Smith R.K.W.

Roger Smith is professor of equine orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, London. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge University in 1987, having obtained a first for his undergraduate degree and a Cambridge blue at swimming. After 2 years in practice, he returned to academia to undertake further clinical training as a resident in equine studies at the Royal Veterinary College. Following his residency, he undertook a 3-year research project culminating in the award of a PhD for his studies on the extracellular matrix of equine tendon. He remained at the Royal Veterinary College, first as a lecturer in equine surgery, then as senior lecturer in equine surgery, before his appointment to professor in equine orthopaedics in December 2003. He holds the Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and a RCVS recognised Specialist in equine surgery. He is also a large animal Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. In 2016, he was awarded the fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contribution to knowledge and was elected to president of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in July 2017. He currently divides his time equally between running a specialist orthopaedic service within the Royal Veterinary College and continuing to direct research into equine tendon disease. His principal research interests are understanding the pathogenesis of tendon disease, developing a serological assay for tendonitis, and stem cell therapy for tendons in both horses and humans. He is married to a medical doctor and has two sons.