Dr. Stijn Niessen graduated from Ghent University. After an internship at Glasgow University and a residency at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), he became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Niessen completed a PhD in diabetes mellitus, quality of life assessment and gene therapy at Newcastle University Medical School and the RVC. During his 16-year faculty career at the RVC, Dr. Niessen was active in referral clinics, teaching students and research, ultimately becoming Professor of Internal Medicine, as well as one of the Clinical Directors of Europe’s largest small animal referral hospital. He has found new cures for old diseases, published numerous scientific papers, written chapters and co-edited key textbooks.