Belgian veterinarian Ann Criel wears many hats. She runs a successful companion animal practice, pioneered one of Belgium’s first cat-only clinics, serves as President of FECAVA, sits on the board of UEVP and has spent years shaping veterinary policy and education across Europe. Yet despite her international responsibilities, she remains firmly grounded in clinical practice.

During our conversation, Ann spoke openly about the evolution of feline medicine, the importance of supporting general practitioners, why veterinary congresses should feel more like festivals than conferences, and why no technology – including artificial intelligence – will ever replace the human side of veterinary medicine. She also reflected on leadership, work-life balance and what keeps her passion for the profession alive after decades in practice.

A Clinic Built Around Cats

Ann’s our practice now operates separate clinics for dogs and cats. The idea of opening a dedicated feline clinic came unexpectedly during a FECAVA meeting in Bergen, Norway. Delegates visited a cat-only practice, and the experience immediately resonated with her.

“The moment I walked through the door, I knew that was exactly what we needed back home.”

What struck her wasn’t sophisticated equipment or cutting-edge technology. It was the atmosphere. The clinic was quiet. There were no barking dogs, only calm music, plants and an environment designed entirely around feline patients. Everything felt different – not only for the cats, but for their owners as well.

“When I returned to Belgium, I told my husband, ‘We’re going to build one.’ Today it’s one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

The dedicated feline clinic transformed the experience of veterinary care. Cats arrived calmer, consultations became less stressful and owners immediately appreciated that every aspect of the practice had been designed with their pets in mind. More importantly, the clinic reflected a broader evolution within veterinary medicine itself.

“Cats are no longer treated as small dogs,” Ann says. “We’ve learned that they communicate differently, react differently to stress and deserve a completely different approach.”

The smallest adjustments can have the greatest impact. Sometimes, she explains, the best consultation begins by not examining the cat at all. Instead, she leaves the patient safely inside its carrier, talks with the owner first and allows the animal time to settle before any physical examination begins. That patience often makes everything that follows easier.

“Cats taught us to become better veterinarians.”

The lesson extends beyond feline medicine. Throughout her career, Ann has repeatedly challenged long-established assumptions – not because change is fashionable, but because better outcomes demand it.

Leadership Is Learning to Let Go

Her own professional journey required persistence from the very beginning. When she joined her father-in-law’s practice, she became its first female veterinarian – a position that brought opportunities but also expectations.

“I had to prove myself every day.”

Although the profession has changed dramatically over the past few decades, she believes some perceptions of leadership have been slower to evolve.

“When men are decisive, they’re seen as strong leaders. When women are equally decisive, they’re sometimes described as difficult or too ambitious. That’s something we still have to change.”

Yet Ann is equally candid about the pressure women often place on themselves.

“We believe we have to be the perfect veterinarian, the perfect mother, the perfect partner and the perfect leader all at once.”

She smiles before adding the obvious conclusion.

“That’s impossible.”

One of the most valuable lessons she has learned is that leadership has little to do with doing everything yourself.

“Asking for help isn’t weakness. Delegating isn’t weakness. It’s good leadership.”

Trying to carry every responsibility alone, she says, simply leaves no energy for the work that truly matters. The strongest leaders build capable teams, trust them and recognise that excellence is always a shared effort.

That collaborative mindset naturally expanded beyond her own practice and into the wider veterinary profession.

Confidence Grows Between the Lectures

Through her longstanding involvement with SAVAB and FECAVA, Ann has organised veterinary congresses for many years. While scientific education remains their foundation, she believes the greatest value of these meetings often happens outside the lecture halls.

“Knowledge is available everywhere now,” she says. “What young veterinarians often lack isn’t information – it’s confidence.”

Universities provide an extraordinary scientific education, but many graduates enter practice feeling unprepared for the uncertainty of everyday clinical decision-making.

“When I was a student, we spent weekends following practitioners and learning by doing. That practical confidence is much harder to gain today.”

For that reason, face-to-face meetings have become more important, not less.

“A congress isn’t only about lectures. It’s where you discover you’re not the only veterinarian who has struggled with a difficult case. It’s where you meet colleagues who may become mentors or lifelong friends. That’s something no webinar can replace.”

The atmosphere surrounding a congress matters as much as its scientific programme. Ann has always believed that learning flourishes where people feel welcome.

