Veterinarian launches 'Practice Owner Incubator Internship'

Dave Haeussler, DVM, outside of his practice in Cincinnati. Photo courtesy of OSU School of Veterinary Medicine. It started with a chance meeting at a veterinary conference in March, when Dave Haeussler, DVM, owner of Animal Care Centers of Cincinnati, ran into Stith Keiser, then business manager of the American Animal Hospital Association. He learned that Keiser was partnering with new veterinarians to help them establish their own practices. By July, Haeussler and Keiser had launched “The Practice Owner Incubator Internship” with four graduates of Ohio State University's veterinary school. 

The internship offers recent graduates the opportunity to grow their skills as clinicians while simultaneously engaging in one-on-one practice ownership coaching and mentorship, according to a recent release.

“I've bought practices, started practices as a startup, merged practices, and have grown my own little practice from a small house converted to a clinic to facilities with more than 18 doctors in four locations,” says Haeussler in the release. “This is about sharing knowledge, providing guidance and equipping our future veterinarians with the right tools to succeed as practice owners.”  

After completing the internship, Haeussler and Keiser plan to partner with the interns to set up practices. Interns will own 20 percent of a practice, Haeussler and Kaiser will own 40 percent each, and, once the new practice is stable, Haeussler says he and Keiser will step aside and offer the owners a chance to buy them out, according to the release.