Caroline Mansfield, BSc, BVSc, PhD, MANZCVS, DECVIM-CA, an internationally recognized veterinary internist and researcher, has been appointed the Pat Carrigan Professor of Feline Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The appointment, effective August 1, recognizes her leadership in advancing feline health through innovative research, clinical excellence, and international collaboration.

Established through a bequest from former MSU Board of Trustees member Dr. Patricia M. Carrigan, the endowed chair supports faculty whose work advances feline health and wellbeing while strengthening the bond between cats, their owners, and veterinary care providers.

A leading expert in gastrointestinal disease and physiology, Mansfield studies how the gastrointestinal tract contributes to chronic disease in companion animals. Her research seeks new ways to prevent and treat these conditions by integrating clinical medicine with microbiome analysis, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and machine learning.

"Dr. Mansfield brings ideal expertise to this role," said Dr. Rob Fowkes, Chair of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. "This endowment will accelerate research into common feline diseases and help develop more personalized approaches to feline healthcare. Her interdisciplinary work positions both her laboratory and the College at the forefront of advances in feline medicine."

Mansfield joined the College in 2025 as Professor of Internal Medicine in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. Before coming to MSU, she held several senior academic and clinical leadership positions at the University of Melbourne, including Director of Clinical Research, Director of U-Vet Veterinary Hospital, and Head of Small Animal Medicine.

She earned her veterinary degree from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, completed a Master of Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin, and returned to Murdoch University to earn her PhD. A Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Companion Animals) and past president of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Mansfield has authored more than 120 scientific publications and conference abstracts, many developed through international collaborations.

"Dr. Mansfield embodies the vision behind the Pat Carrigan Professorship," said Dr. Kim Dodd, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "Her research advances feline health while generating discoveries with the potential to benefit animals and people alike. Just as importantly, she is a collaborative leader and mentor who amplifies the work of those around her. Her appointment ensures that Dr. Carrigan's generosity will continue to drive discovery, educate future veterinarians and scientists, and improve the lives of cats."

The Carrigan Chair reflects the vision of Dr. Patricia M. Carrigan, whose generosity established a lasting source of support for feline medicine at MSU. In creating the endowment, Carrigan recognized the need for dedicated investment in improving the lives of cats and ensuring continued progress in feline health research.

She stated, “Public funds are rarely expended to help cats live longer and healthier lives. It’s up to us who care about the well-being of cats to see that there is a consistent, reliable source of funds to better their lives.”