Subsequent to graduating from Cambridge University in 2006, Dr Underwood undertook a large animal surgery and critical care internship at The University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. She then ‘converted to the dark side’ and spent two years in Dr Virginia Reef’s ultrasound and cardiology fellowship. In 2010 she joined the University of Queensland, Australia, where she completed a PhD and set up the equine ultrasound and cardiology service on the Gatton Campus. She returned to work in The University of Pennsylvania’s large animal and cardiology service in 2017 as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging with a focus in ultrasound and cardiology. Her interests include advanced musculoskeletal imaging techniques, 4D echocardiography and novel ECG analysis techniques.

Emmanuelle van Erck graduated in 1996 from the French Veterinary School of Maisons-Alfort. She trained in sports medicine at the University of Liège (Belgium) where she obtained her PhD on respiratory function testing in horses. She developped the equine sports medicine unit and consulted as senior clinician in the CIRALE in Normandy (France). In January 2010, she started her own ambulatory referral practice, the ‘Equine Sports Medicine Practice’, based in Belgium. Her practice offers specialized service in equine internal and sports medicine throughout Europe, following national teams and international riders.
Emmanuelle van Erck authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and regularly lectures at international conferences. She is a member of the FEI expert committee on prohibited substances and doping.

Gunther van Loon graduated from Ghent University, Belgium, in 1992 and has worked at the Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, ever since. In 2001 he finished his PhD on “Atrial pacing and experimental atrial fibrillation in equines”. In 2004 he became Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and in 2011 Associate Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. He is now Professor in Large Animal Internal Medicine at Ghent University and his major interests are cardiology (arrhythmias, electrophysiology, cardiac pacing, echocardiography, TDI, 2D ST), and thoracic and abdominal ultrasound. Areas of research include 2D Speckle Tracking, Tissue Doppler Imaging, cardiac biomarkers, assessment of arterial wall stiffness and great vessel pathology, atrial fibrillation. Gunther has published mainly in the field of equine internal medicine and cardiology and lectures regularly at national and international courses and conferences. 

Dr. Tracy Norman grew up in Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed foxhunting. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and completed an internship at Blue Ridge Equine in 2003. She completed an internal medicine residency at Texas A&M University, and is board certified in large animal internal medicine (equine focus). She has completed training in veterinary acupuncture at the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. She has spent 6 years as an academic veterinarian at Texas A&M focusing on internal medicine and advanced ultrasound techniques. While there, she acted as the service chief for internal medicine and ultrasound and authored a number of scientific papers on internal medicine and ultrasound. Dr. Norman’s professional interests include diagnostic and interventional ultrasound, sports medicine, and internal medicine. She is very active in the American Association of Equine Practitioners. What she likes best about being an equine veterinarian at BREC: “Being part of a team of supportive veterinarians who are all dedicated to excellence. And the gorgeous Valley sunrises!”

Dr. Virginia Reef, a 1979 graduate of The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a rotating internship in large animal medicine and surgery, and a residency in large animal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Reef subsequently became the Director of the Large Animal Cardiology and Ultrasound Service.  Shortly thereafter she was instrumental in establishing the Section of Sports Medicine and Imaging at New Bolton Center and has been the Chief of that Section for the past 18 years. Dr. Reef has worked on the faculty at Penn for the past 27 years, advancing through the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor. She has trained the majority of academics focusing on equine cardiology and ultrasonography in the United States, as well as many individuals in private practice and overseas. Based on her many accomplishments, Dr. Reef was granted a prestigious endowed chair at Penn and currently serves as the Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Medicine. She is one of the charter diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a large animal associate member of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. In addition to numerous original publications, she is the author and editor of a standard textbook on equine diagnostic imaging, “Equine Diagnostic Ultrasound.”