Brendan Howard oversees veterinary business, practice management and life-balance content for dvm360.com, dvm360 magazine, Firstline and Vetted, and plans the Practice Management track at all three Fetch dvm360 conferences.Brendan has proudly served under the Veterinary Economics and dvm360 banners for more than 10 years. Before that, he worked as a journalist, writer and editor at Entrepreneur magazine and a top filmed entertainment magazine in Southern California. Brendan received a Masters in English Literature from University of California, Riverside, in 1999.

 is a relatively new chain of veterinary practices that promises a minority stake to “veterinary business partners” (entrepreneurial veterinarians who want to start a practice with lower financial risk). The company has six practices (or is looking to start them) in three metro areas—Chicago, Kansas City and soon to be Nashville.

One of the biggest differences between GoodVets and other veterinary practice groups, according to CEO Ryan Joseph, is a recruiting strategy that helps ensure veterinarians are a cultural fit. The company looks for people who not only are focused on high-quality medicine but also are inspired to learn leadership skills and build strong workplace culture in the practices.

“When we talk to veterinarians, they don’t believe we exist,” Joseph says, noting the company’s focus on practice autonomy and ground-up, branded startups. And, yes, while every GoodVets is prominently marketed as a GoodVets practice, exteriors and hospital decor are designed to carefully fit the local feel (see photos).

Exact ownership details are personalized to each veterinary business partner, according to Joseph, so curious future veterinary practice owners can inquire at good-vets.com.

News

Veterinary consolidator wants veterinary teams that are a cultural fit; focuses design choices on local communities.

New corporate practice GoodVets focuses on shared ownership, strong leadership skills