Professor emeritus & revered founding faculty Dr. Maarten Drost passes away
UF College of Veterinary Medicine, or UF CVM, founding faculty member, professor emeritus and globally acclaimed theriogenologist Maarten Drost, D.V.M., passed peacefully in Gainesville on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the age of 91.
Drost is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Joan Drost; his children, Tod (Cate) Drost, Kirk (Yvonne) Drost, Katie (Eric) Pederson and Niki (Michael) Lunsford; and his 11 beloved grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A deeply revered bovine reproduction expert and professor of large animal clinical sciences, Drost dedicated his life’s work to pioneering research and achievements in embryo transfer technology and the mechanisms of pregnancy recognition and fertility management in cattle.
“Maarten was the quintessential father, husband and colleague. A true role model and passionate teacher. He certainly leaves his outstanding legacy to veterinary medicine and humanity,” Dr. Michael Schaer, UF College of Veterinary Medicine professor emeritus, reflected.
A board-certified theriogenologist, Drost retired from the college’s department of large animal clinical sciences in 2003, but his unwavering passion for teaching and his expertise and transformative work at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology continued well into retirement, cementing his distinguished legacy for generations to come.
Drost founded the Department of Reproduction at the college in 1977, hired five species specialists and developed the theriogenology curriculum. In 1983, his team put UF CVM and the university’s food animal reproduction and medicine service on a worldwide pedestal with the first successful transfer of a water buffalo embryo in the world. The historic milestone – Herman’s birth – was instrumental in expanding the number of water buffalo in the United States and Canada and established an international blueprint resulting in the first embryo transfer calves in Europe utilizing the same technique. In his own words, “one of the best veterinary-related work and life experiences.”
His legacy lives through one of his proudest accomplishments in retirement, the Visual Guides of Animal Reproduction (VisGAR) database, which he regularly fostered until his passing. Originally tabbed The Drost Project, the VisGAR is a global, online, annotated and free educational guide to reproduction in animals for the teaching of veterinary and animal science students and a reference for specialists in the field of animal reproduction – generously passing his knowledge forth for future leaders of the profession.
The resource database, which initially focused on bovine reproduction, has expanded to include bovine, bubaline, canine, caprine, cetacean, equine, feline, ovine and porcine reproduction guidelines, including Spanish translations.
Upon his retirement, Drost encouraged opportunities for retired faculty to stay connected and was a regular at the college’s emeritus and retired faculty gatherings, including a coffee get-together in October 2025.
Shortly after joining the retired faculty ranks, Drost shared, “one of my joyful, early experiences at UF was the friendship and collegiality of the original Department of Reproduction as we built a nationally high-ranking team of theriogenologists, including Paul Cardeilhac, David Chen, Woody Asbury, Vic Shille, Rolf Larsen and Michelle LeBlanc, joined later by Ken Braun, Peter Chenoweth and Louis Archibald.”
A native of the Netherlands, Drost came to UF in 1977 after serving on the faculty of the University of California, Davis’ College of Veterinary Medicine. He was also a visiting associate professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and at the Utrecht Veterinary School in the Netherlands. He also was a visiting professor at Colorado State University’s embryo transfer unit and worked in private practice in California. Drost also served as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.
A 1962 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Drost received many awards during his distinguished career, including the David E. Bartlett Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Theriogenology in 2004 and the Stange Award for Meritorious Service in Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2008. He was inducted into the Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame in 2014.
Dr. Maarten Drost’s Celebration of Life Information
- Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 | 10:03 a.m.
- Trinity United Methodist Church | 4000 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32653
- Dr. Drost’s obituary
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following:
- Visual Guides of Animal Reproduction: The Drost Project (online or by check payable to: UF Foundation, Inc. | On the purpose line, indicate: Drost Project | Mail to: Advancement Office, UF College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 100125, Gainesville, FL 32610-0125)
- Trinity United Methodist Church
- Haven Hospice Foundation