Dr. Sonja Fonfara

Biography

Sonja Fonfara is an Associate Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, with a focus on companion animal cardiology. She graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover in 1995 and completed her doctoral thesis in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Giessen. Following her studies, she gained clinical experience before developing an interest in cardiology while working in an opinion practice. Fonfara pursued postdoctoral research at the GKSS Research Centre in marine mammal immunology but transitioned back to clinical work by undertaking a veterinary cardiology residency at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Liverpool. She has held academic positions at Liverpool and Bristol universities, earning her PhD and eventually becoming a docent in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Helsinki. In 2016, she joined the team at the University of Guelph. Her current research explores cardiac remodeling associated with aging and cardiac disease, with ongoing projects examining microRNA profiles and clinical outcomes in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sonja collaborates closely with colleagues across multiple institutions and supervises both MSc and PhD students, fostering the next generation of veterinary researchers.

Research Interests

Experience