Annelies Decloedt graduated as an equine veterinarian at Ghent University in 2008. She then started a PhD as an FWO (Research Fund Flanders) fellow at the Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University. In 2012 she obtained her PhD on new ultrasound techniques to measure the function of the equine heart. In 2015, she was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for the courses "Clinical and communication skills" which were introduced in the veterinary medicine curriculum starting in the academic year 2016-2017. With regard to the clinical skills, she was responsible for the development and coordination of the skills laboratory, where students can practice skills on models and simulators. She also developed the communication skills curriculum and is responsible for both the theoretical lectures and practical exercises consisting of video assignments, role play with fellow students and role play with volunteers. She is also the Deputy National Representative and secretary of the veterinary Special Interest Group of the International Association for Communication in Healthcare (EACH).