When my wife and I first adopted our dog Payton in 2016, we were quickly made aware of a previously mishandled surgery that needed to be corrected, which would come at a significant cost. To our surprise, our local veterinary practice offered to cover the cost of the surgery on our behalf, which we are grateful for to this day (and remain loyal clients to this practice!). Following this event, I came to hold the veterinary profession in very high regard. However, while reading a recent Merck study on veterinary well-being, I became dismayed to learn a majority of younger veterinarians would not recommend this field to their peers, with high student loan debt, lower incomes, and high burnout among the top reasons.

I know our experience with Payton at our locally owned practice is not common, particularly with the corporatization trend in veterinary medicine. But when I look at the benefits that are available for entrepreneurial minded veterinarians to increase their income potential, create their ideal lifestyle, and to build equity in a practice that allows them to do the work they love and for patients they truly care about, I am encouraged in the ability to make veterinary medicine a sought after profession once again.