have also co-authored publications with numerous researchers at other Universities.
I was promoted to Full Professor in the Department Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in 1999. In addition I have adjunct professor status in the Department of Entomology, Kansas State University and the Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management, Purdue University.
My research has radically changed the veterinary professions understanding of flea and tick ecology. In addition the team has developed novel methods for evaluating flea and tick control products and proposed new concepts that revolutionized flea and tick control. Virtually every major pharmaceutical company utilizes my laboratory to help develop and evaluate their flea and tick control products.
My research has received both National and International media recognition with me appearing in segments on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, the Discovery Channel, Mona Lisa Productions in France, and televised appearances in Canada, England, and Spain, and interviews and articles in numerous newspapers and magazines.
Between 1988 and 2007 my research has lead to over 80 journal articles, 8 book chapters and over 85 abstracts and presentations at scientific meetings. I have been invited to lecture in over 20 countries, presenting over 750 invited seminars at national and international scientific conferences and continuing education meetings. I have served on numerous national, international, and university committees. Including serving as a board member on the International Ectoparasite Symposium, the National Conference on Urban Entomology and was a founding member of the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
I have also been recognized with a number of awards and honors.
I currently live in Manhattan KS with my wife, Joan. Our son Shawn is a graphic and web designer at New Boston Creative Group and our daughter Sarah works as a receptionist/technician in a veterinary practice in California.
Copyright 2007 Dr. Michael Dryden. All Rights Reserved.
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