Dr. Ingrid Gielen graduated from Ghent University in Belgium in July 1995 and joined the staff as assistant at the Department of Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium. She received a master’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science from Ghent University in 2000. Her PhD thesis was completed with the title “Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Tarsocrural Osteochondrosis” in 2003. She was president of the European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (EAVDI), 2004-2006. 

Since 2004, Dr Gielen has been Division Head at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium and, since 2015, visiting professor at the Department of Radiology and Radiation Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. She is board member and currently president of the International Elbow Working Group and certified scrutinizer canine hip & elbow dysplasia (FCI/IEWG). She was invited speaker at many international conferences on medical imaging and orthopaedics and neurology and is author of more than 185 peer reviewed publications in national and international journals on medical imaging and orthopaedics. She has a particular interest in imaging techniques in joint diseases and neurologic diseases.

Dr. Julius Liptak has a passion and commitment to surgical oncology. He developed this interest prior to and during his residency training in Australia. Dr. Liptak was then selected as Fellow in Surgical Oncology at the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, the best recognized and one of the only training programs in the world for veterinary surgical oncologists. Dr. Liptak is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist. He is the co-editor of the seminal veterinary oncology textbook, Withrow and MacEwen's Small Animal Clinical Oncology, with Drs. Vail and Thamm. With three colleagues, Dr. Liptak has recently published Color Atlas of Canine and Feline Surgical Oncology. He has over 100 publications in veterinary and human peer-reviewed journals and veterinary textbooks; and is either the first or supervising author on seminal papers on oncologic diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, retroperitoneal sarcomas, and chest wall tumors, and surgical procedures including chest wall resections and reconstructions, rectal pull-throughs, and ventral bulla osteotomies.

Dr. Liptak was the founding President of the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology. In 2010 he was awarded the Stephen J. Withrow Award for Advancing the Art and Science of Surgical Oncology. In 2012, Dr. Liptak became an ACVS Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology - one of four in Canada and less than 70 in the world. In 2020, Dr. Liptak was accepted as a RCVS Specialist in Surgical Oncology, one of six in the world. His main interests centre around musculoskeletal oncology and include bone tumors, maxillofacial surgery for oral tumors, chest wall resection and reconstruction for rib tumors, and soft tissue sarcomas, but also soft tissue tumors such as apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinomas. Dr. Liptak is one of the pioneers in sentinel lymph node mapping and using patient-specific, customized 3D-printed titanium prostheses for oncologic reconstructions.

Dr. Liptak is committed to providing optimum care for animals with cancer and their owners, continuing to provide education to veterinary professionals to optimize the treatment of cancer in animals, and improving the outcome for animals (and people) with cancer through education and research.

Cassie Lux is a native of Indiana, and she attended Purdue University for her undergraduate and veterinary school education. She completed a rotating internship at Mississippi State University, and then completed a residency in small animal surgery at the University of California-Davis. She is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Tennessee, where she has been since 2013 and specializes in soft tissue surgery. In 2014, she became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. She has published numerous scientific articles, authored book chapters on various topics, and she has served on research and continuing education committees for ACVS, Veterinary Endoscopy Society, and Society of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery. Her areas of interest include trauma, minimally invasive surgery, and interventional radiology.

Bio to follow.

Dr Kristina Merhof is a specialist in veterinary diagnostic imaging with 12 years‘ experience in the field. Her professional background is characterised by a combination of clinical practice, academic leadership, teleradiology and a focus on specialised training.

Her academic career began at LMU Munich, where she completed her veterinary studies in 2006. Following several years of clinical work, she moved to Switzerland to complete a residency and a doctoral thesis at the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. In 2014, she became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) and subsequently obtained the German radiology qualification. 

For five years, until 2025, Dr Merhof served as the Head of the Radiology Department at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo). In this role, she was also responsible for the ECVDI-accredited resident training program as its Program Director. Alongside her institutional work, she has contributed to global teleradiology as a specialist for VetCT since 2016. 

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr Merhof is interested in the development of teaching and leadership methods. She holds a State Certificate in Higher Education Didactics and is currently pursuing advanced training in Non-violent Communication to further support her approach to collaborative leadership and education.

Massimo received his degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Milano in 1997. He is the clinical director and chief of orthopedic surgery at the Clinica Veterinaria Milano Sud, Peschiera Borromeo, Italy. He is a member of SCIVAC, ESVOT, SIOVET, as well as a AVORE council member and AOVET Ambassador Member. Massimo lectures regularly at national and international congresses, meetings and courses including SCIVAC/AO courses for Distal Extremities and External Fixation, AO Masterclass Courses on Advanced Corrective Osteotomies, and ESVOT and ACVS courses on Corrective Osteotomies and Patella Luxation. He was the secretary of the SIOVET, Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (2008-2011). He has authored 31 papers in peer-reviewed veterinary journals and two books, the “Atlas of Clinical Goniometry” and “Atlas BOA, Breed Orthopaedic Oriented Approach ''. Massimo developed the Fixin system, an internal fixation device with angular stability and conic coupling, the Tibial Tuberosity Transposition Technique and Tool, and the bone widening and transfer technique. His particular clinical interests are limb alignment, stifle surgery, hybrid external fixators, Ilizarov technique, elastic internal fixation, Total Hip Replacement, and transcutaneous amputee prosthesis. He spends his free time thinking about the things that he used to enjoy, woodworking and competitive triathlon, when he had free time available.

