WesternU Professor Enters International Hall of Fame

As a child in his native Iran, Dr. Babak Faramarzi, was always around horses. His grandfather and father owned the majestic animals, and he learned to ride at a young age. That love for horses never dissipated, nudging him into the veterinary field where he now specializes in equine medicine.

Dr. Faramarzi was recently named to the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame, the result of his many years of working in equine medicine, particularly in podiatry. He said his connection to horses made veterinary medicine a clear career choice for him.

“When you have a dog, it becomes sort of a family member. Maybe not the first day or the first week, or even the first year—but over time, the dog is part of your family,” Dr. Faramarzi explained. “The same thing is true with horse, even though you really can’t keep a horse in the house.”

The International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame was established in 1997 to honor veterinarians who have contributed to the knowledge and recognition of proper hoof care for horses. Sponsored by American Farriers Journal, the honor is bestowed by a secret vote of top equine veterinarians who are already members of the Hall of Fame.

Horse culture is deeply rooted in Dr. Faramarzi’s homeland, once known as Persia. After receiving his DVM in 1995, he began working with the Equine Federation. Indeed, the Iranian organization itself owned 300 horses—all expensive, pure-bread stallions.

The horses are known as Arabians, although Dr. Faramarzi would prefer what he calls a more correct term for the breed: “Persians.” But he doesn’t argue the point with other horse aficionados.

“It makes enemies rather than friends,” he said, adding that after all these years, “you can’t really change it.”

Dr. Faramarzi has dedicated his career to improving care for horses. After receiving his DVM in 1995, he went on to receive a Master’s degree and his Ph.D. from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. He broadened his knowledge by receiving certification in veterinary acupuncture from the Chi Institute in Florida. He has been involved in veterinary research for more than 20 years.

Dr. Faramarzi’s lab investigates the foot from gross anatomy and microanatomy (histology), diagnostic imaging (radiography and MRI), and biomedical standpoints. In recent years he has designed and led numerous research projects on the horse hoof, training students and publishing original research in peer-reviewed veterinary journals, including 14 original research articles in equine podiatry.

In 2019, Dr. Faramarzi received the Innovation Champion Award from the American Farriers for creating digital 3D and virtual reality models of the equine foot, which allows students to better understand its complicated structures.

Entering the Hall of Fame was both a thrill and a surprise, Dr. Faramarzi said. Many past honorees have been named to the Hall at the end of their careers, but he’s nowhere close to retirement. Receiving the honor, particularly at this time, was unexpected.

“I am Persian; I come from Iran; I have a last name you cannot pronounce; and I have my accent,” he said, ticking off marks he believed could have been barriers to career honors.

“Being among the ‘big boys’ in the field is a thrill. I am honored to have friends from all over the world.”

Dr. Faramarzi still spends a great deal of time around horses, but he no longer rides.

“I wish I had the time,” he said. “The horse business is like an addiction. More than 30 years after joining the field, I still enjoy it.”

As a member of the Hall of Fame, Dr. Faramarzi will now be able to vote for new inductees who have contributed to equine hoof care field. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2022 inductee.