“We’ve always believed people deserve good food, inspiring surroundings and a chance to enjoy themselves,” she says with a smile. “If people leave feeling connected, they’ll come back.”

It is a philosophy she hopes to strengthen through future FECAVA congresses, creating events remembered as much for the conversations between sessions as for the lectures themselves.

Caring for the People Behind the Profession

The same emphasis on connection underpins much of Ann’s work as President of FECAVA. While clinical education remains central to the organisation’s mission, she increasingly sees professional wellbeing as equally essential for the future of veterinary medicine.

One of FECAVA’s initiatives is VetJoy, developed together with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE). Rather than focusing solely on preventing burnout, the programme aims to create workplaces where veterinary professionals can develop, feel supported and build sustainable careers.

“Veterinary wellbeing isn’t just about preventing burnout,” she explains. “It’s about creating workplaces where people can grow.”

Mentorship plays a central role in that vision.

“Technical skills can be taught. Confidence often comes from knowing someone experienced believes in you.”

For Ann, confidence is one of the profession’s most valuable yet overlooked resources. It grows through encouragement, constructive feedback and colleagues who remember what it felt like to begin.

The same thinking shapes FECAVA’s expanding educational and certification programmes. Throughout her career, she has consistently championed the role of general practitioners, believing they deserve far greater recognition.

“I’ve always believed general practitioners deserve greater recognition. Most veterinary medicine isn’t performed by specialists. It’s performed by practitioners who see many patients every single day.”

She worries that younger colleagues sometimes underestimate the breadth of their own expertise.

“We’ve become very good at referring cases,” she says. “Of course specialists are essential, but general practitioners should never forget how much they already know.”

Changing Europe, One Conversation at a Time

Much of Ann’s work now takes place far beyond the consulting room. Through both FECAVA and UEVP, she has spent years helping shape European policy on animal welfare, responsible breeding and companion animal legislation. One recent milestone has been the adoption of Europe’s first legislation addressing the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.

“It took years of discussions, lobbying and cooperation,” she reflects. “But passing legislation is only the beginning.“

Laws alone, she argues, rarely change behaviour. Real progress depends on the veterinarians who translate policy into everyday conversations with owners.

“We can write laws, but if veterinarians aren’t prepared to have honest conversations with owners, nothing really changes.”

Those discussions are not always easy. Explaining inherited disorders, challenging extreme breeding practices or raising welfare concerns can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. Yet Ann believes veterinarians have a responsibility to speak honestly, even when the message is difficult.

“If we don’t advocate for animals, who will?”

Compassion Will Always Be Irreplaceable

The conversation eventually turns to another subject dominating healthcare: artificial intelligence. While many see AI as a disruptive force, Ann approaches it with optimism.

“I think it will become an incredible tool.”

She expects artificial intelligence to analyse blood results, assist with diagnostic imaging and make scientific knowledge more accessible than ever before. Used wisely, it will improve efficiency and support clinical decision-making.

What it cannot replace, however, is the human relationship at the centre of veterinary medicine.

“It will never sit beside a family whose dog is reaching the end of its life. It will never comfort an owner after a devastating diagnosis. It will never build trust.”

Behind every patient, she reminds us, stands a person navigating uncertainty, grief or hope.

“And that’s something we should never forget.”

As the conversation draws to a close, Ann reflects on the advice she offers young veterinarians entering the profession. Her answer comes without hesitation.

“Don’t underestimate yourself.”

Every experienced clinician, she points out, once performed a first surgery, treated a first emergency and inevitably made a first mistake. Confidence is earned through experience, not granted at graduation.

“You don’t have to be perfect. You have to stay curious, keep learning and never be afraid to ask for help.”

It is a message that echoes throughout her own career. Whether establishing one of Belgium’s pioneering cat-only clinics, leading veterinary organisations across Europe or helping shape legislation that affects millions of companion animals, Ann has consistently argued that progress begins with curiosity, collaboration and the courage to challenge established thinking.

Before saying goodbye, she offers one final reflection that perhaps captures her philosophy better than anything else.

“We have one of the most beautiful professions in the world. Technology will continue to change the way we work, but compassion, communication and humanity can never be replaced. If we hold on to those, the future of veterinary medicine is bright.”