Dr. Todd Duffield’s journey to OVC began when he was a young boy, living on a farm that raised Suffolk sheep. Duffield recalls a time when a veterinarian came to visit their farm to check up on the flock, and he was enthralled by every little thing they did. From that moment on, he knew he would become a veterinarian one day. “I remember meeting with a guidance counsellor in high school and them asking me to pick three universities to apply to, to which I replied: well, there’s only one...Guelph,” shares Duffield. When the time came, Duffield did exactly what he had always dreamed of and completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree right here at OVC.
After completing his DVM, Duffield entered the field of veterinary medicine, primarily focused on dairy cattle. However, after a short time working in the field, he decided to return to OVC to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) degree. Throughout his time in the DVSc program, Duffield discovered a passion for both teaching and research – a discovery that led him to eventually pursue a faculty position at OVC. Aside from a brief four-year stint in practice, Duffield has dedicated almost 30 years to research, teaching, and leadership positions at OVC.
As a researcher, Duffield’s background is primarily in metabolic disease in dairy cows. However, he has more recently shifted his research interests to focus on pain management and welfare in ruminant animals. When he first began researching pain management in cows, it was not a widely accepted practice to administer medications for pain relief in large animals – his research, alongside others doing similar work, helped to push for regulation and enforcement of pain management interventions for certain procedures in North America and Europe.
Duffield is a highly cited and awarded researcher and advisor and his passion for mentorship shines through with many of his former graduate students thriving as successful researchers. “I love seeing my students and faculty succeed, but most of all, I love having the opportunity to learn from them. It fuels my research and my teaching,” he shares.
Outside of OVC, Duffield enjoys spending time with his family sharing a love for hobbies such as fly fishing and golfing in the summer or curling and cross-country skiing in the winter. He derives great value from spending time outdoors, and feels that it allows him to tune everything else out and be present in the moment.
The Department of Population Medicine is OVC’s youngest department – meaning Duffield’s time at OVC has spanned most of its history, affording him a unique perspective of the leadership and growth it has experienced over the last 30 years. When the Department Chair position became available, Duffield knew it was the perfect opportunity to apply his vast experience of OVC and his passion for supporting students and faculty. He has now served as Department Chair for the past 8 years, a time during which the department has experienced immense change through the impact of the pandemic, a flood, and the hiring of 15 new faculty members.
Duffield’s career has been driven by a deep desire to help improve the life of farm animals and their owners, and a passion for teaching and mentorship. These two traits have helped him succeed both as a researcher and leader at OVC. “What I love most about the OVC community is the sheer variety of teaching, research and daily activities. It’s impossible to be bored when you work here.”
Behind each department at OVC is an Administrative Assistant to the Chair and Faculty (AACF), whose expertise, organization and dedication keep the department running smoothly. Duffield’s accomplishments as a Department Chair cannot be discussed without acknowledging the fantastic Population Medicine AACF, Jessica Jowett.
