Prof. Gerhard Steenkamp joined the Companion Animal Clinical Studies Department at the University of Pretoria in 1998. He has ever since been responsible for the running of the Dentistry and Maxillofacial surgery clinic. Prof. Steenkamp lectures undergraduate veterinary and para-veterinary students in general surgery, dentistry and maxillofacial surgery in small animals, oncological surgery of small animals as well as equine dentistry. Prof. Steenkamp’s research projects involve collaboration with researchers from Lancet laboratories, Mammal Research Institute (University of Pretoria) and West Coast Veterinary Dental Services (Canada). To date he has supervised three MSc students. Prof. Steenkamp currently has 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has written four book chapters. He has presented 50 international conference papers and a further 30 nationally.

Prof. Steenkamp has a keen interest in clinical research, specifically in the fields of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery of small animals. He is currently working towards a major project, which involves the surgical dehorning of white rhinoceros calves, in an attempt to conserve the species. Additional work done on injured/ poached white rhinoceros have contributed towards understanding the systemic complications these animals suffer during such a traumatic event.