Spotlight On: Michael Duggan
I grew up in Co. Armagh and have always been a lover of the 
countryside spending most of my younger years fly fishing, working spaniels, helping my dad with his racing pigeons or just exploring the countryside. It was this passion that took me towards a career in veterinary. In 2012, I started studying at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). I really enjoyed my time there and on graduation in 2017 I started my career in mixed practice in Co. Armagh. Mixed practice was a very enjoyable, working with everything from small animals to farm animals and wildlife. I then wanted a new challenge and decided to undertake an equine internship Bell Equine Hospital in England, it was here I developed my love of research and equine surgery.
When I finished my internship I moved back to Ireland where I worked as a first opinion equine vet in leading practices across the island of Ireland. In 2021, I secured a surgical residency position at UCD’s Veterinary Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Clodagh Kearney and it was here that my interest in research flourished through the Doctorate of Veterinary Medical Specialisation (DVMS) and ECVS programs. I found my research niche in the field of translational orthopaedics particularly joint disease, orthobiologics and cartilage under the direction of Professor Pieter Brama and Dr. Clodagh Kearney.
In 2025, I passed my equine surgery board examinations to become a diplomate of the ECVS/specialist and graduated with my DVMS titled “The effects of different LPS doses on clinical and biochemical parameters in an experimental synovitis model in Thoroughbred horses, and the use of this model to investigate the effects of intra- articular, allogenic Platelet Rich Plasma”.
Professor Pieter Brama and Dr. Clodagh Kearney have been pivotal to my success, providing valuable support and guidance. I applied to the Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) Fellowship program in 2024 and was successful in becoming the 2nd veterinary surgeon to enter the program and start a PhD whilst also maintaining my clinical role as an equine surgeon which for me was very important. The ICAT program has allowed me to further my development as a clinical academic and continue my research with my PhD thesis titled “Effects of Cartilage Loading Conditions & Pseudo-Space Environments on Development, Adaptation and Repair (ECLIPSE)”.
Without the ICAT program I would never have been able to undertake a PhD after my previous internship and residency training, an opportunity for which I am very grateful! Clinically, my interests lie very much in the field of orthopaedics and particularly fracture repair but I also have a growing interest in ophthalmic surgery which I hope to develop over the coming years. Emergency cases, whilst they might be most people’s worst nightmare, are something I really enjoy as I feel I can make an immediate difference improving animal welfare and supporting owners during a difficult time.
As a clinical academic, no two days are ever the same. One day I might be operating on some of Ireland’s most valuable horses; the next, I could be measuring the Young’s modulus of cartilage or working through statistical analyses. This blend of clinical and research work has helped me develop a broad and valuable skill set. While the days are long and the workload demanding, I truly love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything. Working alongside an exceptional team of multidisciplinary colleagues at UCD’s School of Veterinary Medicine makes every day enjoyable, and it’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to the training and development of the next generation of vets. Looking ahead, I hope to secure a permanent academic position at UCD, continuing to combine my clinical work with my passion for research.
Outside of my typical working day I have a passion for spaniels and I enjoy training and working my Springer Spaniel and my younger, energetic and more problematic Cocker Spaniel. Sadly, my fly-fishing interests have taken a back seat over recent years but I hope I can resurrect them again soon. I really love the outdoors and countryside in general and thankfully my career choice means that even when working I can enjoy the countryside whether that be at a point-to-point race or a showjumping event. In my school days I played hockey for both Ulster and Ireland and whilst I do miss it, my work schedule makes team sports quite challenging. Perhaps one day I will make a return to the field! I haven’t quite perfected the work-life balance yet but I am working on it!