Sam Franklin

Associate Professor Sam Franklin

Associate Professor

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Sam is a UK veterinary graduate, with over 25 years’ experience in clinical practice and academia. After graduating from the University of Bristol in 1995, Sam spent time in mixed practice in the UK before returning to Bristol to undertake a PhD on upper airway collapse in Thoroughbred racehorses. Subsequently, she worked at the University of Bristol as a lecturer in equine exercise physiology and ran the Equine Sports Medicine Centre before moving to the University of Adelaide, Australia in 2010 during the start-up of the new veterinary school, where she is currently employed as an Associate Professor in Veterinary Physiology.

Sam's clinical and research field is in equine sports medicine, with a particular focus on cardio-respiratory causes of poor performance in equine athletes. She is internationally renowned for her pioneering work on the development of overground endoscopy and is currently leading projects relating to upper airway dysfunction, equine asthma, exercise associated cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, and gastric ulceration.

Sam is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the discipline of equine sports medicine. In 2022, she was awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), for meritorious contributions to clinical practice. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, an Australian and RCVS registered Specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and a founding member of the Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). She is also Chair of the International Committee for the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP). Over her career, Sam has published over 70 journal articles and book chapters and delivered more than 175 conference and continuing education presentations.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2013 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    2010 - 2013 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2006 - 2010 Lecturer / Senior Lecturer(Equine Sports Medicine) University of Bristol
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Fellowship Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons RCVS United Kingdom -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1999 - 2003 University of Bristol United Kingdom PhD
    1990 - 1995 University of Bristol United Kingdom BVSc
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2022 Fellow Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons -
    2020 Member Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists -
    2015 Diplomate American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation -
  • Research Interests

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Using artificial intelligence algorithms to predict risk of cardiac rhythm disturbances associated with training load in racehorses. Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Amie Eve Kapusniak
    2022 Principal Supervisor Investigation into the impact of various ingredients on the health of the Equine digestive system. Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Miss Holly Brooke Mills
    2021 Co-Supervisor Quantification of the lifetime experience of pain in livestock and its implications on productivity and animal husbandry practices, including applications to human health and wellbeing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Charlotte Helen Johnston
    2021 Principal Supervisor Early diagnosis of equine upper respiratory tract disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Josephine Louise Hardwick
    2020 Principal Supervisor Investigation of the sacroiliac fasciae and clinical applications for management of sacroiliac dysfunction in athletic horses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Lisa Walter
    2020 Principal Supervisor Investigation of Genetic Polymorphisms That Could Interfere With Drug Metabolism of Omeprazole in Horses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Gustavo Ferlini Agne
    2019 Co-Supervisor Veterinary and Medical Professionals experiences of Trauma at Work Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Natalie Worth
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Exercise-Associated Cardiac Rhythm Disorders in Thoroughbred Racehorses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Laura Catherine Nath
    2015 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Dynamic Equine Laryngeal Prosthesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Benjamin Ahern
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2022 - 2026 Chair International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology ICEEP United States
    2014 - ongoing Board Member International Committee on Equine Exercise Physiology ICEEP United States
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2020 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinarey Scientists Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation United States
    1995 - ongoing Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons United Kingdom
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83137931
  • Email: sam.franklin@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137956
  • Campus: Roseworthy
  • Building: Equine Health and Performance Centre
  • Org Unit: School of Animal and Veterinary Science

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