Joop Loomans graduated at the Veterinary Faculty of Utrecht University the Netherlands in 1988. For the first thirteen years of his career he was an associate and later partner in an eight-vet mixed practice in the east of the Netherlands. His main field of interest was equine and large animal practice with a special focus on management. In 2001 Joop was asked to join the Department of Equine Sciences at Utrecht University to lead and grow the Equine Clinic.  Another mission was to perform scientific research on the social and economic situation of equine veterinarians, including market research in the field of (semi)professional horse owners. This resulted in many submitted scientific articles in international peer reviewed veterinary journals, lectures all around the world and a doctoral thesis entitled: “The equine veterinarian: past present and prospects of a profession”.

With Bob Magnus, Joop organized “Equine Business Management Strategies International” in Europe, Australia and the United States. This resulted in the start of Oculus Insights, a global veterinary business education company that has grown also into coaching, consulting and full management of veterinarians and veterinary practices. In 2010 Joop was asked by the management of the Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University to perform a fact-finding mission at Heilan International Equestrian Club in China. This resulted in a long-time relationship. Until September 2019, Joop was designer and Chief Veterinarian of the newly built first western equine clinic in mainland China and team veterinarian for the Jiangsu province eventing, show-jumping and dressage teams. In April 2020 Joop finished a two-year Executive Medical Business Education program.

Joop is designer and program director of a post graduate certificate course created by Utrecht University and Oculus Insights on management, strategy and leadership for veterinary professionals.

Furthermore, he is executive director of the Equine High Performance Sport Horse Group, a global initiative to join forces of human and equine athlete programs to improve our horses and rider’s health, performance and longevity.

Whether you are managing a vet practice in North America, the Netherlands, Italy, China or UK, finding young committed skilled vets and vet nurses has been a key challenge over the past few years with little signs of things improving.  Therefore understanding how to engage and retain those you have is more important than ever.  Joop Loomans is a vet based in The Netherlands, and a partner in Oculus Insights, a consultancy providing business management and performance solutions to vet businesses across the world.  He will share data collected by Oculus and examine the common challenges as well as offering some solutions to team engagement and retention.