Background

Silke graduated from the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, in 2003 and has since specialised in Small Animal Internal Medicine (EBVS ® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, also called Diplomate in ECVIM-CA) with the particular focus on gastroenterology. She has worked in both private and academic referral hospitals in Germany, at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Silke started as Senior lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh in 2016, and became Head of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service in 2022. Since August 2023 she is Personal Chair in Small Animal Gastroenterology (Prof.) & Head of Small Animal Internal Medicine.  She has a particular interest in canine inflammatory bowel disease (now called canine chronic inflammatory enteropathy), how this relates to pain and possible effects on behaviour, but also the use of alternative treatments like probiotics, prebiotics and faecal microbiota transplants. She has published approximately 40 scientific papers in the area, several book chapters and continues to lead and participate in studies "around the dog gut". She is one of the editors of the one "Feline Gastroenterology" book. Silke is also a member of the Comparative Gastroenterology Society (CGS) and the past-president and webmaster of the European Society of Comparative Gastroenterology (ESCG). She speaks at specialist conference as well as CPD events and gives webinars regularly. In her spare time she loves to bake sweet treats and bread, and exploring the Scottish country side with her husband. She has a cat called Maisy and a dog called Jaeger

Teaching

Silke has been teaching since being a post-graduate doctoral student at the JLU university in Giessen, Germany, in 2003 (courses, seminars, single lectures of interesting cases). She has been responsible for the small animal gastroenterology lecture stream at that same university from 2013 to 2015 and gives lectures regarding the same topic at the R(D)SVS from 2016 on. In addition, as she has spent 50% of her time "on clinics", she teaches undergraduates as well as Residents by assessing and working through real clinical cases. In 2019, she gained Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Clinical Expertise and Specialisation

Since Silke graduated from vet school in Germany in 2003, she has worked in environments and institutions specialising in small animal internal medicine. During those years, she acquired clinical expertise through experience of simply "working in the field", but also by completing a rotating internship and being awarded the title of Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine for Companion Animals (DipECVIM-CA). Silke is also holder of a German national specialisation title for Small Animal Internal Medicine. She has also acquired a PhD in canine gastroenterology/ gastroimmunology, and is one of only 2 people being recognised as a small animal gastroenterology specialist by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).