Degrees
2008 PhD Utrecht University “Assessment of (patho)physiological alterations in equine muscle metabolism”
1987-1996 DVM, Utrecht University
Co-Promotor
A. Van den Brom-Spierenburg Equine Neonatology (2021-present)
S. van Zalen Education; Eyetracking (2024-present)
N. Ankringa Equine Asthma markers (2024-present)
Opponent at PhD defense Michael Hewetson “Sucrose permeability as a marker of gastric mucosal integrity in the horse” University of Helsinki, December 7th, 2018
Reviewer of various journals 2010-present: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Equine Veterinary Journal, The Veterinary Journal, Pferdeheilkunde, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
H-index: 14
Grants:
- 2025 Member Project team Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek (NRO). Bridging the Gap: Optimizing workplace-based learning for future professionals € 199.800
- 2024 Member Project team Vets4Welfare “Introducing a novel tool to compare stress levels in captive and wild Macaca Fascicularis” € 20.000
- 2023 Project leader Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Grant € 9.693,70
- 2021 Member Project team Erasmus grant € 300.000
- 2021 Project leader FSO project 'souffles € 7.500
- 2021 Project leader FSO project ‘eClinic’ € 44.000
- 2020 Project leader LifeLong Learning Project Apotheekbeheer € 4.000
- 2020 Project leader Research grant ‘Methods of anesthesia in cats’ € 12.000
- 2019 Project leader Research grant ‘Cortisol in hair of cats as method of measuring stress’ € 8.000
Selected distinctions and other merits
2026 Lid van verdienste (member of merit) Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde KNMvD (Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association)
2023 Nomination Senior Teacher Award Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
2017 Achievement Award European College of Equine Internal Medicine
2015 Nomination Senior Teacher Award Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
2015 Hippo Zorg Horse Insurance Award European Veterinary Conference ‘Voorjaarsdagen’: “Best Presentation”
2013 Senior Qualification Teaching (SKO)
2010 Equine Veterinary Teacher of the year
2009 Basic Qualification Teaching (BKO)
2007 Specialist and Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM)
2005 “Specialist Equine Internal Medicine” of the Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association
Selection of Courses (See also list of courses and congresses)
2022 Senior Leadership Track Utrecht University
2021- 2022 Associate Professor Leadership Course, Utrecht University
2021 LEAD leadership course Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
2019 -2020 Lighthouse International Educational Leadership Program for Experienced University Educational Leaders
2019 Programme for Directors of Education
2017- 2018 Vet 2020 Leadership Course Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
2010 - 2011 Academic Leadership in Teaching (Centre of Excellent University Teaching CEUT), Utrecht University, with TAUU as spin- off (Teaching Academy Utrecht University)
2000 - 2022 Numerous professional courses and congresses (for veterinary medicine, for teaching and for personal development)
Employment record
2019 - 2025 Director of Education Master of Veterinary Science
2019 -present Associate Professor, Department of Equine Sciences, Internal Medicine, Utrecht University; clinic, research, teaching, management
2008 - 2019 Assistant Professor, Department of Equine Sciences, Internal Medicine, Utrecht University
2005 - 2008 Junior teacher/researcher Department of Equine Sciences, Internal Medicine, Utrecht University
2001 - 2004 Resident Equine Internal Medicine, Department of Equine Sciences, Internal Medicine, Utrecht University
2000 Veterinary Assistant, Department of Equine Sciences, Internal Medicine, Utrecht University
1996 - 2000 Private mixed practice, Middelharnis, the Netherlands
Membership of Professional Bodies
KNMvD Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association
GGP Association of Equine Practitioners of the KNMvD, nowadays named “Cluster Paard”
GVS Association of Veterinary Specialists of the KNMvD
ECEIM European College of Equine Internal Medicine
EBVS European Board of Veterinary Specialists
Fields of teaching and research within Internal Medicine
Equine Clinical Rotations
Equine Respiratory diseases, with focus on Equine Asthma
Equine Muscle disorders
Equine Neonatology
Workplace Learning
Research (see also list of publications / presentations)
Main research subjects
- 2004-present Equine muscle metabolism including Atypical Myopathy in horses
- 2002-present Equine respiratory disorders
- 2021-present Equine Neonatology
- 2021-present Education
Key publications:
- Westermann C.M., de Sain-van der Velden M.G., van der Kolk J.H., Berger R., Wijnberg I.D., Koeman J.P., Wanders R.J., Lenstra J.A., Testerink N., Vaandrager A.B., Vianey-Saban C., Acquaviva-Bourdain C., Dorland L. Equine biochemical multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) as a cause of rhabdomyolysis. Mol Genet Metab. 2007 Aug; 91(4):362-9.
- Westermann C.M., Dorland L., Votion D.M., de Sain-van der Velden M.G.M., Wijnberg I.D., Wanders R.J.A., Spliet W.G.M., Testerink N., Berger R., Ruiter J.P.N., van der Kolk J.H. Acquired multiple Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in 10 horses with atypical myopathy.
Neuromuscular Disorders 2008; 18(5): 355-364. - Westermann, C.M., Van Leeuwen R., van Raamsdonk L.W.D. Mol, H. Hypoglycin A concentrations in maple tree species in the Netherlands and the occurrence of atypical myopathy in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016, May;30(3):880-4.
- Westermann C.M., Bok H.G.J. A decade of experience in high-stakes decision-making in competency-based education. JAVMA 2023; doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.05.0247
Management style
I am interested in soft aspects, talents and ambitions of people, and have preference for an optimal fit between organization and staff interests.
I prefer a mix of leadership and coaching, with emphasis on space for people to give input and enhance their own creativity.
