Originally from Australia, Dr. Donnelly is board certified in American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Laboratory Animal Medicine;  American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Exotic Companion Mammal; and European College of Zoological Medicine, Small Mammal Medicine. Before he moved to France, he was based in New York. In addition to being a consultant for VIN, he is a research professor in exotics service at the French National Veterinary School at Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France. In 1997, he founded the Warren Institute (a non-profit clinical research foundation) and is still active with it. He is an adjunct associate professor, in Zoological Companion Animal Medicine at Tufts.