Carl Kirker-Head – VetMB, MA, DACVS, DECVS

Dr. Carl Kirker-Head is an orthopedic surgeon, equine sports medicine expert, and associate professor of large animal medicine at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. As the Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine, his research and clinical interests range from internal fixation and corrective farriery to the use of pharmaceuticals. As the director of the Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Dr. Kirker-Head's research interests include bone, tendon, ligament, and cartilage growth, grafting and remodeling. He is also involved in research on equine skeletal tissue engineering, orthopedic device development, as well as less invasive (catheter-based) interventions.

In addition to his research, Dr. Kirker-Head also lectures on topics ranging from surgery to anatomy, as well as courses on the equine racing industry to veterinary students at the Cummings School. He also leads the clinical surgery rotation at the Hospital for Large Animals, as well as serving as a facilitator of the Problem Based Learning course.

Dr. Kirker-Head enjoys being at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine for numerous reasons. He takes pride in his companion colleagues and staff, the beautiful campus, the intellectual diversity of the students, his patients, and his proximity to the best medical research companies and institutions in the world. He enjoys the New England and the cross-campus opportunities, as he works with colleagues on Tufts' Medford and the Boston campuses.

Dr. Kirker-Head's academic and research interests can be found on his faculty profile.