Speakers - Equine

Ann Derham is a 2014 University College Dublin (UCD) graduate and completed a postgraduation one-year surgical internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, US, before a second one-year surgical internship at Fethard Equine Hospital. 

At UCD’s veterinary hospital, she completed a three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons large animal surgical residency programme and a professional doctorate in veterinary medicine specialisation. 

Fernando Garcia qualified from the University of Buenos Aires in 2001. Fernando's father is a well-known equine racetrack practitioner in Argentina and Fernando worked as his assistant while studying at night. Following graduation, Fernando did a rotating internship at Hagyard, Davidson and McGee. He then went to the Stables of King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, where he was the racing vet for five years. Fernando then returned to Lexington where he took up a position in sporthorse lameness before returning to Buenos Aires in 2010. He remained there until 2017 when he came to Fethard equine, again to focus on racehorse and lameness work. His special interest is lameness imaging.

Michael graduated from the Veterinary College at UCD in 1983 and has spent most of his working life in clinical veterinary practice in Ireland, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, USA and a brief term in Japan. Michael returned to Ireland in 2003 and was a partner in Troytown Equine Hospital until 2019, when he left and set up Beechwood Vets, a companion animal practice in Dublin. Michael has post graduate qualifications in Equine Stud Medicine and Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics) from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Membership of the Australian/New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Equine Surgery. Michael is currently enrolled in the University of Edinburgh, studying for a Masters in Equine Science. Michael is currently a director of Equine Veterinary Consultancy (EVC), a company he formed more than 10 years ago. EVC provides consultancy services to a range of clients on both equine and veterinary practice issues and the business is particularly focused on the impact of infrastructural projects, both major and minor, on equine welfare. 

Ned is a very experienced equine veterinary practitioner with a broad extensive knowledge in equine practice. A Dublin graduate, he has worked in equine practice in Ireland, Canada, California US, before establishing his equine practice in first opinion and referral consultation, based in Oranmore, Co. Galway.

Ned has carried out approximately 20,000 soundness examinations, with no legal challenges to date. Appointed soundness examining vet on designated panels including Tattersalls International Sales, Goresbridge International Sales, Goffs International Sales and Cavan International Sales. Ned is also soundness vet at RDS for many years to date, as well as being designated vet appointed for soundness and radiological examination (X-Rays) of Stallions for Irish Horse Board. 

Ned is also a former Chairman of the Irish Horse Board, principal veterinary surgeon at the Galway racetrack – Ireland’s largest race meeting; a founder member of ITBA Wester Region; a former Chairman of the Association of Irish Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons; and has been awarded a Special Merit Award in 2012 by Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, for distinguished services to the Irish horse industry.

His family has a longstanding tradition in horse breeding and producing top class horses for eventing and showjumping, including many champions; and his wife, Liz, is a veterinarian in equine practice with Ned, and also horse breeder who has bred and produced many top horses including “Custom Made”, winner Gold Medal Olympic Games Sydney.

Sarah graduated from the University of Liverpool with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree in 2008.  Following a short period in mixed practice, she worked in various equine clinical roles in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. She holds a post graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice and completed specialist training in Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Bristol. She subsequently became a Diplomat of the European College in 2018 and is a recognised specialist in Equine Internal Medicine by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS). Since returning to Ireland in 2017, Sarah has worked as an internal medicine clinician, in racing regulation and is currently working at the Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown.      

Sarah has published peer-reviewed articles on antimicrobial resistance, headshaking in horses and facial pain scoring in foals and has presented at veterinary conferences both nationally and internationally. She delivers lectures on equine airway disease and equine airway cytology to Equine Science undergraduates at the University of Limerick and has written articles on various internal medicine subjects for the equestrian press.

Outside of work, much of her time is spent chasing her two small children and their dog.

Siobhan McAuliffe graduated from UCD in 1997. She worked in ambulatory equine practice in Ireland until 2001, when she took up a residency in Equine Internal Medicine at the then Hagyard, Davidson and McGee in Lexington, Kentuky. Following completion of the residency, she took up a role at the Stables of King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia for five years. She then returned to Lexington for two years where she ran her own practice. In 2010, she took up a medicine position at the newly constructed Kawell Equine Hospital in Buenos Aires, where she remained until returning to Ireland in 2017 to take up a medicine position at Fethard Equine hospital. She now works as an internal medicine consultant in conjunction with a part-time pharmacovigilance role with MSD AH Ire. Siobhan has numerous publications in both English and Spanish.

Since graduating from Liverpool University, Tim has worked exclusively with large animals, mostly horses. He has taught, provided clinical service and carried out research at several University teaching hospitals; but for most of his career he has worked in private equine first opinion and referral practice, based in Lambourn then the Cotswolds and remains on a first opinion out-of-hours rota. He holds a RCVS 

Certificate and a European Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine and a PhD from Edinburgh University for studies on lung inflammation in the horse and became a European RCVS-recognised Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine in 2005. He has contributed to training, continuing education and examinations for both veterinary students and practitioners. For 10 years he was a consultant to The Brooke, working to develop and implement a clinical audit programme worldwide. He was appointed as an equine Claims Consultant for The Veterinary Defence Society in 2018.