Dr. Pey works at the intersection of medicine, research, and medical technology, with a focus on turning complex clinical information into tools that support better decision-making.

She is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), PhD, and Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI), with an international career spanning clinical practice, academia, and industry.

Her training began at the École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort (Paris), followed by a PhD and a four-year specialization in Diagnostic Imaging at Ghent University (Belgium). After becoming an ECVDI Diplomate, Dr. Pey held academic and leadership roles across Europe and North America, including positions as Clinical Instructor at the Université de Montréal, Assistant Professor and Head of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Paris, and later Associate Professor at the University of Bologna.

Teaching, mentoring, and building international collaborations have been central to her career, alongside active clinical work and research.

Since 2021, Dr. Pey has been working full-time in industry, currently with Antech Telemedicine (Irvine, California), where I focus on advanced diagnostic imaging, teleradiology, and scalable clinical solutions.

Beyond her role in industry, she is the co-founder of Surgeree, a medtech startup developing next-generation platforms that combine artificial intelligence, immersive visualization, and spatial computing to support surgical planning, intra-operative assistance, and clinical decision workflows.

Dr. Pey has authored or co-authored 50+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, served in leadership roles within the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (Secretary, 2017–2020), and regularly contribute to international conferences as a speaker and moderator.

What drives her work is a simple principle: - technology should clarify clinical decisions, not complicate them.

Today, Dr. Pey collaborates with clinicians, researchers, engineers, and industry partners to bridge clinical reality and technological innovation, with a strong emphasis on rigor, usability, and real-world impact.

Dr. Pey is based in Bologna, Italy, and work internationally.

Daniel is a highly accomplished veterinary neurologist whose career reflects a strong commitment to clinical excellence, research, and international collaboration. His professional journey demonstrates not only technical expertise but also leadership in advancing veterinary neurology across Europe.

He graduated from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1999 and later achieved the European Diploma in Veterinary Neurology/Neurosurgery (ECVN). Recognised as a specialist in Neurology by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the United Kingdom, Daniel has built a reputation as an expert in his field. His early career in Spain, particularly at Ars Veterinaria Referral Hospital in Barcelona, played a crucial role in shaping his clinical and academic development, where he completed his European residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery.

Since 2011, Daniel has gained extensive experience working in leading private hospitals and universities in the United Kingdom, including the Animal Health Trust, the University of Liverpool, Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, and Hamilton Specialist Referrals. His leadership abilities became evident when he served as Head of the Neurology/Neurosurgery Department at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists and later led the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service at the University of Liverpool. These roles highlight not only his clinical expertise but also his capacity to guide and develop specialised teams.

In recent years, Daniel has expanded his influence through academic and innovative platforms. He has worked as a worldwide telemedicine consultant at VetCT since 2021 and has been an associate professor at the Catholic University of Valencia since 2022. In addition, he continues his clinical practice at VETERIOS Referral Hospital in Madrid. His involvement in telemedicine reflects his adaptability and commitment to modernising veterinary care.

Beyond clinical work, Daniel has played an active role in professional organisations. He has served as president and secretary of the British Veterinary Neurology Society (BVNS), chaired the ECVN Scientific Committee, and contributed to the ECVN Examination Committee. His participation in these roles demonstrates his dedication to shaping the future of veterinary neurology.

Daniel is also a prolific contributor to scientific research, having authored or co-authored over 100 publications in the field. As a speaker at national and international conferences and a reviewer for several respected journals, he continues to influence both education and research in veterinary science.

In conclusion, Daniel’s career stands out not only for its breadth of experience but also for its impact on veterinary neurology. Through leadership, research, and innovation, he has established himself as a key figure in the advancement of neurological care in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Schwarz studied veterinary medicine at the Humboldt and Free University of Berlin in Germany.

He did a diagnostic imaging residency at Glasgow University Veterinary School and became a Diplomate in Diagnostic Imaging with the RCVS (DVR), ECVDI and ACVR. He has been an academic radiologist at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin-Madison and is the head of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies since 2009.

In 2017, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) in the UK. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and his particular interests are in thoracic imaging and computed tomography. On both topics he has published a comprehensive textbook.

Swan Specchi graduated from the Veterinary School of the University of Bologna in July 2007. In January 2008, he began a PhD program in Diagnostic Imaging at the same institution, earning his PhD degree in May 2011. 

In June 2011, he joined the University of Montreal to undertake a three-year residency program in Diagnostic Imaging, accredited by the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR). He achieved Diplomate status of the ACVR in September 2014.

Dr. Specchi currently serves as a staff radiologist for Antech Imaging Services. He is actively involved in residency training through the Antech Academy program, where he acts as European Residency Liaison, supervising and mentoring residents. He is also Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Unit at AniCura Ospedale Veterinario I Portoni Rossi, Bologna, Italy. 

Dr. Specchi is the author and co-author of several scientific publications in international veterinary journals and textbooks in diagnostic imaging. His main clinical and research interests focus on abdominal vascular diseases in small animals. He is currently writing a book entitled Diagnostic Imaging of Abdominal Vascular Diseases in Small Animals, which is expected to be available starting in January 2027.

In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr. Specchi is co-founder of Surgeree, a company focused on implementing spatial computing technologies in the human operating room to enhance surgical visualization, collaboration, and intraoperative decision-making. 

He regularly participates as a speaker at national and international veterinary congresses.

Bio to follow.