REIMAGINING THE VETERINARY EXPERIENCE

A working environment where team members feel supported, valued and heard is being created by Rarebreed Veterinary Partners. CEO, Dan Espinal, tells us more about this new kind of veterinary workplace

Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Felix Revell

For animal lovers, becoming a veterinarian is one of the most popular, rewarding and exciting career choices.

The love of a pet cat or dog is unconditional, and there is immense gratification to be had from working with these affectionate animals day in, day out.

Vets are not only tasked with diagnosing, treating, and helping our furry friends to feel better, but also educating pet owners, who encompass more than 70 percent of US households, on the preventative measures they can take to promote optimum animal well-being.

It is, however, a physically and mentally demanding industry that is not without its challenges.

Many vets, for example, suffer a tremendous amount of burnout and compassion fatigue, where long hours and exposure to heart-wrenching emotional situations and trauma can take their toll on staff. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly one in 10 veterinarians experience severe psychological distress.

In response to these crippling industry challenges, Rarebreed Veterinary Partners (Rarebreed) was co-founded in 2018 by CEO, Dan Espinal, and COO, Sean Miller, to create a new kind of veterinary workplace.

Aware that the high demands of the veterinary profession can lead to physical and emotional fatigue among practices, Rarebreed’s single vision is to reimagine the veterinary experience and make work actually work for people.

“I’ve worked with so many veterinarians who just love what they do, but I’ve also seen a lot of folks struggle to stay in this profession,” observes Espinal.

“There’s a lot we can do to change the paradigm. Part of it is rewarding our people well, and there’s also an element of listening and making them feel valued.”