Education and Experience

 

Dr. Van Goethem graduated from Ghent University (Belgium) in 1996. Following a period in private practice and a surgical internship at Ghent University, he completed a residency in Small Animal Surgery at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 2007 and subsequently obtained a PhD from Utrecht University in 2016.

After working in several referral practices, he returned to Ghent University in 2005 and became Head of the Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery Clinics in 2009. In this role, he supervised surgical services within the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, oversaw patient care, implemented advanced surgical techniques and protocols, and collaborated closely with multidisciplinary teams to optimize clinical outcomes and veterinary education.

Since 2023, he has combined a part-time clinical appointment at Ghent University with an extensive international teaching and consulting career. He is a frequently invited speaker at veterinary congresses and advanced surgical training programs throughout Europe, Asia, and beyond, with a particular focus on soft tissue and minimally invasive surgery. He continues to mentor veterinary surgeons, conduct hands-on surgical workshops, and perform specialized referral procedures on location, increasing access to advanced surgical care.

Dr. Van Goethem is the author or co-author of more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, multiple conference abstracts and proceedings, and several book chapters. He serves as a reviewer for several international veterinary journals and remains actively involved in clinical and translational research. His principal interests include minimally invasive surgery, video-endoscopic procedures, and fluorescence-guided surgery. His current research focuses on the clinical applications of near-infrared fluorescence imaging and image-guided surgical techniques aimed at improving surgical precision and patient outcomes.

Teaching Experience

– is actively involved in student training since 2005
– speaking engagements in international scientific meetings (list limited to 2021-2024)

Versavet NIRF-ICG course Dec 2024
IRCAD, Strassbourg, France
Invited co-speaker

ESAVS China Soft Tissue Surgery Course 1 (2x) Nov 2024
Shanghai, China
Invited co-speaker (10 lectures) and laboratory instructor (6 days)

SEVC Oct 2024
Madrid, Spain
Invited co-speaker (4 lectures)

ARCERIV Aug 2024
Sinaia, Romenia
Invited co-speaker (1 lecture) and chairman

Vetami electrosurgery Jun 2024
Kapel-Avezaath, the Netherlands
Invited co-speaker (3 lecture) and laboratory instructor

Anicura laparoscopy May 2024
ORSI, Melle, Belgium
Invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and laboratory instructor (2 days)

VetEd Advanced Laparoscopy May 2024
Bucharest, Romenia
Invited co-speaker (3 lectures) and assisting laboratory instructor (4 days)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Surgery Laparoscopy May 2024
Cluj, Romenia
Invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and assisting laboratory instructor (4 days)

BSAVA annual conference Mar 2024
Manchester, United Kingdom
Invited co-speaker (2 lectures)

AVSTS spring meeting Mar 2024
Manchester, United Kingdom
Invited co-speaker (2 lectures)

Vet Orth and Surg Conference Mar 2024
Poland
Invited co-speaker (7 lectures – 2 d)

Versavet GI congress Feb 2024
Ghent, Belgium
Co-organizer, invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and laboratory instructor (2 days)

Storz electrosurgery course Jan 2024
Kopenhagen, Denmark
Speaker and laboratory instructor (1 day)

VetEd Basic Laparoscopy Nov 2023
Cluj, Romenia
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (4 days)

VetPD Safari course Nov 2023
Johannesburg, South-Africa
Invited co-speaker (7 lectures) and laboratory instructor (3 days)

Minimal Conference Oct 2023
Madrid, Spain
Invited co-speaker (2 lectures)

Vetami advanced laparoscopy Oct 2023
Kapel-Avezaath, the Netherlands
Invited speaker and laboratory instructor (2 days)

Formosa annual conference Sep 2023
Taiwan
Invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and laboratory instructor (1 day)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Surgery Course 1 Aug 2023
Warsaw, Poland
Invited co-speaker (5 lectures) and laboratory instructor (4 days)

ECVS annual conference Jul 2023
Cracow, Poland
Invited co-speaker (2 lectures)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Surgery Laparoscopy Jun 2023
Cluj, Romenia
Invited co-speaker (5 lectures) and laboratory instructor (4 days)

