Els Broens was trained as veterinarian at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. After a few years work in farm animal practice, she had several positions as lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research. In 2011, she finished a PhD on livestock-associated MRSA in pigs at Wageningen University and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. In the same year she became Dutch specialist in Veterinary Microbiology. After the completion of her PhD and residency, she returned to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in her current position as Director of the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre (VMDC) that processes over 20.000 samples per year. Besides directing the VMDC, she is associate professor and deputy chair within the Clinical Infectiology Group (~45 fte). Els is teaching on clinical microbiology, diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship, one health and zoonoses in the curriculum for students in veterinary and human medicine, as well as for postgraduate training programs for practitioners and scientists. She co-authored multiple grant proposals and is involved in several research projects on zoonoses (e.g. COVID-19), antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance in companion animals. In 2019, she became de facto EBVS Diplomate of the European College for Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM). She is co-promotor of PhD-students and supervisor of residents for the ECVM. Professionals (veterinary and medical) and policy makers frequently consult Els on her areas of expertise: one health, clinical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and stewardship. Els is member of several (inter)national committees and working groups (e.g. Signaling Forum and Outbreak Team Zoononoses, Dutch Expert group on animal diseases). Currently, she is task leader within the EU JAMRAI 2 project and treasurer of the ESCMID Study Group for Veterinary Microbiology (ESGVM). Together with peers in The Netherlands, Europe and beyond, Els aims to improve diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine by training early career scientist, by conducting research and by raising awareness among policy makers, veterinarians and other stakeholders.