Member Stories

What was your experience of buying an existing practice less than two years out of veterinary school — in the middle of the pandemic?

I was in the business world before this, but I didn’t work in HR. I didn’t work in accounting. I didn’t work with the insurance aspect of things. I didn’t work with the day-to-day books and all the processes and procedures that come along with it. So that was something I kind of had to teach myself and reach out to really good partners.

What do you enjoy most about being a practice owner?

I want to make sure that as the practice leader I'm showing that I have my team’s back. I’m going to support them not only on the day to day with client interactions, patient interactions, other employee interactions, but also support them for what they want long term. So if it's someone is looking to grow into that technician position or if it’s someone that’s looking to go to vet school, how can I support them as they continue to grow? That has been really, really fun and, honestly really rewarding as a practice owner even in this short amount of time.

We really put a high value on making sure that our employees are taken care of. We make sure they’re taken care of not only from a financial standpoint but we make sure that we’re treating them as they should be treated with things like health insurance, a 401(k), and the things that a lot of corporations are able to offer and that, traditionally, the mom and pop vet clinics have been a little bit slower to adopt.

Now that you’re an owner, what’s next?

I want to continue to increase pay and benefits for our staff. I find it really, really rewarding to see how much my staff loves coming to work every day, and I want to make sure they can afford to continue to do that long term. We use the AVMA Trust Practice Healthcare Solutions and we provide 100% of our employees’ insurance.

What made you decide to go with the AVMA Trust for your insurance coverages?

I went with the AVMA Trust for my insurance coverages because they know the business and they know to protect veterinarians. So they know the little idiosyncrasies and nuances that come with being a vet.

One of the other insurance companies that I received a quote from said reception is not allowed to interact with animals. As a small business owner, reception is going to interact with animals and they need to be protected on our insurance as well. So, some of those little nuances made a huge difference when I was comparing insurance carriers.

I went with AVMA Trust because it was a one-stop shop. I was able to just go with one and know that I was in good hands and in trustworthy hands.

How have the coverages and services from the Trust helped you?

Having all of my insurance needs covered by the AVMA Trust has been a godsend. Truly, it’s not something I want to think about, so it’s really nice that we have the resource of AVMA Trust as a private practice veterinarian. That we know that our coverages are in place, our coverages are adequate and that they’re industry specific allows me to sleep well at night knowing that I’m covered.

What inspired you to become a mobile and mixed animal veterinarian?

When I graduated in 2011 from the University of Illinois, I was determined to do large animal medicine only. Unfortunately, the job market landed me in a mixed animal practice. Options in the [large animal] field were more limited then than they are now. My fairy tale dreams of a job were vastly different from the reality.

I love veterinary medicine, but the culture and practices of that first clinic were not healthy. Still, I learned a lot about myself and gained a lot of independence.

“Mentorship” was not a word this practice embraced. I started the day after graduation – straight into emergency calls – and my boss left on vacation. I began to “practice” veterinary medicine alone with my school friends and textbooks as reference guides.

After six or seven months, I wanted to work for myself and make my own culture and set my own expectations and rules – rules of good medicine and self-conduct. It didn’t happen. Fear quickly paralyzed me, and relationship choices complicated things. I had a ton of debt, no nest egg, and no money to begin.

This fear led me into almost six years of different jobs: mixed practice, strictly small animal with only large animal emergencies, wildlife, and relief. Good grief! I built two vet trucks and sold them both before I decided to have faith in where God would lead me and started a mobile business.

What surprised you most about becoming a practice owner?

I was prepared for the work. I am solo. So, I am my own receptionist, inventory manager, scheduler (she’s on probation right now… she struggles every day to do her job appropriately), veterinarian, technician, paperwork doer, and preparer for patients – along with running the business.

But there were two surprises. The first: I could do it! I have gained clients and expanded my services. Second: It has been hard for me to juggle a work-life balance and set boundaries. I’m still working on the second. But I feel I have to flex and adjust as my seasons of life change.

How has the practice evolved since you started it?

I have created boundaries and started to decline certain cases. I do not handle small animal emergencies or sick small animals. I can’t do that well nor do I have the time. In three years, I have added blood work machines, portable radiographs, chiropractic services, and laparoscopic AI.

This year, I started to prioritize my scheduling. No small animal wellness calls during breeding season, for example. I never imagined I would be in a place to have to decline jobs because I don’t have the time. That never would have crossed my mind in 2019 when I first opened.

What made you decide to go with the AVMA Trust for your insurance coverage(s)?

I feel they have the veterinarian in mind. They get and know to expect my personalized issues and concerns.

Do you have any advice for veterinarians who aspire to start or own a mobile or mixed animal practice?

I would say plan your business out and start with select services, then, if you want to, expand from there. I dove in on a prayer, and it has worked; but planning would give peace of mind I imagine. My personality dives into the mess and untangles my way out.

You should love being outdoors. I love being outside – except in a cold and rain combo.

