Equine Health and Performance Centre
Our Team
Professor Christopher Riley
After his initial training in Physics and flying in the RAAF, Prof Christopher Riley left to pursue a veterinary degree, graduating in the late '80's. Following a 2-year internship and a brief period in private practice, he was accepted into the North American veterinary residency program and completed a 3-year large animal surgery residency concurrently with a MSc., during which he established an in-vitro explant model of the equine flexor tendons.
Currently he is a registered specialist in Equine surgery both in Australia and North America.
In 1998 he completed his PhD which examined the biochemical responses of tendon connective tissues to drug treatment, and passed my specialty examination in large animal surgery (Dipl. ACVS). A year of clincal teaching in emergency medicine and surgery at Iowa State University (USA) was followed by private practice in eastern Canada.
In 1999 he accepted an appointment in a large animal surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island (Canada), serving as Chief of Large Animal Surgery for 10 years, and attaining the rank of tenured full Professor before coming to the University of Adelaide.
In addition to his academic activities, he has been active in organising and leading humanitarian teams to train local people in animal and public health in developing countries including Haiti, Peru and central America.
Dr Lidwien Verdegaal
Lidwien (Elisabeth.J.M.M.) Verdegaal qualified as a Doctor Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University in The Netherlands in 1996. After working in practice for two years, Lidwien Verdegaal started her residency Equine Internal Medicine at Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences where she developed interest in neonatal medicine (Head NICU), endocrinology, cardiology and Equine sports medicine.
Lidwien Verdegaal is qualified as a National KNMvD Specialist (Royal Dutch Association of Veterinary specialists) in Equine Internal Medicine in 2005 and after passing the board exams, she became a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) in 2009. For the last 8 years, she worked in 2 private Equine clinics in the Middle East; for the Royal Family at the Royal Jafaar Stud in Jordan and in Kuwait where she was part of a team establishing a new Equine referral hospital.
She worked as an Equine Internal Medicine specialist with area of interest in sport horses (Thoroughbreds, Endurance horses, Show Arabians and Show jumpers), in critical care and in Equine infectious diseases. Lidwien Verdegaal joined the School of Animal and Veterinary Science as a senior lecturer April 2011.
Dr Erik Noschka
Erik Noschka originated from Germany and undertook veterinary training at the University of Leipzig. After staying on for a clinical training in Equine Surgery and serving in Kosovo as Mountain Ranger and Escort Officer he moved subsequently to Athens, GA to complete a PhD in Physiology on equine laminitis under the supervision of Dr. James N. Moore.
In 2007 he became a Resident of Large Animal Surgery at Virginia Tech to fulfill the requirements for Board Certification by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons while working successfully on his Masters of Science thesis in equine colic.
Dr Samantha Franklin
Dr Samantha Franklin graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Bristol in 1995. After spending 4 years in mixed practice she returned to academia to pursue a PhD in Equine Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine. Sam joined the academic staff at the University of Bristol where she was responsible for running the Equine Sports Medicine Centre for 12 years. Her PhD, a study of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in Thoroughbred racehorses, was completed in 2002.
Sam's clinical and research interests relate to causes of poor performance in equine athletes, with a particular interest in cardiorespiratory disorders. She is renowned internationally for her work relating to dynamic upper airway obstructions in horses and has published widely in this field. Whilst in the UK, Sam was instrumental in the development of the world's first overground endoscope, with the aid of funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board. This technique has revolutionised the diagnosis of dynamic upper airway collapse in horses by enabling animals to be examined during exercise under normal riding conditions.
Sam moved to Australia in July 2010 to join the School of Animal and Veterinary Science as a senior lecturer in veterinary physiology. She continues to see sports medicine referral cases and is pursuing her research interests in this field.
Dr Belinda Noble
Dr Belinda Noble completed her degree (BSc, BVMS Hons) at Murdoch University in 2005. She graduated on a rural veterinary scholarship, working in mixed large animal practice in Victoria with a strong equine focus. She then continued to work in private mixed practice, with a large equine caseload, and has developed a keen interest in equine reproduction, general medicine and surgery.
She joins the equine health team as an ambulatory clinician and will be servicing clientele in the surrounding district, as well as contributing to teaching and research within the school.
