Richard Malik graduated from the University of Sydney in January 1981. His first year out was spent training in anaesthesia and intensive care with Jan Ilkiw and Kathy Brock at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This was followed by a PhD in the Department fo Pharmacology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (ANU), working with David Curtis on amino acid neurotransmitters. During this time he also worked part-time at Woden Animal Hospital. Dr Malik then moved to the Neurobiology Research Centre at the University of Sydney studying the development of neuromuscular connects as an NH&MRC postdoctoral fellow.

In 1987 he returned to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences as its first Resident in Small Animal Medicine. Since then he has remained in the vet school in varying capacities, and is currently the Valentine Charlton Senior Lecturer in Feline Medicine. Dr Malik passed his FACVSc in Medicine of Cats in 1991 and is a registered specialist in feline medicine.

Although interested in all facets of cat medicine, he is particularly interested in infectious diseases, neurology and cardiology. Richard has wide research interests, including mycobacterial infections and fungal disease (especially cryptococcosis). He is also a devoted Devon Rex owner!