Veterinary Innovation Podcast

Veterinary staff in 2021 experienced a higher level of burnout than in 2020. How might we be able to address burnout? This week, Shawn & Ivan discuss the results of the 2021 burnout survey performed by Veterinary Integration Solutions & Galaxy Vets. Shawn recommends Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl (amzn.to/3eC91fv). Ivan recommends The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler (amzn.to/32tkH1N) & The Founder's Mentality by Chris Zook & James Allen (amzn.to/32N4OCP). The survey results are available at vetintegrations.com.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Asaf Dagan, Chief Veterinary Scientist and Co-Founder of PetPace, to discuss how continuous monitoring is expanding clinical visibility outside the exam room. The conversation explores how real-time physiological data can help veterinarians detect changes earlier, better understand chronic conditions, and support more informed follow-ups between visits. From pain detection to seizure monitoring, continuous data is adding a new layer to how patients are assessed and managed. The episode offers a practical look at how these tools are already being used and what this shift could mean for everyday clinical workflows. Learn more about the PetPace. Dr. Dagan recommends "The Great Equations: Breakthroughs in Science from Pythagoras to Heisenberg" by Robert P. Crease, which explores the 10 most influential mathematical equations in history.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Sebastian Gabor, co-founder of Digitail, to talk about what the latest wave of AI investment means for veterinary medicine and how this momentum could accelerate the arrival of better, cheaper, and more capable AI tools for clinics. With visits down across the industry, they discuss how technology can help strengthen client retention, reactivate patients, and build a more connected hospital. Sebastian also shares how Digitail is approaching holistic AI, where each major function in the practice has its own assistant supporting the team's daily work. They also unpack a practical question many practices are asking today: what should AI actually do in veterinary medicine? From human-in-the-loop workflows that support medical teams to fully autonomous tasks that handle follow-ups and communication, the episode looks at where automation adds value and where humans must remain central. Learn more about the Digitail. Discover more preventive care insights with  "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" by Peter Attia. Sebastian recommends  "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman for leadership and team empowerment.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome back industry growth consultant and Bird Bath host,  Ryan Leech, to talk about what 2026 might look like for veterinary medicine. After the biggest conferences of the year, a few themes kept coming up: vet care affordability, rising salaries, corporate consolidation, and growing pressure on margins. Ryan challenges the profession to stop searching for a "silver bullet" in AI or telehealth and start embracing the uncomfortable lessons of operational efficiency. From the "Walmart-ification" of vet med to the shrinking middle class of pet owners, this episode is a reality check on the economics of being a veterinarian in 2026. Learn more about the First 100. Discover more at The Bird Bath. Ryan recommends Huge* If True with Cleo Abram.

In this episode, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Tanika Hall, serial entrepreneur and founder of ZooDoc, to discuss a significant shift in the veterinary industry: the transition from managing overcapacity to needing proactive lead generation. Inspired by her struggle to find care for a sick frog, Tanika built ZooDoc to connect pet parents with trusted professionals, especially those specializing in exotics. The conversation explores how ZooDoc's B2B2C model supports clinics by providing tele-triage tools, transparent pricing, and flexible financing. As veterinary practices face new economic pressures, Tanika explains why technology should focus on building trust and bridging the gap between clinical expertise and patient accessibility. Learn more about the ZooDoc. Tanika recommends "All About Love: New Visions" by Bell Hooks.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome David Nietzke, the Chief Operating Officer at Snout, to discuss a transformative approach to veterinary wellness plans. As veterinary costs rise and visit frequencies decline, many clinics struggle with "legacy" wellness models that create administrative nightmares and delayed cash flow. David shares how Snout has redesigned the experience by financing transactions upfront, ensuring clinics get paid immediately while pet owners enjoy predictable, interest-free monthly payments. You will learn how removing the financial barrier of the exam fee can skyrocket client compliance and visit frequency. From mapping messy PIMS codes to securing a $110M capital injection to fund clinic payouts, David explains how Snout aligns the incentives of the pet owner, the provider, and the patient. This episode offers a roadmap for any practice looking to transition from reactive care to a thriving, proactive preventive model without the traditional risks of "do-it-yourself" plans. Learn more about the Snout. David recommends TEDx Talks: "What Being a Veterinarian Really Takes" by Melanie Bowden, DVM

Veterinary clinics are currently facing a market shift where appointment volumes are down, revenues are tightening, and relief staffing has become both expensive and administratively messy. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Andrew Ciccolini, co-founder of Serenity Vet, about a new subscription-based relief management model that replaces 20% transaction fees with a streamlined, flat-fee platform. Dr. Andrew shares how clinics can use data-driven tools—like profitability calculators, market benchmarks, and Average Check Transaction (ACT) tracking—to ensure relief shifts drive revenue rather than just filling gaps. Learn how to reclaim control of your relief network, reduce administrative burnout, and run a more profitable practice in a shifting economy.   Learn more about the Serenity Vet. Dr. Ciccolini recommends "Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time" by Rob and Steven Shallenbergers.

