Dr. Robert Duquette is the Associate Director of the West Zone for Merck Animal Health Veterinary Professional Services. He earned his PhD in veterinary physiology and doctorate degree in veterinary medicine, from the University of Liverpool in England. During his graduate studies, he lectured and tutored in the university’s veterinary, medical, and dental faculties. Dr. Duquette then practiced companion animal medicine, surgery, and shelter medicine for 10 years in both the United Kingdom and United States and served as the head veterinarian for a large municipal shelter in California.

In November 2014, he joined Merck Animal Health and was appointed Senior Technical Services Veterinarian for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest regions. Dr. Duquette has authored and co-authored papers, publications, and book chapters, and has presented his work at numerous conferences in Europe and North America. His practice interests include dermatology as well as preventative and shelter medicine. Dr. Duquette is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, California Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and PrideVMC.

Prior to his work at Merck, he served as senior veterinarian at a municipal shelter in California, where his team decreased the prevalence of canine parvovirus and infectious diseases overall, and drastically reduced the euthanasia rate.

Dr. Duquette believes that Merck is an incredible company on many levels: the quality of leadership, its research capabilities, charitable giving, and the message it conveys internally as well as to the public.

Outside of work, Dr. Duquette enjoys gardening, photography, and spending time with his family and many rescue pets; he is also a supporter of animal rescue organizations. When time permits, Dr. Duquette also volunteers as a supervising veterinarian at student-run veterinary clinics that serve underprivileged communities in Northern California as well as being a voluntary veterinarian for the Street Dog Coalition.

Education

• Bachelor of Science, University of California-Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies
• Veterinary Medical and Surgical degrees, from the University of Liverpool, England
• PhD, Veterinary Physiology, University of Liverpool, England

Areas of Interest

• Dermatology
• Preventative Medicine
• Research and Development
• Shelter Medicine

Publications

• Lynn, Randy C. & Duquette, Robert A. (2020) Antiparasitic Drugs. In: Georgis’ Parasitology 11th Edition, ed. Bowman, D
• Duquette, R.A., Shmygol, A., Vaillant, C., Mobasheri, A., Pope, M., Burdyga, T. & Wray, S. (2005) Vimentin-positive, c-kit negative interstitial cells in human and rat uterus: a role in pacemaking? Bio Reprod. Feb; 72(2): 276-283. Epub 2004 Sep 22.
• Duquette, R.A. & Nuttall, T.J. (2004) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in dogs and cats: an emerging problem? J Small Anim Pract. Dec: 45(12): 591-597.
• Duquette, R.A., Shmygol, A., Vaillant, C., Mobasheri, A., Burdyga, T. & Wray, S. (2004) A novel cell type in the uterus: vimentin-positive, c-kit negative interstitial-like cells in the human and rat myometrium. Society for Gynecological Investigation.
• Duquette, R.A. & Wray, S. (2001) pH regulation and buffering power in gastric smooth muscle. Pflugers Arch. 442: 459-466.
• Bullock, A.J., Duquette, R.A., Buttell, N. & Wray, S. (1998) Developmental changes in intracellular buffering power in smooth muscle. Pflugers Arch. 435: 575-577.
• Duquette, R.A. & Wray, S. (1998) An amiloride-insensitive, bicarbonate- and Cl—independent mechanism of regulation from an acid load in rat gastric smooth muscle. Journal of Physiology.
• Wray, S., Bullock, A., Buttell, N. & Duquette, R.A. (1997) pH and Smooth Muscle Function: Regulation and Functional Effects. In: Regulation of Tissue pH in Plants and Animals: A Reappraisal of Current Technologies, ed., Taylor, E.W., Eggington, S., Raven, J. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Duquette, R.A. & Wray, S. (1997) pH regulating mechanisms in gastric smooth muscle from rat and guinea pig: major differences. International Congress of Physiological Sciences IUPS 1997.
• Duquette, R.A. & Wray, S. (1997) An investigation into the role of pH in gastric smooth muscle. Journal of Physiology.