Department: Clinical Science and Services

Campus: Hawkshead

Research Groups: CPCS (Research Programme)

Clinical Groups: Small Animal Internal Medicine

Research Centres: Clinical Investigation Centre, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health

David is Deputy Principal and acting Vice Principal Clinical Affairs at the Royal Veterinary College. He is an internationally recognised specialist in disorders of the endocrine system in dogs and cats. David’s current research interests include the underlying mechanism for the development and resolution of diabetes mellitus and the use of clinical data collected from general veterinary practices to enhance understanding and consequently improve both the health and welfare of animals and translational medicine opportunities.

David obtained his veterinary degree from The University of Sydney and after graduation and a short spell in practice he was appointed as a small animal clinical instructor at The University of Sydney and then enrolled in a PhD programme in the Faculty of Medicine looking at various aspects of the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus.

After completing his PhD, David was appointed as a member of faculty in small animal medicine at The University of Sydney rising to become Hospital Director of The University Veterinary Centre.

In 2001 David was appointed Chair of Small Animal Studies at the Royal Veterinary College and head of the newly formed Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Over the next 8 years the department grew to be one of the largest and most successful clinical departments in the world with substantial research grant funding and an outstanding reputation for clinical excellence.

David is currently Deputy Principal and Acting Vice Principal Clinical Affairs. Despite his heavy administrative load, David maintains a keen interest in small animal medicine generally and endocrinology in particular. His current research interests include insulin resistance states in diabetes mellitus and the use of ‘big data’ from general practice for managing animal health and welfare.

David is the author of over 150 scientific articles, numerous book chapters, is joint editor of the highly successful textbook “Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology” now in its second edition and the soon to be released textbook entitled “Logical Approach to Clinical Problem Solving.”

He has had an ongoing interest in relevant continuing education for practitioners and in particular the value of the problem-oriented approach to small animal medicine.

David's current research interests include insulin resistance states in diabetes mellitus, optimising management strategies in canine hyperadrenocorticism and the use of ‘big data’ from general practice for managing animal health and welfare.

Borgeat, K; Niessen, S J M; Wilkie, L J; Harrington, N; Church, D B; Fuentes, V L; Connolly, D J.
Time spent with cats is never wasted: Lessons learned from feline acromegalic cardiomyopathy, a naturally occurring animal model of the human disease.
PLoS One, 13;3:e0194342.  (2018)

O'Neill, D G; Baral, L; Church, D B; Brodbelt, D C; Packer, R M A.
Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013.
Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 5;3 (2018)

Harris, G L; Brodbelt, D; Church, D; Humm, K R; McGreevy, P D; Thomson, P C; O'Neill, D.
Epidemiology, clinical management, and outcomes of dogs involved in road traffic accidents in the United Kingdom (2009–2014).
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, 28;2:140-148. (2018)

Anderson, K L; O’Neill, D G; Brodbelt, D C; Church, D B; Meeson, R L; Sargan, D; Summers, J F; Zulch, H; Collins, L M.
Prevalence, duration and risk factors for appendicular osteoarthritis in a UK dog population under primary veterinary care.
Scientific Reports (Nature), 85641. (2018)

David also has an ongoing interest in relevant continuing education for practitioners and in particular the value of the problem-oriented approach to small animal medicine.

David has worked for many years as a specialist in all aspects of internal medicine of dogs and cats and has particular interest and expertise in clincial endocrinnology. He has published extensively on many areas of canine and feline internal medicine although he is perhaps most well known for his work in feline diabetes mellitus and canine adrenal disorders.

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