Natalie J. Coffer, DVM

Curriculum Vitae

Education

1994 Biology Major Spanish Literature Minor. Wake Forest University, B.Sc.,Cum Laude

1997 Biology. Appalachian State University, M.Sc.

2002 Veterinary Medicine. Royal Veterinary College, BVetMed.

2003 Farm Practice, Theriogenology and Production Medicine. University of Georgia, Internship

2006 Large Animal Internal Medicine. University of Tennessee, Residency DACVIM-LA 

Employment

Visiting Clinical Instructor, Farm Animal, Reproduction and Surgery department, University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine (September 05, 2006- August 15, 2007).

Resident, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (2003 to 2006). Duties were divided equally between equine and farm animal medicine.

Intern, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (2002 to 2003).

Veterinary Assistant. Apex Veterinary Hospital, Apex, North Carolina (1997 to 2002). Assisted with equine farm calls, equine and bovine surgery and hospitalized equine, bovine and small ruminant patients, and record keeping.

International Experience

Preparation of teaching materials and rounds presentations for a rural veterinarian continuing education course held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia with the Mongolian V.E.T. Net organization. February 2006. Subjects included physical examination, neonatal foal care, and neonatal ruminant diarrhea.

Student externship in anesthesia at the Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. September 2001. 

Large animal veterinary assistant in a practice located in Marston, New Zealand. August 2001. 

Student externship in veterinary laboratory diagnostics: Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Penicuik, Scotland. April 2000. 

Veterinary assistant in a mixed animal practice in Scotland. April 2006.

Honors and Awards 

Large Animal Resident of the Year (elected by the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2006). April 2006

Inducted into the University of Tennessee Phi Zeta Honor Society chapter. April 2006

University of Tennessee nomination for the National Phi Zeta Manuscript Award in the clinical research category. April 2006

Merit for final year clinical rotations from Royal Veterinary College. July 2002.

Merit in Animal Husbandry from Royal Veterinary College. June 1998. 

Cum Laude from Wake Forest University. May 1994.

Academic Excellence Award for Student-Athletes from Wake Forest University. May 1993 and 1994. 

Publications

Coffer, NJ Ovine and Caprine Medicine. NAVLE Review material. Submitted in September 2008. 

Clark, SG and NJ Coffer. Normal Hematology and Hematologic Disorders in Potbellied Pigs In: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice. Manuscript submitted January 2008. 

Coffer NJ, Frank N, Elliott SB, et al. Effects of dexamethasone and isoflupredone acetate on milk production and serum biochemistry values in dairy cows (abstract). Published in J Vet Intern Med 2005; 19:411. 

Coffer NJ, Frank N, Elliott SB, et al. 2006. Effects of dexamethasone and isoflupredone acetate on milk production and serum biochemistry values in dairy cows. Am J Vet Res 2006; 67(7):1244-51.  

Chapters in the Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Ruminants. Blackwell Publishing 2005 (in press). 
Oak Toxicosis
Fungal Tremorgens
Brassica spp. Toxicosis
Down Camelids

Research Experience 

Current project aimed at isolating and describing respiratory coronavirus in camelids in collaboration with Oregon State University (January 2008)

Resident project examining the effects of dexamethasone and isoflupredone acetate on milk production and serum biochemistry values in dairy cows, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (2005 to 2006).

Senior year research project on redistribution hypothermia in anesthetized horses, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK (2002). 

Research project on stereotypical behavior in adult and cub sloth bears in the London Zoo, London, UK (2001).

Masters thesis research examining the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in domestic and feral dogs in Watauga County, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina (1997).

Professional Presentations

Illinois Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Camelid Health Conference, Urbana-Champaign, IL. March 2008. Topics in Camelid Medicine
Review of neonatal cria care, common infectious and neurologic diseases in camelids  

Christian Veterinary Mission Fellowship: Real Life Real Impact Seminar, Urbana-Champaign, IL. January 2008. Single with a Purpose

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Grand Rounds, Urbana, IL, September 2007. Claudia, the Fallen Goat
Case report of neurologic disease in a goat, focusing on functional neuroanatomy.

