Rate My Professor Rafael Labens

Raphael Labens is Associate Professor in Equine Surgery in the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences at Charles Sturt University. He is the Superintendent of the Equine Hospital and Program Director for surgery and sports medicine residency programs. Labens graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, in 2000. He earned a Master of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Glasgow, a PhD in comparative biomedical sciences from North Carolina State University, and holds diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in Large Animal Surgery (DACVS-LA) and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (DACVSMR), as well as from the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (DECVS). He also possesses a Certificate in Equine Surgery - Orthopaedics (CertES Orth) and certification as a veterinary acupuncturist from the Chi Institute.

After initial equine practice in Germany, Labens completed specialty training through a rotating internship at the University of Liège in Belgium, a senior clinical scholarship in equine surgery at the University of Glasgow, and a residency at North Carolina State University. He has held clinical appointments at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and North Carolina State University, maintaining adjunct faculty status at the latter. At Charles Sturt University, his research interests center on equine surgical and orthopaedic conditions, musculoskeletal diseases, wound healing, and diagnostic imaging techniques such as elastography and MRI. Notable publications include "Intratumoural tigilanol tiglate in the multicentre treatment of equine sarcoids and cutaneous melanomas" (2026), "A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma products for treatment of equine joint disease" (2024), "Wound healing of experimental equine skin wounds and concurrent microbiota in wound dressings following topical propylene glycol gel treatment" (2023), and "Influence of screw configuration on reduction and stabilization of simulated complete lateral condylar fracture in equine limbs" (2024). Labens serves as Associate Editor for the journal Veterinary Surgery.