Karolina Drozdzewska

Karolina Drozdzewska

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Passionate equine veterinarian with a decade of experience, specializing in equine internal medicine. Extensive experience in university teaching and research, with a solid scientific background. Proud Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, dedicated to providing top-notch care and advancing equine health.

I have always had a passion for research and publishing. Even before joining the university team, I did an independent research project to show how risky is for equine veterinarians themselves to manage the end of the nasogastric tube with their mouth. I created a questionnaire and described possible complications such as aspiration pneumonia, infection with Salmonella sp. or multi-drug resistant bacteria. My poster based on this project was accepted at the World Equine Veterinary Congress in Verona in 2019, and the paper was published in 2020. 

As part of my clinical doctoral thesis, I developed a project aimed at improving diagnostics in horses affected with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. The goal was to investigate the influence of feeding prior to the TRH stimulation test on its results. With valuable support from my co-authors, I published an original article and a review and gave an oral presentation during the ECEIM Congress in Rome in 2022. I am planning a follow-up study based on my findings.

I have studied the number of plant poisonings in horses in the Berlin-Brandenburg area and compared them with weather conditions over a 10-year period. The results suggest that poisoning by certain plants and trees is an emerging problem in Europe as climate change continues and they were published in 2024 in Pferdeheilkunde - Equine Medicine.  

My latest project aims to investigate the factors influencing the activity of thymidine kinase 1, which has recently become a widely used internal tumour marker in horses. I designed the study plan myself and I am now leading the clinical part of the research. As a senior veterinarian at our university, I support and supervise many graduate and undergraduate students in their scientific work. I was particularly involved in initiating and coordinating the parasitology study. The clinical part was completed in 2023 and scientific publications will follow soon.

As a senior veterinarian at the Free University of Berlin, I supported and supervised many graduate and undergraduate students in their scientific work. I was particularly involved in initiating and coordinating the parasitology study and scientific publications will follow soon (Anoplocephala perfoliata infestation in horses presented with colic due to ileocecal disorders in Berlin-Brandenburg region).

I am looking forward to starting new scientific project at the University of Adelaide soon!

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2025 - ongoing Lecturer in Equine Internal Medicine University of Adelaide
    2019 - 2024 Scientific Assistant / Lecturer Freie Universität Berlin
    2018 - 2019 Equine Veterinarian Equine Clinic Ludwigshafen
    2016 - 2017 Equine Veterinarian Equine Clinic Altforweiler
    2014 - 2015 Equine Veterinarian (Internship) Dierenkliniek DeMorette

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Polish Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2023 Freie Universität Berlin Germany PhD
    2019 - 2024 Freie Universität Berlin Germany Professional Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Medicine (Dr. vet. med.)
    2008 - 2014 Warsaw University of Life Sciences Poland Master's Degree in Veterinary Medicine

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2019 DipECEIM Freie Universität Berlin Germany

  • Research Interests
    Veterinary Medicine Endocrinology Oncology and Carcinogenesis Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Horses

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2024 Drozdzewska, K., Winter, J., Barton, A. K., Merle, R., & Gehlen, H. (2024). Influence of feeding and other factors on adrenocorticotropin concentration and thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in horses and ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal, 56(2), 342-351.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
    2024 Drozdzewska, K., Trachsel, D. S., Bartel, A., & Gehlen, H. (2024). Plant poisoning – an emerging problem in equine medicine?. Pferdeheilkunde, 40(6), 577-584.
    DOI
    2023 Drozdzewska, K., & Gehlen, H. (2023). Markers for internal neoplasia in the horse. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 9(1), 132-143.
    DOI Scopus3 Europe PMC2
    2022 Gehlen, H., Rutenberg, D., Simon, C., Reinhold-Fritzen, B., & Drozdzewska, K. (2022). Management and hygiene measures during an outbreak of herpes, influenza, strangles or infections with multidrug resistant bacteria. Tierarztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Grosstiere - Nutztiere, 50(2), 115-125.
    DOI
    2021 Potocnik, E., Orozdzewska, K., Aupperle-Lellbach, H., & Schwarz, B. (2021). Severe Malassezia dermatitis in a warmblood mare. Praktische Tierarzt, 102(4), 382-388.
    DOI
    2021 Trachsel, D. S., Drozdzewska, K., Bergmann, F., Ziegler, U., & Gehlen, H. (2021). Confirmed case of a West Nile virus infection in a horse with minimal neurological signs and a favorable clinical outcome. Tierarztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Grosstiere - Nutztiere, 49(4), 281-286.
    DOI Scopus3 Europe PMC1
    2020 Drozdzewska, K., Potocnik, E., & Schwarz, B. (2020). Nasogastric Intubation as Health and Safety Risk in Equine Practice—A Questionnaire. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 88, 6 pages.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC2
    2019 Potocnik, E., Drozdzewska, K., & Schwarz, B. (2019). Presumed Sulfonamide-Associated Uveitis With Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in a Quarter Horse Mare. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 77, 17-22.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC1
    2018 Drozdzewska, K., Potocnik, E., & Schwarz, B. C. (2018). Suspected acorn poisoning in a donkey - A case report. Wiener Tierarztliche Monatsschrift, 105(9-10), 221-225.
    Scopus1

  • Preprint
    Year Citation
    2024 Schlote, M. -T. P., Ehrle, A., Drozdzewska, K., Lischer, C., & Gehlen, H. (2024). Computed Tomography and Nephrotomy in a Warmblood Stallion with Bilateral Nephrolithiasis.
    DOI

Working at the Free University of Berlin encouraged collaboration with other institutions and enabled interdisciplinary projects. I was involved in many projects that were only possible through national and international collaboration. For example, I was the clinical coordinator of an equine parasitology project, where the serological tests were partially funded by the institutions of the co-authors. 

I also started my PhD project in equine oncology to improve lymphoma diagnostics in horses. I have been able to secure the support of a well-known laboratory in Germany, which offers measurements of equine tumour markers. I appreciate the professional collaboration with industry representatives in the advancement of equine health.

I have spent the last five years working at the Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, where I was involved in organising and carrying out of all teaching activities at the equine clinic. I conducted practical sessions on live animals (sonography course, respiratory system examination), training sessions in skills lab (horse model allowing rectal examination, jugular punction, belly tap, passing the nasogastric tube), online / hybrid interactive seminars and traditional lectures. I coordinated and supervised the practical 8-week rotation programme for senior students (last semester), diagnostic-therapeutic exercises and diagnostic imaging in internal medicine. I supervised students in preparation of clinical demonstrations of selected cases. I regularly gave lectures on acid-base balance in horses, fluid therapy, shock, endocrinology and foal medicine. Since 2022 I was authorized to examine veterinary medicine students in internal medicine and propaedeutics (practical examinations). I was also involved in preparation of the theoretical examination in internal medicine (multiple choice questions). 

Furthermore, I lectured and guided practical sessions in other study courses offered by the Freie Universität Berlin, including Equine Medicine (Master’s degree, for veterinarians) and Equine Sciences (Bachelor’s degree). I have given many lectures, including: intoxications in horses, skin diseases, diarrhea in foals, guttural pouch disorders, abdominal ultrasound and abdominocentesis. In summary, I am an experienced coordinator and lecturer in equine related disciplines and I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with new generations of veterinarians.

I joined the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Veterinary Clinic - Large Animals in January 2025. Since then I have been involved in the theoretical and practical teaching of students enrolled in the Veterinary Bioscience, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technology programmes, including Equine Clinical Practice and Equine Practice Rotation.

 

 

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