Dr. Martin Genton graduated from the National Veterinary School of Lyon in 2014. He completed an internship at the Veterinary School of Maisons Alfort and then, after 1 year of private practice, he joined the clinic for a surgical residency with Doctor Rossignol. Martin Genton completed the 3 years of this training and obtained the specialist diploma in surgery called “ECVS” (European College of Veterinary Surgery).

To follow

Doctor Thijs van Loon graduated in 2000 from the Utrecht Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, he worked for 3 years in a mixed private practice. After the first year with a lot of general practice, he started to focus on equine anesthesia and internal medicine. In early 2004 he returned to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht and received a training position in veterinary anesthesiology, pain management and Intensive Care. Simultaneously with the training programme, Thijs started a doctoral research into local pain relief techniques in horses (including epidural anesthesia) and into the objective measurement of pain manifestations. 

In 2012, Thijs passed his exams for the European register of specialists and became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists and Analgesia (ECVAA). In the same year he completed his PhD and defended his dissertation in the Academy Building in Utrecht entitled “Analgesia in the Horse, various approaches for assessment and treatment of pain and nociception in equines”. 

Between 2012 and 2021 Thijs continued to work at the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care of the University Clinic for Horses in Utrecht. He has guided countless students, interns and specialists in training. In addition to his work in the clinic, he continued research into making acute and chronic pain measurable in horses and donkeys. This resulted, among other things, in the development of the EPWA (Equine Pain and Welfare App) app. This app, with which pain signals in horses and donkeys can be objectively measured, was developed with the cooperation of colleagues and research students, supported by the Friends of Veterinary Medicine Foundation and the Paardenkamp Foundation. A version that can be used for working horses and donkeys in developing countries is being developed, with support from Brooke Hospital for Animals. 

Thijs has been working at SMDC since in September 2021. Both in Heesch and in the international clinics of Altano, he uses his knowledge and experience to supervise (sometimes complex) anesthesia and sedation procedures and to contribute to the further development of pain relief for various disorders. Thijs also provides refresher courses in anesthesia and pain relief for Altano Academy. Since the beginning of 2023, Thijs combines his work for SMDC and Altano with working at the department of clinical sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. 

Thijs is currently moving back to Utrecht University to further commit to clinical teaching, patient care and clinical research in the filed of pain management and assessment.

Prof. Ann Martens graduated in 1993 at Ghent University as ‘Doctor in Veterinary Medicine’ and immediately started het academic career at Ghent University. In 2000, she defended her PhD on the diagnosis and treatment of equine sarcoids and became a post-doctoral scientific staff member. In 2002, she became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (Specialist in Large Animal Surgery). Presently she is full professor in equine surgery and since 2022 dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Matteo Mereu studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sassari in Sardinia, Italy. After graduating, he gained international clinical experience through an internship at Weems and Stephens Equine Hospital in Aubrey, Texas, followed by a surgical internship at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. He then completed a residency in equine surgery at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital in Ireland and became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 2023. In 2020, Dr. Mereu joined the Großwallstadt Equine Clinic in Germany as an equine surgeon and was appointed Managing Director in 2024.

Dr. Mohamad Al Naem graduated in 2006 from Al Baath University in Syria with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. He subsequently completed a residency in equine surgery at the University of Giessen in Germany and became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 2021. Since 2022, Dr. Al Naem has been working as an equine surgeon at the SaarLorLux Equine Clinic in Germany.

A registered Specialist and European Boarded Diplomate in Equine Surgery; Greg joined Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre (A division of Hamilton Veterinary Services) in 2011. His caseload is principally composed of surgical and non-surgical orthopedic and upper airway issues of the elite thoroughbred, coupled with his strong academic background, this adds a vital component of the team.

Dr. Michael Ruyssers has been working as an abdominal surgeon at Ziekenhuis Geel since 2021.
He completed his medical degree at the University of Antwerp.
He finished his specialization in General Surgery at the University Hospital Brussels, Ziekenhuis Geel, and the University Hospital Antwerp. During a subsequent fellowship at the University Hospital Brussels, he further specialized in broad abdominal surgery and robotic surgery.

Dr. Sandersen graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1997, graduated from the College of Equine Internal Medicine in and obtained the European Specialist title in Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2013. She also holds a doctoral thesis on echocardiography in horses. She follows up anaesthetized patients in pet and equine clinics.