Animal Health Solutions

7 Q1 2021 | Animal Health Solutions Q : What led you and the other founders to seek a deeper partnership with Covetrus? A: Eleven of the 12 primary shareholders of VSG were veterinarians and we sought a long-term strategic partner that had the best interests of the veterinary profession at heart. Covetrus was a natural fit because the company is truly veterinary- centric, only providing products and services to or through veterinary practices. We were also very interested in a win-win relationship that would benefit VMG members as well as provide the VSG leadership team an opportunity to help Covetrus achieve its mission of empowering veterinary practices. Q : What will your role as Chief Veterinary Officer entail? A: I have been asked to serve as a resource to Covetrus leadership relative the "why's and how's" of veterinary practice today and to help them anticipate some of the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow. In addition, I look forward to helping validate new ideas and offerings that Covetrus is considering from the veterinarian's perspective and to facilitate collaboration between Covetrus and the veterinary profession. Q : What is your wish for the future of the veterinary industry? A: As the veterinary industry continues to grow as a business entity, it is my wish that veterinarians, who are focused on the welfare of the patients and people for which we care, continue to have primary responsibility for clinical outcomes, but also substantial influence on business decisions. Q : How has your thinking about the profession changed or evolved over the years? A: Early in my career, like most young veterinarians, I was focused as an individual almost exclusively on providing the best clinical care to my patients. I now know that veterinary practice is very much a service business and that we not only need to provide outstanding care for our patients, but also meet the needs of our clients, the consumers. This is best accomplished by leveraging the talents of a team of professionals within practices and by utilizing the resources of industry leaders like Covetrus. Q : What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing veterinarians today? A: The pandemic and the associated transition to providing predominantly curbside service has certainly been a challenge, but thankfully this will subside at some point. The rising cost of veterinary care is a sustained challenge for both practices and their clients. Advances in the quality of veterinary care carry with them additional expenses such that veterinarians often have two conversations with their clients about a sick or injured pet, one about care and the other about costs. Q : What words of advice would you have to those practitioners wanting to advance their business in today's environment? A: This is going to sound self- serving, but I truly believe becoming a member of a Veterinary Management Group is the best opportunity practice owners have to advance their businesses today. There are plenty of good practice management consultants, but I believe we can learn more from our peers that are in the trenches managing and leading veterinary practices than virtually anyone else. The Veterinary Management Groups provide the best environment for the members and their practices to achieve greater levels of success through collaboration with other practice leaders across North America.

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