Ontario Veterinary College

Today, we recognize our OVC hospital teams and our ongoing commitment to excellence in veterinary care, education and innovation.

The OVC Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Companion Animal Hospital and OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital have successfully passed our recent American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accreditation inspection.

Did you know? AAHA accreditation is voluntary and requires veterinary hospitals to meet rigorous standards across patient care, safety, medical records, anesthesia, pharmacy, surgery, pain management, emergency care and hospital operations. With standards that continually evolve alongside advances in veterinary medicine, accreditation reflects a commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and the highest standards of care. Only a small percentage of veterinary hospitals in North America pursue and maintain this accreditation, making it a significant accomplishment.

“This achievement of maintaining AAHA accreditation is a hospital-wide effort and reflects our shared commitment to excellence, patient safety and lifelong learning. It is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our entire OVC hospital community — from clinicians, technicians and students to client care, hospital support, administrative, facilities and leadership teams,” says Dr. Luis Gaitero, Associate Dean, Clinical Program and HSC Chief Medical Officer. “Thank you to everyone who helps uphold these standards every day. Congratulations to our OVC teams on this important accomplishment."

The Department Chair Series highlights the leaders behind OVC's four departments, offering a closer look at the people, experiences and passions that shape our college community. In the second installment of the series, Department Chair of Population Medicine, Dr. Todd Duffield, reflects on his lifelong connection to OVC and his love of teaching and mentorship.

Read his story here: https://bit.ly/4gglp4m

Curious about pet supplements?

Join the OVC Nutrition Team for the final Pet Nutrition Seminar of the summer:

What’s the Scoop on Supplements?

This session will explore pet supplements and help pet owners better understand how to approach supplement information and choices.

Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Room 101, Smith Lane Animal Hospital, University of Guelph

No registration required. Adults and teens over 16 are welcome.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3PS4U54

Making decisions about a pet’s care can be complex, especially when owners are balancing medical information with their animal’s needs, finances, time and other practical considerations.

The Value Matrix, a communication tool developed at the Ontario Veterinary College, is designed to help veterinarians and clients work through these decisions together in a clear and organized way.

A new publication in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education explores how veterinary clients and practising veterinarians perceive the tool and its potential to support shared decision-making.

Learn how the Value Matrix is helping bring patient needs, client circumstances and care options into one conversation — while also supporting the education of future veterinarians.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4fWz5B1

Every summer marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as a new cohort of veterinary residents joins the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Health Sciences Centre. Over the next few years, our residents will sharpen their expertise through advanced clinical training, mentorship and research while caring for patients with our specialist teams. Wherever their careers take them next, they'll help shape the future of veterinary medicine by improving access to specialized care, mentoring the next generation of veterinarians and advancing animal health in communities around the world.

Eleven new residents – seven international and four domestic – are joining our team this year and are pursuing advanced education in companion animal and large animal specialties including: anesthesiology, cardiology, clinical nutrition, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, radiology, surgery and theriogenology. Residents are also enrolled as Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) students, a unique post-professional doctoral-level degree, with requirements that include coursework, clinical rotations, a qualifying exam and a research defense – all preparing students for specialty board certification.

We’re thrilled to welcome our new trainees as part of our community and look forward to supporting their learning, growth and success throughout their residencies. Welcome to OVC!

This July, we welcomed seven veterinary graduates from across the globe as our incoming cohort of Specialty Interns.

OVC’s one-year Specialty Internship gives veterinarians hands-on experience in various specialties in companion animal and large animal veterinary medicine including: internal medicine, surgery, neurology, cardiology, clinical nutrition, oncology and clinical trials.

Interns are responsible for the management of cases admitted to the hospital as part of a collaborative team under the supervision of residents and specialists within the OVC Companion Animal Hospital and the OVC Large Animal Hospital. Along with their daily clinical responsibilities, interns are actively involved in teaching senior student veterinarians.

Please join us in welcoming our new interns as part of our community. We look forward to supporting their learning, growth and success throughout the year. Welcome to OVC!

In photo: Five of our new specialty interns outside the OVC Main Building on orientation day.

Meet the leaders behind OVC's four departments!

The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is home to four departments: Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Studies, Pathobiology and Population Medicine. Each department plays a crucial role in teaching and research at the college – providing unique graduate programs and course offerings in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

Department Chairs play a vital role in shaping teaching, research and the student experience across OVC. Through the OVC Department Chair Series, we're introducing the people behind these leadership roles and sharing the journeys that brought them here. In our first feature, Dr. Chris Riley reflects on his path to OVC and nearly four years as Chair of the Department of Clinical Studies.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3SgOXqi

From innovative research to career-ready conversations, the 2026 OVC Graduate Student Research Symposium celebrated the work of graduate students across the Ontario Veterinary College.

The event featured oral and poster presentations spanning animal, human and environmental health, along with a panel discussion on preparing for the changing workplace.

Congratulations to this year’s presentation winners, including Shannon Wallace, Samantha Dobson, Samantha Mohr and Fatima Askary, and to Julia Garisto, recipient of the Excellence in Inclusive Research Award.

Read more about the research and highlights from this year’s symposium here: https://bit.ly/4bvCXaX