Christian Veterinary Mission Fellowship: Real Life Real Impact Seminar, Madison, WI. January 2007. Deciding on Internships and Residencies and Hints for Survival

Goat Producers Seminar, Arthur, IL, November 2006. Strategies for Parasite Control in Goats

East Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference, Gatlinburg, TN. October 2006. Christian Veterinary Mission in Outer Mongolia

Champaign County Parks District, Champaign, IL. October 2006. Raising Ostriches

University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Camelid Conference, Knoxville, TN. March 2006. Neurologic Disease in Camelids
Parasitic, metabolic, bacterial, and viral (including West Nile, equine herpes and eastern equine encephalitis viruses) causes of neurologic disease were discussed

Update on Parasitism in Camelids
Common parasites of camelids and current herd management recommendations were discussed

Southeastern Camelid Association Annual Conference, Knoxville, TN. March 2005. Parasitism in Camelids
A review of the common parasites found in camelids

University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Camelid Conference, Knoxville, TN. September 2005. Coccidiosis in Camelids
Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this important disease were discussed

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine 23rd Annual 2005 Forum, Baltimore, MD. June 2005.
Effects of dexamethasone and isoflupredone acetate on milk production and serum biochemistry values in dairy cows (abstract). Published in J Vet Intern Med 2005; 19:411.

Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) Conference, Georgia (1996) and South Carolina (1997).
Presentation of thesis research at annual ASB conferences at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 1996 and Furman University, Greenville, SC, 1997.

Teaching Experience 

Ruminant Health and Production I (VCM 638)
Neonatal Diarrhea (Aug 2007)
Abomasal Disorders and Surgery (Oct 2007)

Ruminant Health and Production II (VCM 638)
Ruminant Neurologic Diseases (Spring 2007)

Current Topics in Large Animal Internal Medicine (VCM 577 2007-2008)
Rota- and Coronaviral Diarrhea; Winter Dysentery
Clostridial Diarrhea

Current Topics in Large Animal Internal Medicine (VCM 577 2006-2007)
Equine heritable coagulopathies (2006)
Cytotoxic T cells and Suppressor Cells (2007)

Co-coordinator of Veterinary Clinical Orientation II (VCM 629 2007-2008)
Physical examination and diagnostic skills in large animal species

Junior Surgery Laboratory in Food Animals (VCM 655 2007)
Head and Eye Procedures Local Anesthesia
Exploratory Laparotomy

Farm Animal Medicine, Reproduction and Surgery journal club (VCM 592) (current)

Medical Physiology Review with house officers including weekly quizzes and discussion to prepare for the ACVIM qualification examination (2006)

Physical Examination of Dairy Cattle Laboratory for third-year students (VCM 629) (November 2006)

Senior year clinical rotations (2003 to present)
Instruction of senior students and house officers on clinical rotations. Includes short presentations and rounds discussions as well as advising and instructing house officers on case management.

Senior year clinical rotations (2003 to present)
Instruction of senior students on clinical rotations and nighttime or weekend emergency duty. Includes short presentations and rounds discussions in the mornings and when on emergency duty.

Continuing Education Course, Ulan Bator, Mongolia (2006)
Physical examination, neonatal foal care, and neonatal ruminant diarrhea

Camelid Elective (University of Tennessee, VM897)
Coccidiosis in an alpaca (2005)
Parasitism in camelids (2006)

Grand Rounds and Faculty Rounds presentations (University of Tennessee)
Herpetic disease in large animals (2005)
Immune-mediated thromobocytopenia in horses (2005)
Hyperlipemia in miniature horses (2004)
Equine liver disease (2004)
Salmonellosis and fungal pneumonia in horses (2004)
Equine dentistry (2003)
Oak toxicosis in cattle (2003)

Clinical Skills Elective (University of Tennessee, VM897)
Equine dentistry and ultrasound (2003 and 2004)

Introductory Biology Laboratory courses for freshman, Appalachian State University (1994 to 1996).

Animal Physiology Laboratory courses for biology majors, Appalachian State University (1996 to 1997).  

Professional Activities 

Co-coordinator of Illinois Camelid Health Conference with the Illinois Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association to be held at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine on March 1, 2008

Faculty Advisor for University of Illinois Christian Veterinary Fellowship (2006-current)

Faculty Mentor in the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association/College of Veterinary Medicine Mentor Program (current)

Faculty Member of Veterinary Candidate Interview Team at the University of Illinois, January 2008  

Memberships in Professional Organizations 

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

American Veterinary Medical Association

Christian Veterinary Mission

Student Externships 

Large Animal Veterinary Assistant, Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital, Columbus, NC. April 2001.

Externship in large animal internal medicine at Cornell University. December 2001.  

Volunteer and Church Activities 

Omega Ministries, New Horizon United Methodist Church, Champaign, IL
Visitation of residents at The Carle Arbours continuing care center

AXIS Youth Ministries
Junior and Senior High school student youth group volunteer at New Horizon United Methodist Church, Champaign, IL