Vetami electrosurgery course May 2023
Kapel-Avezaath, the Netherlands
Invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and laboratory instructor (1 day)

Stöpler annual conference May 2023
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Invited co-speaker (5 lectures)

Unisvet laparoscopy May 2023
Milano, Italy
Invited speaker (9 lectures) and laboratory instructor (3 days)

Vet Orth and Surg Conference Mar 2023
Poland
Invited co-speaker (6 lectures – 2 d)

Versavet Respiratory Tract congress Feb 2023
Ghent, Belgium
Co-organizer, invited co-speaker (4 lectures) and laboratory instructor (1 day)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Surgery Course 2 Aug 2022
Vienna, Austria
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (7 lectures, 3 labs – 4 days)

ECVS Annual Scientific Meeting Jul 2022
Porto, Portugal
Invited co-speaker (3 lectures)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Course 1 May 2022
Warsaw, Poland
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (4 lectures, 3 labs – 4 days)

VJD NXT Conference April 2022
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Invited speaker (4 lectures)

ESAVS Laparoscopy April 2022
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (2 days)

Vetami Laparoscopy-assisted and Advanced laparoscopy procedures Mar 2022
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Invited speaker and laboratory instructor (2 days)

Anicura Urology Conference Feb 2022
ORSI, Merelbeke, Belgium
Co-organizer, co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (2 lectures, 3 labs – 3 days)

Vetami Electrosurgery Jan 2022
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Invited co-speaker and leading laboratory instructor (4 lectures – 1 day)

Masterclass Advanced Endoscopic Surgical Procedures Dec 2021
IRCAD, Strasbourg, France
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (4 lectures, 2 labs – 3 days)

Masterclass Basic Endoscopic Surgical Procedures Nov 2021
IRCAD, Strasbourg, France
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (3 lectures, 2 labs – 3 days):

ESAVS Soft Tissue Course 1 Oct 2021
Warsaw, Poland
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (6 lectures, 3 labs – 5 days)

ESAVS Soft Tissue Course 2 Oct 2021
Warsaw, Poland
Invited assisting laboratory instructor (2 labs – 2 days)

ESAVS Laparoscopy Sep 2021
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Invited co-speaker and assisting laboratory instructor (5 days)

Research

– PhD from Utrecht University in 2009 on ‘Innovations in Canine Gonadectomy’
– 65 articles published in peer-reviewed journals (list limited to 2021-2024)

Mercken G, Van Goethem B, Saunders J, Stock E: External abdominal pressure radiography versus survey radiography for the diagnosis of hiatal hernia in brachycephalic dogs. Vlaams Diergen Tijds. 2024;93(5): 249-253.

Mayhew PD, Massari F, Araya FL, van Nimwegen SA, Van Goethem B, Singh A, Balsa IM, Steffey MA, Culp WTN, Case B, Gibson E, Giuffrida MA, Hagen B: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for resection of unilateral noninvasive adrenal masses in dogs is associated with excellent outcomes in experienced centers. JAVMA. 2023;261(12): 1-8.

David S, de Rooster H, Van Goethem B: Single-port laparoscopic-assisted abdominal cryptorchidectomy in 14 dogs. Vet Surg. 2023;53(3):460-467.

Downey AC, Mayhew PD, Massari F, Van Goethem B: Evaluation of long-term outcome after lung lobectomy for canine non-neoplastic pulmonary consolidation via thoracoscopic or thoracoscopic-assisted surgery in 12 dogs. Vet Surg. 2023;52(6):909-917.

Domain G, Van Goethem B, Lannoo J, Van Soom, Wydooghe E: Chronic vaginitis in a dog induced by a migrating grass seed into the uterus: A case report. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 2022;57:19-20.

Van Hautegem L, Van Goethem B, Cornelis I, Toom M, de Rooster H: Hemipelvectomy in the dog: a case series in three dogs. Vlaams Diergen Tijds. 2021;90(2):78-86.

De Swert J, Van Goethem B: Minor salivary gland sialolithiasis associated with a palatal sialocele in a dog. Vlaams Diergen Tijds. 2021;90(1):23-28.