Veterinary professionals are masters of the clinic environment, but what happens when the electricity goes out, supplies run low, or a patient is miles from the nearest hospital? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak connect with Tom Roffe-Silvester from Veterinary Task Force and Exped Vet to discuss the evolution of Expedition Veterinary Medicine. Tom shares how his background in the British Army led him to create specialized training and assurance solutions for the working dog community and humanitarian responders. Learn how "survival" training — ranging from Arctic operations to tactical first aid — is helping veterinarians reduce burnout by building resilience, adaptability, and leadership skills that are just as valuable in a local clinic as they are in a disaster zone.   Learn more about the Veterinary Task Force LTD. Tom recommends YouTube - William Micklem - the GO! Rules - How to run your own race and thrive in sport and life.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Todd Zion, the Founder and CEO of Akston, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of long-acting therapeutics for companion animals. Todd, who previously founded a company that engineered the first clinically tested glucose-responsive insulin, explains why his pivot from a $500M human health exit to the pet health market makes perfect sense. Todd details how Akston's Ambifect platform is being used to develop treatments for chronic pain, dermatitis, and cancer that can last for six months or even a year on a single dose, reducing the burden on pet owners and veterinary teams. He also provides a candid look at the streamlined regulatory pathways in veterinary medicine compared to human health, and how their manufacturing platform is poised to make these cutting-edge biologics more accessible and cost-effective for everyday pet care.   Learn more about Akston. Todd recommends "Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health" by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Kathryn Bowers.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Nathan Mitchell, co-founder of SIMON Education Systems, LLC, a company designing and distributing realistic and affordable veterinary diagnostic simulations. Dr. Mitchell, who started the company with his brother and mentor based on his own struggles learning diagnostics, shares how SIMON's ultrasound and ophthalmic simulators allow students and doctors to practice skills for unlimited amounts of time without the stress, risk, or ethical concerns of a live patient. They discuss how customizable, tag-based probes for ultrasound — which can display both normal and pathological findings — are reshaping veterinary education and continuous training. Learn more about SIMON Education Systems. Dr. Mitchell recommends finding inspiration from the mentorship and expertise of people around you, specifically those who offer guidance and support.

High-end monitoring tech for pets is often too expensive and complicated for the average practice, creating a major barrier to reliable care. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by hardware entrepreneur Yale Zhang, founder of Seismi Inc., to discuss how his company is disrupting the space with affordable, non-invasive monitoring. Yale shares how Seismi makes continuous monitoring accessible to any clinic through accurate, affordable, subscription-free technology designed for real-world use. They also discuss what it takes to bring good hardware to life and how this innovation could make home monitoring for senior and feline patients a reality. Learn more about Seismi. Yale recommends "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology" by Chris Miller.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Kimball Carr, CEO and President of Inspire Veterinary Partners, to discuss how his company is challenging the consolidation status quo in veterinary medicine. Kimball shares his vision for a long-term growth model built on an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), designed to fight burnout and create wealth for doctors, technicians, and clinic staff — not just top-level executives. Learn why IVP pursued a fast IPO to ensure long-term stability and funding leverage, and how this unique structure aims to keep the future of veterinary ownership and leadership in the hands of the professionals who drive care every day. This episode offers a compelling look at a new wealth model for the entire veterinary team. Learn more about Inspire Veterinary Partners. Kimball recommends "The Arrogance of Power" by Senator J. William Fulbright for its timely lessons on leadership and avoiding arrogance.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with David Teaster, Product Marketing Director at SATELLAI, about how smart wearables are moving way past "just GPS.". David explains how their AI-powered collars use advanced GPS and motion tracking to spot changes in your pet's activity, give you early clues about their health, and create customizable virtual fences. The discussion highlights the importance of innovation in creating closer, longer-lasting relationships between pets and their people. Learn more about SATELLAI. David recommends TED Talk: The Unique Love Between Humans and Dogs | Elias Weiss Friedman.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Sonya G. Gordon, a professor of cardiology at Texas A&M University and member of the Cardiac Education Group. She shares a unique perspective on how AI is transforming veterinary education and clinical practice. Dr. Gordon explains that rather than replacing veterinarians, AI is a tool that enhances efficiency and improves patient care by streamlining medical records and adding precision to diagnostic imaging.  She also discusses her work with CEG, the not-for-profit group of board-certified veterinary cardiologists that provides independent clinical recommendations for canine and feline heart disease. The conversation explores how these innovations are making complex tasks more manageable for students and empowering clinicians to work with greater confidence. Dr. Gordon recommends the movie Happy Gilmore 2 for a laugh, as sometimes you just need to be silly and laugh at the end of the day.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Alex Voda from The Cat Health Company to discuss how the startup became the first clinical-stage company focused on feline longevity. Alex explains why cats are better models than other species for pharmaceutical R&D and how repurposing existing drugs could accelerate new treatments.  He shares insights into why longevity companies still move slowly, highlights common and unique feline aging mechanisms, and reflects on what these innovations could mean for veterinarians, pet owners, and the broader future of veterinary practice. Learn more about The Cat Health Company. Alex recommends Youtube - Alex Zhavoronkov at ARDD2024: Methylation Clocks and AI Life Models as Sources of Therapeutic Target.

