Dr. Alice Defarges named Interim Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College

Dr. Alice Defarges, Associate Professor of internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Studies, has been named Interim Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). She will begin what is expected to be a one-year term on October 1, 2023.

"Alice is a strong champion for research at the Ontario Veterinary College and I look forward to working closely with her in the year ahead," says Dr. Jeff Wichtel, OVC Dean. "In particular, her experience with clinical research will prove invaluable to our college as we further develop support models for clinical and translational health research at OVC."

Defarges joined OVC as Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in 2008. Her areas of clinical and research interest include minimally invasive procedures, urology, and gastroenterology. In addition to her teaching, clinical and research responsibilities, she currently serves as Director of the Comparative Clinical Research Facility (CCRF) and the Chair of the OVC Pet Trust Scientific Review Committee. Defarges has also served as the chair of the Veterinary Interventional Radiology and Interventional Endoscopy Society Scientific review committee since 2019.

“Over the years, Alice has demonstrated her commitment to research excellence and mentorship of early career faculty and graduate students,” says Dr. Shayan Sharif, OVC’s incumbent associate dean of research and graduate studies, who was recently appointed interim associate vice-president research (agri-food partnership) at the University of Guelph. “During her tenure as the Chair of the OVC Pet Trust Scientific Review Committee, she was able to institute a fair and objective process for the adjudication of the research and equipment grants submitted to Pet Trust competitions.”

Defarges earned her veterinary degree from the Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d’Alfort in France and worked in private practice for several years before moving to North America to pursue more specialized training. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency and MSc at the University of Montreal. In 2008, Defarges became board-certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine and joined the Ontario Veterinary College as an Assistant Professor. She completed the Hemodialysis Academy course (UC Davis) in 2019 and serves as a consultant for INFINITI medical as a reader of capsule endoscopy (ALICAM).

Defarges has presented her research and shared her experience in minimally invasive procedures in Europe and North America and has collaborated in research with multiple institutions in Sweden, the United States, Canada, France, and Germany to advance veterinary medicine. Defarges joined the executive board of the Veterinary Interventional Radiology and Interventional Endoscopy Society. She is recognized internationally as an expert in capsule endoscopy in dogs.