Professor 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. Stijn 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, Stijn 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. Stijn has found new cures for old diseases, published numerous scientific papers, written chapters and co-edited key textbooks. He now leads VIN Europe and the VIN Veterinary Mentorship Academy believing that every practitioner should be able to enjoy the unique level of clinical support, personal development and mentorship normally only encountered within University settings. One of the key programs trying to achieve this is the newly created Virtual Veterinary Internship (www.vin.com/vvi).