I love creating new formats and explore possibilities to improve education or clinical work.
Administrative activities
· Departmental
2019 - present Program Director ECEIM for Department
2018 - present Supervisor colleagues in senior teaching qualification course
2017 - 2023 Coordinator equine courses on “circulation-respiration-urinary-blood”
2015 - 2021 Member Helpdesk Equine infectious diseases (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CVI (Central Veterinary Institute) and GD (National Health Service)
2013 - present Supervisor colleagues in basis teaching qualification course
2012 - 2018 Member Equine Master Teaching Committee (MOC-P)
2011 - 2012 Coordinator Equine rotations C2001
2008 -2014 Member and chair of the social committee
2008 - 2015 Member of Congress Committee (chair 2011-2015)
2008 - 2017 Supervisor residents
2006 -present Formulary Committee
2006 - present Supervisor students in bachelor and master thesis, tutor of students
· Faculty
2026 - present Member Exam committee Master of Veterinary Medicine
2025 - present Member Electoral committee Fac Vet Med
2025 - present Member advisory board "DOE-dag (Diergeneeskunde Outdoor Event)
2024 - present Chair “kennel" committee
2024 Team member Accreditation / Visitation AVMA & co-author self accreditation report
2023 Project Leader Accreditation / Visitation AVMA & co-author self accreditation report
2022 - 2024 Chair Onderwijsdagcommissie
2022 - 2025 Chair and founder teaching and Learning Committee, Fac Vet Med
2022 - 2025 Chair Curriculum Committee Master of Vet Med
2022 - 2025 Member Infectious Disease Outbreak Management Team, Fac Vet Med
2022 – present External coach PhD student
2021 - 2024 Member faculty working group Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
2021 - 2025 Chair of workgroup “education” in new housing project Fac Vet Med
2021 - 2025 Chair Portfolio committee Scorion
2021 - 2022 Chair project team eClinic
2021 - present Member advisory board DSK (veterinary student association)
2021 - present Course coordinator master 2022 “Thursday afternoons”
2021 - 2023 Member expertise committee master 2022
2021 Project group “Primary care Veterinary Medicine”
2021 Project group NVAO accreditation
2020 - 2021 Member covid-education team
2020 - 2021 Chair workgroup “test improvement”
2020 - 2021 Member development team master 2022
2019 - 2025 Chair admissions committee Master Fac Vet Med
2019 - 2025 Program Director BVISP (Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program)
2019 - 2025 Member Board of Studies Fac Vet Med
2019 - 2023 Member committee ‘Kwaliteitsafspraken’
2019 - 2023 Member library committee
2019 - 2021 Chair project group “Ready Vet Go”, enhancing connection student-working life
2017 - 2019 Project Manager LifeLong Learning
2017 - 2018 Vet 2020 member advisory group and Project leader “Connection”
2014 - 2017 Team leader Equine Medicine
2014 - 2023 Member advisory board Capita Selecta Fac Vet Med
2013 - 2019 Member Bachelor Teaching Committee Professional Development (LOC PO)
2009 - 2014 Member of the Faculty Education Committee
2008 - 2014 Member Skillslab Committee
2008 - 2010 Member of the Bachelor Teaching Committee “Urinary tract and kidney diseases”
2006 Fastco Committee (Veterinary Strategy)
2003 - 2005 Member of the Faculty Council
2003 - 2005 Member of the Faculty Education Committee
· Utrecht University
2022 - 2025 Member USO (Utrechts Stimuleringsfonds Onderwijs) beoordelingscommissie Utrecht University
2022 - 2025 Advocate SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) Utrecht University
2021 - 2022 Member advisory board Life Long learning Utrecht University
2012 Co-founder TAUU (Teaching Academy Utrecht University)
· National
2025 - present Board member “Group Equine Health” (GGP) of KNMvD in the process of being established
2023 - present Working group Wellbeing future healthcare professionals NVMO (Dutch Society for Medical Education)
2023 - present Council of representatives KNMvD
2019 - 2022 Coach for young veterinarians KNMvD
2012 - 2017 Member and Chair ‘Permanent Equine Education’ (PEP) Committee GGP KNMvD
2008 - 2021 Advisor care farm Enghoeve
2008 - 2011 Chair Equine InterVision Group Midden Nederland
2002 Congress Committee KNMvD
2000 - 2002 Regional Board KNMvD, Utrecht
1998 - 1999 Regional Board KNMvD (Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association), Zuid Holland
1998 Radio veterinarian at “ Radio Flakkee” (weekly veterinary hour)
· International
2022 - 2025 Member Final Year Committee Veterinary Schools Council VSC
2019 - present Member Havemeyer Equine Asthma Group
2019 - 2025 Program Director BVISP (Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program)
2018 - 2022 ECEIM nominations committee
2018 - 2022 ECEIM Ombudsman
2018 - 2020 Board of trustees WikiVet Foundation
2017 Chair ECEIM Summerschool
2015 - 2017 Board Member EBVS (European Board of Veterinary Specialization)
2015 - 2017 Past President ECEIM
2014 - 2019 Member Congress Committee ECEIM (2015 Chair)
2014 - 2015 President ECEIM
2013 - 2014 Vice President ECEIM
2008 - 2013 Secretary ECEIM (European College of Equine Internal Medicine)
International externships & invited visits:
- 2018 Royal Veterinary College, London, UK & Ghent University, Belgium, Lifelong Learning Project Visit
- 2017 Purdue, Indiana, USA, research fellowship
- 2015 UC Davis, USA, invited teacher
- 2011 Toronto University Canada, educational visit
- 2004 and 2011 Cornell University USA externship Large Animal Internal Medicine & educational visit