Pioneer in Veterinary Dermatology: An Interview with Ralf Mueller
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Q: Reflecting on your career thus far, what achievements or milestones are you most proud of and why?
A: The first milestone in my career journey was leaving Germany as a young veterinarian and moving to USA to learn more about small animal practice, despite the advice of my colleagues and without any firm offers. The year spent in LA on studying and volunteering in various practices and clinics, including the VMTH of UC Davis, taught me many things - not only about veterinary medicine, but also about a different culture of teaching. Of course, my English did not suffer from the move either!
The second milestone was daring to open the first private practice referral clinic in Australia in Melbourne, with my wife and partner Sonya Bettenay. Despite financial advisors warning us that a referral clinic would not succeed in Australia due to financial constraints, the clinic quickly became very successful. We handled numerous cases, which taught us a great deal about veterinary dermatology. Additionally, we became involved in teaching at Sydney University as well as postgraduate education. Overall, it was a significant professional development.
The third milestone was the decision to accept an offer from Colorado State University leaving our beloved clinic to work in academia. Uprooting the whole family and starting afresh in the USA was a significant change. There, I learnt to enjoy collaborative clinical research and all the exciting aspects that come with it. This opportunity also propelled me in the global veterinary dermatology limelight. It led to the fourth milestone - moving again and this time back to Munich, Germany, where I had the chance to contribute to a complete change in the way veterinary medicine was taught in Germany at the time.
In summary, I consider myself very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time and I’m very proud of seizing the opportunities I got, leading to the chance of contributing to the development of veterinary dermatology across three continents and training more than 65 residents and doctoral student over the last 30 years.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out in veterinary dermatology?
A: Stay excited about the field, never stop learning, don’t keep the insights to yourself and enjoy your life as a dermatologist. And do not forget, there is a life outside of work!
Q: Could you please provide an overview of the topics you'll be covering during your lectures at LVS 2024?
A: We will discuss canine atopic dermatitis, which is a very common problem in small animal practice. We'll explore the reasons for treatment failures and strategies to improve patient outcomes.
We will also take a look at in-house tests such as cytology, skin scrapings or trichograms, their usefulness in specific clinical presentations and discussing efficient techniques for performing them in a busy practice.
In my third lecture, we will discuss why, when and how we flush ears in practice to address and treat chronic ear issues.
Lastly, we will delve into canine pododermatitis, and explore strategies to help improve the condition and comfort of affected dogs.
Q: What key takeaways do you hope attendees will gain from your sessions at LVS 2024?
A: That would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it? Join us for the lectures, and at the end, I'll provide you with the key takeaways on a platter!
Listen to Ralf Mueller speak at the London Vet Show this 14-15 November.
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