Dr. Gillian Perkins, clinical professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, has been named the next director of the campus-wide initiative Cornell Equine. Her term began March 1.

“Dr. Perkins has an admirable record of leadership and dedication to advancing equine medicine,” said Lorin D. Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D. ’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “She is perfectly positioned to lead a multi-disciplinary initiative like Cornell Equine that touches every facet of equine medicine, from research to outreach and clinical care.”

Perkins is associate director for the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, serving as director of the Cornell Equine Hospital and the Cornell Equine Park, and has been on the Cornell Equine Steering Committee since its launch in 2024. Her research and clinical efforts include equine infectious diseases, particularly equine herpes virus-1 and salmonellosis, and prudent use of antimicrobials. She holds a D.V.M. from the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and completed her internship and residency in large animal internal medicine at the University of Minnesota and Cornell, respectively.

“Cornell Equine has kicked off at a key time. With many talented and driven early career faculty with a passion for horses, this initiative will build strong relationships across the university to achieve the best possible outcomes in advancing health and care for the horse,” Perkins said. “I believe that everything looks better from on top of a horse and that our teamwork will help advance equine health beyond what we could do independently. I am very honored to be taking on this role and excited to see what can be achieved collectively.”

Cornell Equine is a university-wide collaboration, with its home at the College of Veterinary Medicine and strong links to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell University Athletics. Its three primary goals are to develop new communication platforms that engage external partners; to create programs and training opportunities that support equine-oriented students; and to identify novel mechanisms to tackle the most pressing health issues of horses.

Perkins succeeds Cornell Equine’s inaugural director, Dr. Mandi de Mestre, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor in Equine Medicine.

“Under the direction of Dr. Mandi de Mestre, Cornell Equine bolted out of the starting gate with development of a website, establishment of monthly research presentations, outreach with tours of campus to 4-H groups, NYS fair exhibit, and so much more!” Perkins said. “I hope to keep up the pace to realize our mission — to uphold the lives of equids locally to globally through the delivery and translation of exceptional research, innovative clinical care and holistic educational and recreational programs that create the next generation of leaders. I wholeheartedly believe bringing together those of us with a passion for the horse will improve the lives of horses and the people who care from them, recruit and retain talent into the industry continuing Cornell’s legacy.”

Written by Melanie Greaver Cordova