Dr. Chris Riley’s journey to OVC is a tale of perseverance, commitment to excellence and a lifetime love of learning. Growing up in the Australian outback, Riley developed a deep love for animals and felt drawn to pursue an education in veterinary medicine. Limited by life circumstances, Riley put that hope on the back-burner, and instead decided to join the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF). This allowed him to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in RAAF Physics. “I just didn’t think I’d be able to be a veterinarian, and the way I grew up, a lot of people told me I wasn’t smart enough to be one either,” Riley shares. However, the urge to pursue his true passion for veterinary medicine persisted and led him to complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Melbourne shortly after his time in the RAAF.
After completing his BVSc, and an internship, Riley made his first move to Canada where he completed a residency in Large Animal Veterinary Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan. Shortly after, he pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. Riley’s dedication to education has continued long after his PhD, manifesting in over 10 degrees and professional certifications and, most recently, a Master of Arts in Leadership from the University of Guelph which he completed in 2024.
Riley has also dedicated over 30 years to educating others. Before his time at OVC, Riley spent a year at Iowa State University, a stint in private practice in Nova Scotia, and then 11 years at the University of Prince Edward Island as a professor of Large Animal Surgery. Next, he spent three years at the University of Adelaide in Australia, serving concurrently as both a founding professor and Discipline Chair of the Equine Health program and Associate School Head of Student Services. Finally, he spent 10 years at Massey University in New Zealand, as a Professor of Equine Clinical Studies, Chair of Equine Clinical Studies, as well as Director of Research and Commercialization and Manager of the Veterinary Emergency Response Team. Including his time at OVC, Riley has now served as Chair at various institutions for over 17 years.
As a researcher, Riley explores a wide variety of topics from biomedical physics – the application of the principles and techniques of physics to understand biological processes and advance healthcare – to animal welfare. His research background is in infrared spectroscopy and diagnostic testing, but more recently he has introduced multiple projects related to assessing and understanding the welfare of animals. In addition, Riley is spearheading the development of a new graduate program for Veterinary Leadership at OVC which he hopes to launch next year. He plans to conduct research around topics such as psychological safety and leadership in the veterinary profession to support the curriculum development of this program.
Outside of his research, teaching and administrative work at OVC, Riley is an avid emergency response animal rescue volunteer and educator. He trains local emergency responders in animal rescue techniques and has volunteered internationally to provide emergency support for animal welfare during natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and wildfires. “Animal and human welfare are intrinsically linked, particularly during times of disaster – if people lose their animals, they experience more profound psychological distress and ultimately have a more difficult time recovering from disaster,” he shares.
Much of Riley’s career has been informed by a burning desire to diversify his knowledge base, and to in turn share that knowledge with others. “My three core values are curiosity, courage, and compassion – as you can probably tell, curiosity is my number one,” Riley shares. In his most recent venture as Department Chair of Clinical Studies at OVC, Riley holds great respect and admiration for the students that study in his department, staff and faculty. “It’s a great privilege to play a part in shaping the futures of the next generation of veterinary professionals,” he concludes.
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. Riley’s success as a Department Chair cannot be discussed without acknowledging the wonderful Clinical Studies AACF, Denise Bovaird.
