The Vet Episode Nobody Taught You in Vet School w/ Dr. Judy Jasek

This one is for every veterinarian who has ever felt like an island.But it is also for every pet parent who has ever wondered what it actually takes for a vet to practice medicine on their own terms, and why so many of the best ones end up building something from scratch.Dr. Judy Jasek never wanted to own a business. She became an entrepreneur because it was the only way she could practice the medicine she believed in. She bought a conventional practice, stopped doing as many vaccines because she believed they were harming her patients, and watched her revenue plummet. Then she built a full integrative hospital, burned out under the weight of it, sold it, sat through a three year non-compete, and rebuilt from the front room of her house. No debt. No bank loan. Just a mat on the floor and a willingness to see what happened.It thrived.Dr. Lily started the same way. House calls, then 500 square feet, a mat and a desk, no X-ray machine, no surgery suite. The only piece of equipment she needs to plug in today is her ozone machine.This conversation also goes into the loss of empathy in the veterinary profession since COVID, what drove it, and why both Dr. Judy and Dr. Lily believe that healing is an art that is at risk of being lost.KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Most holistic vets become entrepreneurs by necessity, not choice. The only way to practice authentically is often to build something yourself.✨ You do not need a big loan, a big space, or all the equipment. Dr. Judy rebuilt from her front room. Dr. Lily started with house calls and 500 square feet. Both practices thrived.✨ Avoiding debt is one of the most important decisions you can make when starting a practice. When you own debt, you feel trapped. When you own nothing, you are free to practice the way you want.✨ Find the modality that is uniquely yours and go all in on that. You do not have to do everything. Every other clinic is already doing everything. Your niche eliminates your competition.✨ The curbside drop-off era during COVID did profound damage to the veterinarian-client bond. The loss of empathy in the profession since that time is something both Dr. Judy and Dr. Lily are seeing firsthand.✨ Corporate practice appointments run every 10 to 15 minutes. There is not enough time to sit on the floor, listen to the family, explore options, or practice medicine that feels like medicine.✨ Informed consent is how veterinarians are supposed to practice. Explaining the risks, the whys, the regulations, and letting the family make the choice. Not badgering, not enforcing, not checking boxes.✨ Clients follow doctors, not clinics. When you practice from the heart, people are drawn to that energy. The right clients will find you.✨ Healing is an art. Every veterinarian has unique gifts. The world needs those gifts, not another clinic that does the same things as the 10 clinics around it.✨ If you feel like an island in this profession, you are not alone. There are more of us than you think.RESOURCES:Animal Healing Arts: https://ahavet.comInstagram: @judyjasekFacebook: @Animal Healing ArtsSubstack: https://judyjasekdvm.substack.comMembership (free to join): https://ahavet.com/membershipFOLLOW:Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.comInstagram: @integrativepetThreads: @integrativepetSign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips 🐶🐈‍⬛Dr. Lily Chen:Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vetThreads: @the.unicorn.vetLinkedIn: Lily Chen, DVM,