Merel Blonk

In 2012, I graduated as a veterinarian from Ghent University, specializing in small animals. Subsequently, I completed a rotating small animal internship there, where my interest in internal medicine and intensive care continued to grow.

Not long after, I left for the fantastic island of Grenada, where I worked at St. George’s University. In the small animal clinic, I worked as an admissions veterinarian, combining this with teaching and supervising students during their training. It was an incredibly valuable period, in which clinical work and teaching came together beautifully.

After this special experience, I returned to the Netherlands, where I worked in various primary care practices. Eventually, I ended up in the admissions department of an animal hospital, where I still work with great pleasure as an admissions veterinarian. The combination of acute care, clinical reasoning, and teamwork makes this work challenging and interesting for me every single day.

Within OVT, I am also responsible for social media, where I can combine my passion for veterinary medicine and education with creating accessible, practical content for veterinarians and veterinary assistants. I live in beautiful The Hague with my husband, our two children, and our stubborn Bengal cat Sjaak. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors: I love traveling (to distant places) with my family, kitesurfing, and padel. I also love working in the vegetable garden or baking something delicious.

Hopefully, I’ll run into you somewhere within OVT — online or during one of our training sessions! 😊