Do you know...Michael Hewetson

Dr Michael Hewetson is a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and EBVS and RCVS recognised specialist in equine internal medicine. He is currently Associate Professor at the Royal Veterinary College. He has previously held senior lecturer positions at the Universities of Pretoria and Helsinki, where he also obtained his PhD, and worked in private practice in Saudi Arabia and Melbourne. Prior to this, Dr. Hewetson completed a clinical scholarship in equine internal medicine, critical care and anaesthesia at the University of Glasgow.

His clinical interests include emerging and exotic equine infectious diseases, critical care, cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, with a particular focus on equine gastric ulcer syndrome and intestinal permeability.

His contribution to evidence-based medicine literature includes numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters and consensus statements, and he has secured competitive research funding in areas such as equine gastric disease, laminitis and African Horse Sickness.

Dr Hewetson has a leadership role in veterinary education, in addition to his clinical and research activity, at the Royal Veterinary College. Here, he is the Director of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine residency programme, supervises residents and PhD students, is responsible for undergraduate curriculum development and contributes heavily to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and assessment. He is an active member of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, currently within the Education and Credentials Committee, and is a frequently  invited speaker at international conferences.

Overall, his work demonstrates advanced clinical expertise, internationally recognised research, and a strong commitment to education and professional development within equine medicine.

When did your interest in equine internal medicine begin?

My interest in equine internal medicine developed during my undergraduate veterinary training. I did not grow up owning or riding horses as a child, so my only experience with horses prior to vet school was riding the stock horses on my uncle’s farm in South Arica during the summer holidays. In fact, when I entered veterinary school, I had no specific intention of pursuing equine practice. However, this all changed following a chance encounter with Dr Mary-Ann Guglick, then a visiting equine internist from Oklahoma State University, whose outstanding teaching, clinical expertise, and enthusiasm for the discipline inspired me to pursue a career in equine internal medicine. My passion for internal medicine was further strengthened during my residency under the supervision of the late Professor Sandy Love, whose mentorship and example were pivotal in shaping my professional development and long-term commitment to our specialty, and I am forever grateful to them both for their support and mentorship.

How many people work in your hospital and research team?

I work as a clinical educator at the Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital in London with a large multidisciplinary team consisting of 12 board certified specialists and 7 residents. In our equine internal medicine department, we have 4 ECEIM/ACVIM specialists and 2 residents.  While we do not have a formally structured research group, we maintain an active and collaborative research culture, primarily focused on clinically driven studies that arise from our substantial caseload.

What are your main areas of research?

My principal research focus is equine gastroenterology. I completed a PhD at the University of Helsinki investigating equine gastroduodenal permeability, which laid the foundation for my ongoing research interests. Over the past decade, equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) has been the central theme of my research, encompassing pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical relevance.

What future research do you have planned?

Looking ahead, EGUS will remain a core research priority; however, I am also involved in several other research initiatives. These include the development of a multi-probe intestinal malabsorption test designed to assess both transcellular and paracellular absorption across the entire gastrointestinal tract in horses presenting with weight loss; and a large multicentre prospective study to investigate if the oral sugar test can be useful as a predictor of corticosteroid-associated laminitis in horses. I also have a strong interest in African horse sickness and continue to collaborate with colleagues on research projects based in Southern Africa.

You are an experienced academic clinician used to managing high clinical and teaching workloads. How do you balance personal life and work?

Balancing the demands of being a specialist clinician and an academic with my personal life remains challenging. Like many of my generation, I have often  rioritized professional commitments, sometimes at the expense of my personal life outside of work. However, I strongly believe that the profession is evolving positively in this regard. It is entirely possible to deliver outstanding clinical care, teaching, and research while also maintaining a fulfilling life outside of work, and this is an important message to convey to younger colleagues.

What advice would you have for new ECEIM Diplomates interested in an academic career?

Think carefully about your career options after finishing your residency and be deliberate and patient in building both clinical depth and an independent academic identity. Choose an environment with a strong caseload, supportive mentorship, and genuine protected time for research and teaching, as these are essential for long-term success. Develop a clear area of clinical or research focus early on, even if it evolves over time, and ensure that your academic outputs are purposeful rather than opportunistic. This is a mistake I made in my early career! 
Equally important is learning how to balance clinical service commitments with scholarship, as clinical demands can easily overshadow academic development if boundaries are not set. Finally, invest in teaching and mentorship skills from the outset—academic success is not only measured by publications and grants, but also by the quality of the residents and students you train and the positive research and clinical culture you help to create.

You have extensive experience of training residents — what advice would you give to new residency program supervisors?

In my role as a clinical educator and long-standing supervisor of residents, I believe that effective specialist training relies on support, mutual trust, and autonomy. Residents need protected time to complete their credentials and should be encouraged to develop independent clinical reasoning. While supervision is essential, micromanagement is counterproductive. I make it a priority to involve residents actively in decision-making, and my consistent approach after case discussions is to ask, “What do you want to do?” This fosters confidence, case ownership, and professional growth.

What are your favourite foods, hobbies and pets?

Outside of work, I remain actively involved in sport and outdoor activities. I coach my son’s rugby team and am also a qualified rugby referee. I enjoy hiking and previously had a strong interest in mountaineering. Motorcycling is another passion, and I am part of the “Vets with Horsepower” group alongside several other ECEIM colleagues. As far as pets are concerned, I have always had cats in my life which have been my loyal companions on my many international travels.