Education
Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, Ohio University
MS, Paleontology, the University of Texas at Austin
BS, Geological Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin
Bio
David Dufeau, Ph.D., is a medical educator with over 20 years teaching experience at the medical school level. He has worked at allopathic and osteopathic schools alike and in addition to his position at the Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, he is also a contributing adjunct professor for the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Dufeau has been a part of the medical anatomy teaching team at SA国际传媒 for 13 years, and course director for the clinical neurology and neuroscience course for the last 8 years.
He received his Ph.D. training at the Ohio University Department of Biology and his medical training at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduation, he worked as a medical educator at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. He was part of the founding faculty of SA国际传媒's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Areas of Teaching Expertise
Dr. Dufeau is an expert in neuroanatomy and leads the Clincal Neurology and Neuroscience course in the WCOM medical curriculum. Additionally, he is an integral member of the medical anatomy teaching team and has formerly served as chair of the Department of Anatomy and Pathology.
Teaching Philosophy
His teaching philosophy centers around the integration of basic science concepts with applications to clinical medicine in a socratic manner that engages student doctors in diagnostic problem solving.
Research Interests
Dr. Dufeau is engaged in the study of the evolutionary and developmental patterns that underly neurosensory structures such as those used for hearing and balance. His latest publication was the result of an international collaboration and resulted in a paper titled "Endocranial development in non-avian dinosaurs reveals an ontogenetic brain trajectory distinct from extant archosaurs" which was published in 2024 in the journal Nature Communications. His recent publications also include contributions to the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, and Royal Society Open Science.
Professional Service and Affiliations
Dr. Dufeau has served on many committees at the WCOM including the Committee for Professionalism and Ethics, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Curriculum Committee, and the Admissions Committee. Additionally, Dr. Dufeau serves as an editorial reviewer for the Journal of Anatomy, Journal of Morphology, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal of Anatomy Education, and the journal Historical Biology.
Community and Public Engagement
Dr. Dufeau has served as a preceptor for the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) preclerkship neurology coursework and a presenter for the IUSM Otolaryngology Residency Program.