Welcome from OVC’s Dean
For more than 160 years, the simple but powerful call to duty - Opus Veterinum Civibus - The Craft of the Veterinarian is for the Good of the Nation - has guided the Ontario Veterinary College on its journey to excellence, supporting the evolving relationship between humans and animals, advancing veterinary medicine and tackling our most pressing health and food security issues.
Today, more than ever, innovation and science-based discovery are critical to the health and sustainability of our planet. Our students, our researchers and our graduates boast a broad skillset, creativity and passion to ensure the health and well-being of our changing world and to ensure we are prepared for whatever the future holds.
Dr. Jeffrey Wichtel
Ontario Veterinary College
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel
Jeffrey Wichtel
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel joined the Ontario Veterinary College in October 2015. He also holds a faculty appointment in OVC’s Department of Population Medicine. He brings extensive experience as a researcher, clinician and administrator. Wichtel earned his B.V.Sc. and PhD from Massey University and is board-certified by the American College of Theriogenologists. He was previously a faculty member in the Department of Health Management, at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, served as the college’s associate dean, graduate studies and research, and also served at AVC as acting dean, director of animal resources, department chair and chair of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre. Before joining AVC, Wichtel taught at Massey University in New Zealand and in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He studies animal nutrition, disease, production and reproduction, and has specialized in trace element and vitamin nutrition in ruminants and horses.
Strategy and Planning
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad
Ilya Bogorad
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad joined the Ontario Veterinary College in August 2019. In addition to an MBA (Finance) from the Rotman School of Management, Ilya Bogorad brings leadership experience focused on strategic planning, resource optimization, financial management and health services administration. In the Executive Director role, Bogorad works closely with all units at the University of Guelph’s OVC, including the four academic departments, the Office of the Dean and the Health Sciences Centre to ensure strong decision support, optimal resource utilization, project management, and short- and long-term planning, ensuring sustainability and achieving the goals and vision of the college.
Students and Academic
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson
Joanne Hewson
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson was appointed Associate Dean, Students and Academic in October 2018. A Large Animal Internal Medicine faculty member in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies, Hewson holds DVM and PhD degrees from the University of Guelph. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She teaches clinical skills development extensively throughout the DVM Program, and has been actively involved in a variety of initiatives related to teaching and learning scholarship, curricular design, student well-being, learning pathways, and assessment. Advancing skills training through authentic practice, with feedback and reflection, is at the heart of her teaching passion.
Research and Graduate Studies
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif
Shayan Sharif
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif was appointed Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies in September 2019. A professor in OVC's Department of Pathobiology, Sharif holds a DVM from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, as well as a PhD in Immunology and Immunogenetics from Pathobiology at OVC. His main area of study focuses on how the chicken immune system interacts with and responds to microbes, including immunity and vaccine development against Marek's disease virus and avian influenza virus. Sharif's group is also interested in development of strategies for control of enteric pathogens in poultry through manipulations of the intestinal microbiome. Sharif has held a University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair from 2017-2020. Dr. Alice Defarges will serve as the Interim Associate Dean,Research and Graduate Studies for a one-year term starting October 1, 2023, while Dr. Sharif will serve as the U of G’sInterim Associate Vice-President Research (agri-food partnership).
Clinical Program
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero
Luis Gaitero
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero, is an associate professor in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies and a board-certified veterinary neurologist. His specialities include neurosurgery, spinal cord trauma, and neuroimaging. As Associate Dean, Clinical Program, Gaitero supervises and mentors the veterinarians and the OVC Health Sciences Centre management team and is responsible for the success and fiscal viability of the OVC Health Sciences Centre.
Ontario Veterinary College
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel
Jeffrey Wichtel
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel joined the Ontario Veterinary College in October 2015. He also holds a faculty appointment in OVC’s Department of Population Medicine. He brings extensive experience as a researcher, clinician and administrator. Wichtel earned his B.V.Sc. and PhD from Massey University and is board-certified by the American College of Theriogenologists. He was previously a faculty member in the Department of Health Management, at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, served as the college’s associate dean, graduate studies and research, and also served at AVC as acting dean, director of animal resources, department chair and chair of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre. Before joining AVC, Wichtel taught at Massey University in New Zealand and in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He studies animal nutrition, disease, production and reproduction, and has specialized in trace element and vitamin nutrition in ruminants and horses.
Strategy and Planning
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad
Ilya Bogorad
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad joined the Ontario Veterinary College in August 2019. In addition to an MBA (Finance) from the Rotman School of Management, Ilya Bogorad brings leadership experience focused on strategic planning, resource optimization, financial management and health services administration. In the Executive Director role, Bogorad works closely with all units at the University of Guelph’s OVC, including the four academic departments, the Office of the Dean and the Health Sciences Centre to ensure strong decision support, optimal resource utilization, project management, and short- and long-term planning, ensuring sustainability and achieving the goals and vision of the college.
Students and Academic
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson
Joanne Hewson
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson was appointed Associate Dean, Students and Academic in October 2018. A Large Animal Internal Medicine faculty member in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies, Hewson holds DVM and PhD degrees from the University of Guelph. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She teaches clinical skills development extensively throughout the DVM Program, and has been actively involved in a variety of initiatives related to teaching and learning scholarship, curricular design, student well-being, learning pathways, and assessment. Advancing skills training through authentic practice, with feedback and reflection, is at the heart of her teaching passion.
