Welcoming Dr. Kat Sutherland to the Department of Population Medicine
Kat earned her PhD in the Department of Population Medicine at OVC, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship. She previously served as a faculty member at Colorado State University. “I greatly enjoyed my own graduate and postdoctoral training in Population Medicine and am so pleased to be returning,” she says. “The opportunity to contribute to OVC’s strong communication curriculum is exciting, and I look forward to supporting the growth of students in a department that is committed to excellent teaching and research to advance the veterinary profession.”
Her research is motivated by a passion for improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them through stronger communication and relationships in veterinary medicine. Specifically, her work focuses on nutrition- and weight-related communication in companion animal veterinary practice, with additional interests including shared decision-making and strategies to support client adherence to veterinary recommendations. She uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how clinical communication can be optimized in practice.
“We are very pleased that Kat is joining our department,” says Dr. Todd Duffield, Chair of Population Medicine. “Her skills and background complement—and will greatly support—our already excellent veterinary communications program. We are looking forward to her bringing new ideas and perspectives from her experience at Colorado.”
In addition to her research, Kat is dedicated to teaching and mentoring student veterinarians and practicing veterinary professionals. She enjoys helping them develop the communication and relationship-building skills essential for effective interactions with clients and colleagues.
Kat also welcomes inquiries from students interested in pursuing graduate research in veterinary communication. Prospective students are encouraged to email her (katja@uoguelph.ca) with a brief introduction, a description of their research interests and a copy of their CV.
