Rory Todhunter, Ph.D. ’92, named inaugural director of Riney … has been appointed the inaugural director of the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, university officials announced. Todhunter, a professor of surgery at the college, will assume the role immediately and is charged with coordinating the center’s research agenda and outreach programs as it moves from planning into active operation.

Common health issues in dogs include dental disease, ear infections, obesity, osteoarthritis, allergies, skin and coat disorders, gastrointestinal parasites (such as Giardia), cataracts, and other age- and breed-related conditions. Large-scale veterinary and genetic studies help identify w

To ensure research produces usable outcomes, the center will rely on partnerships with pet owners and community practitioners. Veterinary research centers typically partner with pet owners through clinical trials and community programs, enrolling client-owned animals in studies that test new diagnostics, treatments, or preventive strategies while often subsidizing costs of care. These centers also educate and support veterinarians and owners to adopt evidence-based approaches.

Officials noted that such owner engagement is crucial because access to regular veterinary care varies. According to American Veterinary Medical Association survey data, a substantial majority of U.S. pet owners report having a regular veterinarian or veterinary practice, but a smaller share say they have had at least one veterinary visit in the past 12 months, indicating that many pets are not seeing a veterinarian annually. The Riney Center’s outreach programs aim to narrow that gap by translating research into practical resources and by creating pathways for community participation in studies.