Claude graduated from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. Going west he entered practice at the Southwest Equine Hospital of Scottsdale Arizona where he stayed for 2 years. His equine surgical residency was completed at the University of California, Davis in 1988. Claude immediately began surgical practice at the Pioneer Equine Hospital of Oakdale California. In 1989 he became board certified in veterinary surgery by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the same year became a Diplomate in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Equine Practice, recertifying the later credentials in 1999 and 2010. After fours years in private surgical practice Claude began his academic career at Washington State University in 1992, where he is a fully tenured faculty member. He has very broad interest and expertise in surgical conditions of the horse. Claude has published over 75 peer-reviewed papers, 21 book chapters, and edited the 2012 book, ‘Advances in Equine Laparoscopy’. Claude enjoys educational sharing and has presented at over 70 professional meetings and operates the Equine Clinicians Network (ECN).

Clinical Interests: Equine Endoscopic Surgery including Laparoscopy, Arthroscopy and Flexible Endoscopy, Wound healing, Lameness. Research Interests: Laparoscopic Surgical Approaches, Wound Healing, Pain Relief, Teaching Methods

Graduated from Gent University, Belgium in 1987 (doctor in Veterinary Medicine). 
Intern in equine hospital in South of France for 1 year. 
3 years working and training as equine surgeon in equine hospital in Sussex, UK. 
1992 : funding partner of the equine referral hospital De Bosdreef in Moerbeke-Waas, Belgium. 
1995 : Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons. 
2000 : Hospital De Bosdreef merged with the equine Hospital De Morette near Brussels. 
Fully equipped equine hospital with all imaging modalities. 
www.bosdreef.be
Together with 4 partners I now manages 2 of the most important private equine Hospitals in Belgium. 18 full time employed veterinary surgeons, only referral work.

My work involves lameness examinations and equine surgery (orthopaedics and soft tissue) with a special interest in orthopaedic surgery and laparoscopy.

In 1979 Prof. Röcken began his studies of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, finishing with a PhD on ‘Bovine Elastin a heterologous Transplant’ in 1987. In 1989 he became nationally certified for Equine Medicine and as a Specialist for Surgery. Following this, Prof. Röcken has been working at the Justus-Liebeig University-Giessen in Germany in the Equine Surgery department since 1998

In 2012 he gained the position as the Head of Equine Section of German Veterinary Medical Society. Since 2016 he has the Professorship and Head of Department of Equine Surgery, Orthopaedics and Teaching Forge at the Equine Clinic of the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen in Germany. Since 2021, he has also been the Executive Director of the Veterinary Clinics.