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Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM)

Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, and Large Animal Internal Medicine · Veterinary Clinical Sciences · College of Veterinary Medicine · University of Minnesota

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst earned her B.V.M.S. With Commendation from the University of Glasgow (2009) before completing a Large Animal Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, where she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal) in 2016. She subsequently earned an MS (2016) and PhD (2020) in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences at Minnesota, with doctoral research focused on tools for precision medicine in the horse. Now an Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, and Large Animal Internal Medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, Dr. Durward-Akhurst leads a research program at the intersection of equine cardiology and genomics. Her work investigates the genetic and transcriptomic basis of sudden cardiac death, cardiac arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred racehorses, with translational implications for sudden arrhythmic death in human athletes. She holds funding from the American Heart Association, Morris Animal Foundation, and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Board Certification

  • American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine — Large Animal Internal Medicine

Clinical Interests

  • Equine large animal internal medicine
  • Equine cardiology and cardiac arrhythmias
  • Veterinary genomics and precision medicine
  • Sudden cardiac death in Thoroughbred racehorses
  • Atrial fibrillation genetics
  • Exercise-associated sudden death

Lectures

  • On demand

Equine Cardiology Essentials

May 30, 2026 · 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CT · 2 CE Hours

This 2-hour course will feature one lecture reviewing the important components of a complete equine cardiac examination and findings that could suggest that there is an underlying abnormality. The second lecture will review important…

Presented by Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM).

  • On demand

Equine Genetics and Genomics

May 30, 2026 · 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM CT · 2 CE Hours

This 2-hour course will feature one lecture reviewing genetics and a second lecture discussing important equine genetic diseases. Part 1 (1 hour): Genetics for veterinarians — fundamental principles of genetics including inheritance…

Presented by Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM).