Ralf Mueller graduated in Munich, Germany, completed his doctoral thesis in 1987, and worked in several large and small animal practices before completing a residency in veterinary dermatology at the University of California, Davis in 1992. In 1992 he moved to Melbourne to work with his partner and wife, Sonya Bettenay where they created the first, purpose-built specialist practice in Australia. In 1999, Ralf became assistant professor in veterinary dermatology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University. In 2004, he was appointed Professor and chief of the veterinary dermatology service at the University of Munich/Germany. He has published over 200 studies, articles, book chapters and books and given over one thousand seminars, lectures and talks worldwide. Ralf and Sonya established and continue to tutor the CVE Distance Education course in Veterinary Dermatology.