Rate My Professor Olaf Schaaf

Senior Lecturer Olaf Schaaf serves in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences within the College of Sciences at the University of Adelaide, based at the Roseworthy Campus. He is a registered specialist small animal surgeon in both Australia and Europe, holding qualifications including BVSc, MANZCVS (surgery), and DECVS. Schaaf completed his residency training at Murdoch University in Perth in 2009 and attained Diplomate status with the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2011. Following experience in private referral practices in Perth and the Sunshine Coast, he joined the University of Adelaide in 2012 to help establish its veterinary program. As a clinician at Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital, he performs soft tissue, orthopaedic, and spinal surgeries on dogs and cats, with expertise in fracture repairs, growth deformities, ligamentous injuries, cruciate ligament disease, patella luxation, arthroscopy, and oncology surgery. He contributes to practical training in anaesthetising and desexing companion animals, among other procedures.

In his academic role, Schaaf coordinates and teaches courses in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, including Companion Animal Practice Part 1, Equine Clinical Practice Parts 1 and 2, Ruminant Health and Production Parts 1 and 2, DVM Professional Skills, Transition to the Veterinary Profession, and Wildlife and Conservation Practice. His research output includes peer-reviewed publications on veterinary surgical techniques and clinical conditions. Notable works are: Schaaf, O., Roennfeldt-Philp, T., & Webster, N. (2020). Anconeus muscle injury in a juvenile greyhound. Veterinary Surgery, 49(8), 1648-1657; Zhou, S. et al. (2019). Genetic cause for congenital methemoglobinemia in an Australian Pomeranian dog. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(2), 868-873; Appelgrein, C. et al. (2016). Ozonated water is inferior to propanol-based hand rubs for disinfecting hands. Journal of Hospital Infection, 92(4), 340-343; Moles, A. et al. (2010). Sand impaction of the small intestine in eight dogs. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 51(1), 29-33; Schaaf, O., Glyde, M., & Day, R. (2010). In vitro comparison of secure Aberdeen and square knots with plasma- and fat-coated polydioxanone. Veterinary Surgery, 39(5), 553-560; and additional studies on knot security and biceps tendon injuries in racing greyhounds (2009). These contributions advance knowledge in small animal surgery and clinical practice.