Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College
Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College

Opportunity for MSc or PhD positions starting Fall 2026

“Jason is an extremely attentive, supportive, and present advisor. He tailors his mentorship to his individual students and is always open to a student’s feedback on what they want and need to be successful.”

Antonia DeGroot, MSc, DVM, Lab Alumna

Advisors:

Drs. Jason Coe, DVM, PhD and Kat Sutherland, PhD

Opportunity:

The Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College (RCVM@OVC) research program is seeking several applicants at the MSc (thesis or coursework) and/or PhD level. Our program is part of the Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, and is dedicated to studying the role of relationship-centred veterinary medicine in promoting optimal outcomes for veterinary teams and the clients and animals they serve. Specifically, we are seeking candidates whose expressed interest aligns with our research focuses described below.

To learn more about the RCVM@OVC team, please visit: https://rcvm.uoguelph.ca/team/.

Present research focuses and opportunities:

  1. Seeking one MSc or PhD student for a project that will explore veterinarian-client decision-making related to management of osteoarthritis in cats and dogs, which will include evaluating the use of a decision-making aid (the Value Matrix) by practicing veterinarians in supporting clients’ decisions regarding the management of osteoarthritis in cats and dogs.
  2. Seeking one or more MSc or PhD students for research projects developed to better understand the delivery of team-based veterinary care. The provision of veterinary care has become increasingly complex and challenging for veterinary teams. While evidence suggests that veterinarians’ communication skills can be used to optimize patient health through improved client adherence, there remains a gap in the profession’s understanding of the impact of team-based veterinary care on the outcomes of veterinary care.  
  3. Seeking one MSc or PhD student for a project that will explore the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within veterinary practice, with a focus on better understanding the uptake, use and impact of AI on the veterinarian-client relationship. AI is likely to be an increasingly disruptive development to the practice of veterinary medicine, where developing an understanding of the impacts and opportunities AI poses to the relationships involved in the practice and delivery of veterinary care is important.  

General information concerning graduate studies in the Department of Population Medicine is available HERE.

Working with the RCVM@OVC team, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

  • Work within a collaborative and supportive research program
  • Receive graduate-level training in veterinary epidemiology
  • Develop a sound background in the principles of quantitative and/or qualitative methods
  • Broaden their own written and oral communication skills
  • Be at the forefront of research into the social side of veterinary practice
  • Expand their professional network within academia and the veterinary industry

This collection of unique opportunities should provide graduates of this program with significant career opportunities in industry, academia, or research. Applicants with experience in veterinary practice will be preferred. A strong background in the social and/or biological sciences, as well as basic statistics, will be an asset. These opportunities are open to individuals interested in pursuing full-time studies.

Funding:

  • Applicants must be funded for their graduate program or be self-funded (MSc coursework only) and meet the academic standards for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph.
  • Applicants will be expected to apply for funding through the OVC Scholarships and Fellowships Competition. The deadline to initiate an OUAC application to be eligible to submit a separate application for an OVC Scholarship or Fellowship is December 19, 2025. 
  • Additional program funding will be available to all successful candidates.
  • At this time, scholarship and fellowship funding is only available for domestic students (Canadian citizens or permanent residents).

To express interest in joining the RCVM@OVC team, please submit the following:

  • Statement of interest, CV, and unofficial transcript to Drs. Coe and Sutherland as soon as possible, to rcvm@uoguelph.ca

Responses to applications will be restricted to candidates who will be interviewed.
Start date to join the RCVM@OVC lab is September 2026.

“In the Coe lab, I have found a supportive environment that has allowed me to learn and grow in the world of academia. I am glad to have found a team that promotes well-being, communication, and work/life balance, and that helps me achieve my goals!”
Dr. Rosalie Fortin-Choquette, PhD, Lab Alumna