David graduated in 1992 from the University of Edinburgh, and after two years in general practice moved to the University of Cambridge to undertake a PhD in the molecular genetics of inherited eye diseases, which he obtained in 1998. This was followed by an ECVO clinical training residency in Veterinary Ophthalmology at the University of Bristol, obtaining his UK and European Diplomas in 2001 and 2003 respectively.

After three years at Bristol University as Lecturer in Veterinary Ophthalmology, David left academia and joined Davies Veterinary Specialists, a private veterinary referral hospital near London, where he established and developed their ophthalmology service. During his time there, DVS expanded to become one of the largest private veterinary hospitals in Europe, with over 200 staff, including a 6-person ophthalmology team. David stayed there until 2020 when he moved with his family to the Netherlands. He now runs a smaller ophthalmology clinic in Haarlem, close to Amsterdam.

During his ophthalmology career, David has been actively involved in ECVO residency training, supervising in total eight ophthalmology residents. He was a member of the ECVO Examination Committee for 15 years, including 10 years as chief examiner until 2022. Whilst in the UK he was a member of the BVA Hereditary Eye Scheme and of its Working Party. David was also eye examiner for the UK Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, where he was responsible for eye testing of the UK guide dog breeding stock.

David is still actively involved in teaching and examining for the BSAVA postgraduate Certificate in Ophthalmology and lectures at both the national and international level for a wide variety of CPD providers including BSAVA, CPD solutions and ESAVS. He has been an Editorial Board member of a number of academic journals including Veterinary Ophthalmology, Journal of Small Animal Practice and Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. He has published more than 30 academic research articles and 10 book chapters and is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Veterinary Ophthalmology.

David was awarded FRCVS status in 2017 for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.