Research and Graduate Studies
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif
Shayan Sharif
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif was appointed Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies in September 2019. A professor in OVC's Department of Pathobiology, Sharif holds a DVM from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, as well as a PhD in Immunology and Immunogenetics from Pathobiology at OVC. His main area of study focuses on how the chicken immune system interacts with and responds to microbes, including immunity and vaccine development against Marek's disease virus and avian influenza virus. Sharif's group is also interested in development of strategies for control of enteric pathogens in poultry through manipulations of the intestinal microbiome. Sharif has held a University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair from 2017-2020. Dr. Alice Defarges will serve as the Interim Associate Dean,Research and Graduate Studies for a one-year term starting October 1, 2023, while Dr. Sharif will serve as the U of G’sInterim Associate Vice-President Research (agri-food partnership).
Clinical Program
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero
Luis Gaitero
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero, is an associate professor in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies and a board-certified veterinary neurologist. His specialities include neurosurgery, spinal cord trauma, and neuroimaging. As Associate Dean, Clinical Program, Gaitero supervises and mentors the veterinarians and the OVC Health Sciences Centre management team and is responsible for the success and fiscal viability of the OVC Health Sciences Centre.
Ontario Veterinary College
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel
Jeffrey Wichtel
Dean
Jeffrey Wichtel joined the Ontario Veterinary College in October 2015. He also holds a faculty appointment in OVC’s Department of Population Medicine. He brings extensive experience as a researcher, clinician and administrator. Wichtel earned his B.V.Sc. and PhD from Massey University and is board-certified by the American College of Theriogenologists. He was previously a faculty member in the Department of Health Management, at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, served as the college’s associate dean, graduate studies and research, and also served at AVC as acting dean, director of animal resources, department chair and chair of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre. Before joining AVC, Wichtel taught at Massey University in New Zealand and in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He studies animal nutrition, disease, production and reproduction, and has specialized in trace element and vitamin nutrition in ruminants and horses.
Strategy and Planning
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad
Ilya Bogorad
Executive Director
Ilya Bogorad joined the Ontario Veterinary College in August 2019. In addition to an MBA (Finance) from the Rotman School of Management, Ilya Bogorad brings leadership experience focused on strategic planning, resource optimization, financial management and health services administration. In the Executive Director role, Bogorad works closely with all units at the University of Guelph’s OVC, including the four academic departments, the Office of the Dean and the Health Sciences Centre to ensure strong decision support, optimal resource utilization, project management, and short- and long-term planning, ensuring sustainability and achieving the goals and vision of the college.
Students and Academic
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson
Joanne Hewson
Associate Dean
Joanne Hewson was appointed Associate Dean, Students and Academic in October 2018. A Large Animal Internal Medicine faculty member in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies, Hewson holds DVM and PhD degrees from the University of Guelph. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She teaches clinical skills development extensively throughout the DVM Program, and has been actively involved in a variety of initiatives related to teaching and learning scholarship, curricular design, student well-being, learning pathways, and assessment. Advancing skills training through authentic practice, with feedback and reflection, is at the heart of her teaching passion.
Research and Graduate Studies
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif
Shayan Sharif
Associate Dean
Shayan Sharif was appointed Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies in September 2019. A professor in OVC's Department of Pathobiology, Sharif holds a DVM from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, as well as a PhD in Immunology and Immunogenetics from Pathobiology at OVC. His main area of study focuses on how the chicken immune system interacts with and responds to microbes, including immunity and vaccine development against Marek's disease virus and avian influenza virus. Sharif's group is also interested in development of strategies for control of enteric pathogens in poultry through manipulations of the intestinal microbiome. Sharif has held a University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair from 2017-2020. Dr. Alice Defarges will serve as the Interim Associate Dean,Research and Graduate Studies for a one-year term starting October 1, 2023, while Dr. Sharif will serve as the U of G’sInterim Associate Vice-President Research (agri-food partnership).
Clinical Program
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero
Luis Gaitero
Associate Dean
Luis Gaitero, is an associate professor in OVC's Department of Clinical Studies and a board-certified veterinary neurologist. His specialities include neurosurgery, spinal cord trauma, and neuroimaging. As Associate Dean, Clinical Program, Gaitero supervises and mentors the veterinarians and the OVC Health Sciences Centre management team and is responsible for the success and fiscal viability of the OVC Health Sciences Centre.
Our College, Our Community
Ensuring our college fully embraces and reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and commits to welcoming and respectful workplace culture
The Veterinary Healthcare Revolution
Preparing our students to thrive and lead the veterinary primary healthcare teams of the future
Discovery in Translation
Enhancing our impact in translational, comparative and clinical research and training
Global Health - One Health
Growing our international partnerships and impact to address complex global health challenges
For the Good of the Nation
Growing our veterinary healthcare workforce to address the evolving health, welfare, food safety and security needs of Ontario and Canada
Unleashing Scholarship
Expanding high-calibre research and graduate training to grow impact and enhance our global standing
Our Structure
More than the sum of our parts
OVC is organized into four dynamic academic departments, eight world-leading research centres and institutes, and our renowned Health Sciences Centre, where we promote collaboration, catalyze discovery and reflect the internationally recognized expertise of our faculty and researchers.
Our Success
Building the pathway of discovery
OVC is the oldest veterinary college in Canada and the United States, and the only veterinary college in Ontario. We graduate almost one-third of all Canadian-educated veterinarians.
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