Jens Häggström

I am Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Companion Animals, at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). I am a veterinarian and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Companion Animals (ECVIM-CA), specializing in cardiology, as well as a Swedish Step II Specialist in Internal Medicine/Cardiology.

My work encompasses research, teaching, and clinical veterinary medicine. My main area of research is acquired heart disease in dogs and cats, although I am also involved in other areas of internal medicine. I am also involved in the development of AI-based diagnostic methods. I have taught for many years in the veterinary medicine program, where I primarily teach and supervise students during the clinical part of their education. In addition, I supervise students completing their master's theses as well as doctoral students. My clinical work involves cardiovascular diseases at the University Animal Hospital (UDS), primarily in dogs and cats, but also, to a more limited extent, in other animal species. I also hold administrative roles within the department, faculty, and university.

My main area of research is acquired heart disease in dogs and cats, with a particular focus on chronic valvular heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, and cardiomyopathies in cats. My research also encompasses diagnostic imaging and laboratory-based methods for cardiac diagnostics, as well as studies of the pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias. An additional area of research is genetic risk factors for heart disease in dogs and cats. I am also involved in the development of AI-based diagnostic methods.

Although cardiovascular disease in companion animals is my primary area of expertise, my research and academic activities also encompass several other areas of internal medicine, including diabetes, chronic enteropathy, and chronic kidney disease in dogs, as well as myelopathy.

A common feature of several of these research areas is an interdisciplinary approach, integrating clinical veterinary medicine with expertise in fields such as diagnostic imaging, genetics, molecular biology, pathology, biomedical engineering, and artificial intelligence.

I teach at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, primarily in veterinary internal medicine and cardiology. A substantial part of my teaching is integrated into clinical practice, where veterinary students have the opportunity to participate actively in patient examinations, diagnostic investigations, and clinical management.

I place particular emphasis on case-based and clinically oriented teaching that develops students’ skills in critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based decision-making.

In addition to teaching, I supervise Master degree projects for veterinary and doctoral students and residents and contribute to doctoral education and continuing professional development for practicing veterinarians, both nationally and internationally.

2005 Swedish Specialist in Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Companion Animals

2003 and onwards Professor Internal Medicine, Companion Animals,  SLU

2001-2003 Associate Professor Internal Medicine, Companion Animals,  SLU

2000 Associate Professor (Docent) in Clinical Physiology, SLU

1998 European Specialist  (Diplomate) in the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)

1997-2001 Assistant Professor (Forskarassistent) in Clinical, SLU

1996 PhD in Clinical Physiology, SLU

1991-97 PhD. position (Doktorand) in Clinical Physiology (Cardiology), SLU

1990 Graduate Veterinary Program. SLU 

2026 Award for outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine 

2023 Lifetime honorary member of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC)

2017 World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) International Award for Scientific Achievement

1998 Royal Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Awards for outstanding doctoral thesis

1997 the Carolus Linneus Price by the Swedish Royal Science Society for outstanding thesis 

1997 Hjalmar Håkansson award by the Swedish Veterinary Association for best veterinary academic thesis. 

1992 till 2026, >250 published articles (h-faktor Scopus 56, Scholar 68) as main or co-author in internationally distributed peer-viewed journals and >20 book chapters in interationally distributed veterinary textbooks

>350 abstracts and conference proceedings from international conferences, where I was invited lecturer approximately 150 times. Presented Keynote (State of the Art) presentations >50 times

Advisor to 21 PhD students, 6 as Main Advisor and 15 as Co-Advisor. Currently advisor to 3 PhD students

Resident advisor to 3 residents that successfully passed ECVIM board examinations. Currently advisor to 2 residents

Advisor to >50 MSc theses

Faculty opponent at many PhD thesis defences and external reviewer for many Professorships in Sweden and internationally

Reviewer of many research applications to several Swedish and international donors 

Reviewer of scientific articles in manypeer-viewed  international Scientific journals

2025- Member of the Committee at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences for good scientific practice.

2025-2026 Deputy Prefect Department of Clinical Sciences and Head of Small Animal Medicine, Surgery and Anesthesia, SLU

2022-2023 Vice Director of the University Teaching Hospital, SLU.

2014-2018 Section Head of Medicine, Companion Animals, SLU.

2018-2025 Section Head of Medicine, Companion Animals, SLU

2014-2018 Section Head of Medicine and Surgery, Companion Animals, SLU

2018-2019 Member of the ACVIM Consensus Statement Panel concerning hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats

2009-2010 Member of the ACVIM Subcommittee on diagnosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in dogs

2006-2008 and 2019-2020 Member of the ACVIM Consensus Statement Panel concerning diagnosis and therapy of mitral valve disease

2007-2025 Member of the Faculty Committee for Higher Academic positions

2005-2006-Member of the Executive Board of the The Canine Heart Failure International Expert Group (CHIEF)

2004-2007 Member of the Faculty Research Committee

2001-2002 University Strategical Education Committee

2000-2001 Study coordinator for the PhD program at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

2000 Coordinator for the new system of admittance the Veterinary School in Sweden

1998 to present-Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine (ECVIM) and from 1999 member of the Board of the Cardiology Speciality Group and between 2003 and 2006, I was acting as President over the Speciality Group Cardiology and member of the ECVIM Executive Committee. Between 1999 to 2006 I was Chairman of the Education and Credential Committee within the Speciality Group.

1996-97 Member of the Board for Strategical Planning of Higher Academic Positions at the Veterinary Faculty 

1993-1995, 2000-2001 Member of the Faculty Research Council

1992-1995, 2000-2001 Member of the University Research Council.

1991 to present-European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC), from 1996 to 2019 member of the Executive committee of ESVC. 2007-2010 President Elect, between 2010-2013 President of ESVC, and between 2014 and 2019 Past President. Permanent honorary member since 2023.

1991 to present-European Society of Veterinary Medicine (ESVIM). From 1998-2002 member of the ESVIM/ECVIM Permanent and Executive Congress Committee, from 1998 to 2003 member of the Scientific Congress Committee as ESVC representative.

Industry

Senior Investigator in five international (multicenter) clinical drug trials. Scientific advisor in the development of an AI-based auscultation service. Chair of program committees for several international scientific conferences organized in collaboration with various pharmaceutical companies. Advisor to the following organizations, companies, and government agencies: the Swedish Kennel Club, the Swedish Medical Products Agency, Merial Inc., Orion Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, CEVA Santé Animale SA, EKO Medical, PawPeds, as well as several dog and cat clubs.

Public Engagement

Interviewed by the media on health issues in dogs and cats and on current research in national television, national radio, and the press since 1991 (>50 times). Presented research findings on numerous occasions to the general public, dog and cat clubs, and the veterinary profession (>50 times). Organized (and delivered) continuing education for veterinarians in Sweden and abroad (>50 courses)