Puppies have clear care protocols — but what about seniors?This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak dive into conversation with Dr. Lisa Lippman from the Senior Dog Veterinary Society about how her team is closing one of the biggest gaps in veterinary medicine. She explains how the Society is closing a critical gap in veterinary education by offering CE-certified training and a certification program for veterinarians and technicians. The discussion covers identifying senior and geriatric stages across breeds, creating proactive wellness plans, adapting clinics to reduce stress and support mobility, and using quality-of-life scales to guide treatment and end-of-life decisions. Dr. Lippman also explores the emotional side of senior care, including anticipatory grief, and shares her vision for future standards and certification in geriatric veterinary medicine.   Learn more about Senior Dog Veterinary Society. Dr. Lippman recommends TED Talks - "What veterinarians know that physicians don't" by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Joe Chickerillo from Chckvet to speak about the company's evolution from an online booking tool into a five-in-one veterinary platform. Joe explains how Chckvet integrates booking, analytics, communications, reviews, loyalty programs, and client portals into one customizable solution. He shares how client feedback has guided product development and reflects on lessons learned from scaling SaaS in dentistry, highlighting parallels to veterinary medicine. The discussion also explores where AI belongs in practice workflows, where it risks being unnecessary, and how clinics can choose technology that truly solves their pain points. Learn more about Chckvet. Joe recommends Keynote on AI at a CE conference by Stuart Lacey.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Elianne Mimoun from The Veterkin Society, a virtual animal hospital created to address a challenge many veterinarians face after leaving clinical practice or never in clinical practice: access to affordable tools, medications, and diagnostics. Drawing on her 20+ years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Mimoun explains how her membership-based model helps veterinarians care for their own pets and those of loved ones without relying on brick-and-mortar clinics. You will learn how this innovative solution works, who use it, what is the future of The Veterkin Society and why it could change the way independent and non-practicing veterinarians stay connected to their profession. Discover more at The Veterkin Society Facebook. Dr. Mimoun recommends "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business" by Gino Wickman.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak meet with Dr. Eve Hanks, the founder of MI:RNA Diagnostics to chat about her remarkable journey from clinical veterinary practice to becoming the CEO of a pioneering diagnostics company. Eve shares how her background in immunology led to the creation of an AI-powered platform that uses microRNA to detect disease earlier than ever before. You`ll discover how predictive diagnostics can improve clinical decision-making, reduce uncertainty, and support personalized care for both pets and production animals.   Learn more about MI:RNA Diagnostics. Dr. Hanks recommends "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

What if the most effective way to innovate in veterinary medicine isn't to start something new, but to take something that already works and make it work better? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak explore insights from Luke Hedlund, the Founder of Tucannon Partners, about exactly that approach. Luke is looking for one business within vet med to manage and make a majority investment in. He is open to vet clinics, but he's more focused on vendors to vet clinics. Luke shares his approach to fixing the issues that frustrate everyone - ineffective meetings, unclear communication, and poor decision-making processes. He also discusses the risks of chasing inflated valuations over product-market fit, and explains why imaging and workflow improvements hold untapped potential for better pet care and business performance.   Learn more about Tucannon Partners. Luke Hedlund recommends "The Manager's Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition" by David Dodson for practical leadership frameworks.