I love creating personal relationships and building the trust of clients who allow me into their personal spaces, whether in a home or on a farm. I can assess the environment better.

Find your niche. I provide services for people who do not have the ability to haul. I’m rural, and referral is not an option in most of my cases.

Do the best you can and be honest with your clients. Brush off those who don’t “approve” of you; they are someone else’s clients.

Create healthy boundaries. Not everyone has to like you. That's a big one – especially for new grads discovering their confidence in who they are as a person and veterinarian.

Do what you love. Life is too short, and veterinarian medicine is so diverse. Let go of self-expectations of what you are supposed to be and do. Challenge yourself to find a space in this profession that you enjoy. Every day will not be perfect.

Learn to say no when you have a packed book and hear “Hey, Doc, while you’re here…”

What is the biggest challenge you face as a practice owner?

Currently, my biggest challenge is juggling my growing business with marriage and kids. The weight of my business and being the only provider competes with the expectations that hover over me with a spouse who’s not in the veterinary field (although I imagine this doesn’t matter) and two small kids – along with a house that just won’t clean itself.

I personally challenge a lot of the stereotypes of gender responsibility of chores and childcare. Having my own business does allow me to bring my kids to work, when needed, and they are with me A LOT. Those are stories for another time because kids, especially my kids, make it very interesting.

What inspired you to become a companion animal veterinarian?

I did not settle on becoming a veterinarian until I was in college. I thought I wanted to be a marine biologist until I went on a deep-sea fishing trip my first semester and got horribly seasick. The only other student club that did anything with animals was the pre-vet club, so I joined and learned that I was better suited for becoming a companion animal veterinarian who stays on dry land.

What surprised you most about becoming a practice owner?

It was much more difficult than I expected. I did not realize I would have to rely on so many other people to help mentor and advise me on how to create the veterinary practice where I wanted to work. There is magic in veterinary medicine if you look for it, but you need help from your colleagues to find it sometimes.

How has the practice evolved since you started it?

Since I took over as co-owner of the practice, we have updated equipment, interior design of the building, and communication options with clients. But the most important evolution was the creation of our core value of “Balanced Integrity.” It guides us to maintain our positive culture as we strive toward our vision of making better days for our patients, our clients, and our entire team.

What made you decide to go with the AVMA Trust for your insurance coverage(s)?

When I started vet school, I got involved with my school’s SAVMA chapter. That led me to understand the values of organized veterinary medicine, which includes all of the ancillary initiatives and opportunities – such as AVMA Trust. Let’s just say that my trust in the AVMA made it easy to choose the AVMA Trust.

Do you have any advice for veterinarians who aspire to someday start or own a companion animal practice?

Take the leap as early in your career as possible. The opportunity arose for me to become a co-owner through a partnership when I was four years out of vet school. My initial vision for my career was to become an owner way later in my career. I am so glad I did what I did. I would recommend anyone interested in practice ownership try to do it as early in your career as possible. Do not wait if the opportunity comes knocking earlier than expected.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a practice owner?

The biggest challenge to practice ownership is juggling all of the things. It can certainly be overwhelming, and I am constantly battling the feeling of being overwhelmed while wishing I had a time-turner. The best way I have dealt with that challenge is creating a network of support – both within the walls of my building and through outside connections with other practice owners – to help me delegate tasks and discover my path forward through the crazy uncharted waters that all companion animal veterinary practice owners are navigating right now.

What inspired you to become an equine veterinarian?

I grew up in small towns in the Dakotas and saw the respect my father received as the local veterinarian. I was also able to see how much he enjoyed his work, especially when he delivered a live calf!

What surprised you most about becoming a practice owner?

My first surprise was the responsibility I felt toward the people I worked with and, later, my fellow practice owners. Knowing that others rely on me and my practice for their sustenance is a huge responsibility that I take very seriously. As for my fellow partners, I also felt it was my responsibility to make sure the practice continued to succeed to support their ownership stake.

How has the practice evolved since you started it?

As an equine ambulatory practice, the practice has evolved so that no matter where a team member is located, they have full access to all the practice resources. As such, our reliance on a fixed location is minimal.

What made you decide to go with the AVMA Trust for your insurance coverage(s)?

My only liability insurance has been through the AVMA Trust since I graduated in 1981. From that history,I know they understand how veterinarians – especially equine veterinarians – function. Without this familiarity, it is difficult for an insurance company to understand our needs. Also, the rates are very competitive and their customer service is outstanding.

Do you have any advice for veterinarians who aspire to someday start or own an equine practice?

Starting a practice with only a few years’ experience is extremely difficult. I would encourage seeking a practice that is offering ownership of a portion of the practice or even the entire practice. Establishing practice value by starting up a solo practice is a very slow process, and buying into an existing practice speeds up that process.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a practice owner?

As a solo owner, it was very difficult to grow the practice. Once I took on a partner, the ability to sustain the risk of growth was much easier.