Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, whose work with neurological horses has gained him worldwide acclaim, will join Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital’s internal medicine department on Feb. 1, 2007. Rood & Riddle is a full-service equine hospital in Lexington, Ky.

Reed, who is board certified in large animal internal medicine, has been a clinician, researcher, and faculty member at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus since 1983. His efforts there included breakthrough work with William Saville, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, in equine protozoal myelitis (EPM) to identify the life cycle of the parasite that causes the disease and to develop a laboratory model of EPM; investigation of the role of diet in the development of cervical vertebral stenotic myopathy (CVM) and surgical management of the condition; and intensive work with horses suffering from the neurological strain of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1), including development of guidelines for isolation and treatment.

Most recently, Reed has served Ohio State as the section head of Equine Medicine and Surgery and in The Bud and Marilyn Jenne Designated Professorship in Equine Clinical Sciences and Research, a position dedicated to teaching, research, service, and outreach. In 2002, Ohio State bestowed the Faculty Award on Reed for his distinguished service to the university.

A native of Delaware, Ohio, Reed obtained both his bachelor of science degree in 1971 and his doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1976 from Ohio State. He served his internship and residency at Michigan State University, then began his teaching career at Washington State University in 1979 before returning to Ohio State. In 2003, Reed received the Schering-Plough Award for applied clinical research for his work investigating neurological diseases of horses.

Reed has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications in refereed journals and is the co-editor of Equine Internal Medicine, the only textbook dedicated to the subject. Internationally, he has been an invited speaker at conferences in 12 countries on five continents.

“I’ve always felt like I’ve been a part of Rood & Riddle’s practice because I have so many close friends here,” Reed said. “I’ve known some of these people my whole veterinary career, for more than 30 years. And the phone call I got from Bill Rood, Tom Riddle, and Larry Bramlage sealed the deal.”

Reed said he is eager to begin clinical practice, and he looks forward to the change from research and academia.

“I miss doing some other, more general medicine, and so I’m looking forward to that opportunity at Rood & Riddle,” he said.

Looking back over his career, Reed said he considers removing the stigma from equine neurological disease to be his greatest contribution to veterinary medicine.

“I’m just one of a few people who have made it all right for a horse to have neurological disease,” Reed said.

“We’ve been trying to hire Reed for about 15 years,” said William Rood, DVM, hospital director. “He’s eminently qualified, and he has the respect of the entire equine veterinary profession. It is an honor to have him come to work for us. He’ll be a mentor, as well as a clinician, at our practice for many years to come.”

For more information on Rood & Riddle equine hospital see www.roodandriddle.com.