Staff Profiles
Professor John Paul Canfield
Professor in Veterinary Pathology and Clinical Pathology
Qualifications
BVSc 1973
PhD 1978
GradCertEdStud 2001
DVSc 2003
Career History
Upon graduation in 1973, Paul spent two years in both small animal and farm animal veterinary practices. He then returned to the University of Sydney and completed a PhD on studies of Bovine Neurofibroma in 1978. In that same year Paul was appointed temporary lecturer in Veterinary Pathology. In 1979, Paul travelled to the UK and spent some months working in mixed animal practice near Coventry before taking up a year’s appointment as a Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College. In 1980, Paul returned to the University of Sydney to take up an appointment as Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Pathology. He is currently Professor in Veterinary Pathology and Clinical Pathology and Director of Diagnostic Services. He was Acting Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2003-2004, Pro-Dean of the Faculty from 2002-2004 and Head of Department of the now defunct Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology Department from 1999-2000.
Paul teaches in Veterinary Conservation Biology and Principles of Disease, but has a chief role in co-ordinating and teaching Veterinary Clinical Pathology. In 2001 he received a Faculty Pfizer Teaching Award for Excellence and Innovation. He is active in continuing education in association with the Post-Graduate Foundation of Veterinary Science (PGFVSc), presenting workshops and lectures on laboratory diagnosis of disease.
Research Interests
Paul’s research interests are varied and include host-pathogen-environment interactions in wildlife and domestic animal disease, and haematological and biochemical disturbances in companion animals. He is well known for his investigations into koala and other marsupial diseases. He has been author or co-author of over 160 publications and has successfully supervised over 15 postgraduate students. He was awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Science for his thesis of published works entitled ‘Investigations into the health and disease of Australian wildlife, with particular reference to the koala’ in 2003.
Current research projects include the study of chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis in koalas, wound healing in sheep and companion animals and porcine myocardial disease.
Associate Professor David Phalen
Director of Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre and Avian, Reptile and Exotic Animal Hospital
Qualifications
DVM
PhD
Dipl. American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian)
Career History
BA (Biology), University of Chicago
DVM, Cornell University
PhD, Texas A&M University
1983-85 Small and Exotic Animal Practice Henrietta Animal Hospital, Henrietta, New York
1985-88 Small and Exotic Animal Practice Pittsford Animal Hospital, Pittsford, New York
1989-92 Veterinary Clinical Associate, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1992-93 Research Scientist, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1993- Sept '96 Assistant Clinical Professor Zoological Medicine Section, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Oct 1996- Aug 2002 Assistant Professor, Zoological Medicine Section, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Joint Appointment, Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Sept 2000- May 06 Assistant Director, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Sept 2002-05 Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine Section, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Joint Appointment Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Aug 2005- May 06 Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Joint Appointment Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
June 2006-present Director, Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, Australia
Research Interests
- Infectious diseases of wild and captive birds, including herpesviruses, avian polyomavirus, Chlamydophila psittaci, and Macrorhabdus ornithogaster.
- Q fever in wildlife carers.
- Genetic diversity of koalas in the Southern Highlands
- Treatment of the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor.
- Spontaneous nutritional diseases of wildlife.
- Immobilization of crocodiles
Dr Paul McGreevy
Senior Lecturer
Qualifications
1987 BVSc
1995 Cert CABC
1996 PhD
1999 Grad Cert Higher Ed.
2004 MACVS (Animal Welfare)
Career History
1987-1992 Veterinary practice
1992-1995 The University of Bristol, UK
1996-present The University of Sydney
Professional Distinctions
2001 Co-winner of the Prince Laurent Animal Welfare Prize
2005 Recognised by the RCVS as a Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine
Research Interests
Paul’s research focus is on abnormal and unwelcome behaviours in companion and exotic species, especially those that affect welfare. A keen animal trainer, he is also interested in learning theory as applied to animal training and behaviour modification. His expertise in dog and horse behaviour is recognised by those interested in urban animal management. He is continually developing models for the use of information technology in teaching and epidemiological research.
Apart from numerous original research articles, Paul has written four books on behaviour and edited ten on pet care.
Dr Glenn Shea
Senior Lecturer
Qualifications
B.V.Sc.(Hons.), Ph.D.
Career History
After completing his undergraduate training and a PhD on "The systematics and reproduction of bluetongue lizards of the genus Tiliqua (Squamata: Scincidae)" (4 volumes) at the University of Sydney, Glenn began to work here. He was initially employed in the Anatomy section as a tutor, then lecturer, then senior lecturer, which is what he is today, along side being sub-dean for the B.Sc.(Vet.) program.
Glenn is also an Honorary Research Associate of the Australian Museum and has research links with staff at the School of Biological Sciences (University of Sydney), Australian Museum, Museum of Victoria, Northern Territory Museum, Queensland Museum, South Australian Museum, Bishop Museum (Hawaii), University of Michigan and Villanova University.
He is editor of the Australian herpetological journal "Herpetofauna" and has extensive biological fieldwork experience surveying and collecting reptiles and amphibians throughout Australia, and in New Guinea, Fiji and New Caledonia. Glenn has over 120 publications on the biology of reptiles and amphibians, including the books "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of New South Wales" (in collaboration with G. Swan and R. Sadlier) and "Blauzungenskinke, Beiträge zu Tiliqua und Cyclodomorphus" (in collaboration with A. Hauschild, K. Henle, R. Hitz and H. Werning), as well as invited chapters in Fauna of Australia Volume 2A, Amphibia and Reptilia (Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra), and Herpetology in Australia, A Diverse Discipline (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Sydney).
In recent years, Glenn has been involved in consultancies with Goro Nickel (New Caledonia) on the herpetofauna of the Goro Nickel mine, Plaine des Lacs (New Caledonia), Province Sud Government (New Caledonia) on the reptile fauna of reserves in the south of New Caledonia, and Environment Australia on the conservation status of the lizards of the Norfolk Island group, and survey techniques for endangered Australian reptile species, all in collaboration with the Australian Museum.
Research Interests
Glenn is interested in morphological systematics and the natural history of Australasian reptiles and amphibians. He is primarily working on the systematics, distribution and ecology of the skink lizard fauna of New Guinea (in collaboration with the Australian Museum and the Bishop Museum), reproductive seasonality and sperm storage of a variety of lizard and snake species and genera, and the systematics, distribution, and habitat preferences of the herpetofauna of western New South Wales.