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President's Message: Us versus Them, or One Profession?
July 16, 2024
President's Message
Us versus Them, or One Profession?
Over the past 3 years, I have had the opportunity to attend meetings across the globe with colleagues from dozens of countries in attendance. By and large, our profession is undergoing similar changes and has shared challenges, with some regional uniqueness.
It is no secret that, globally — throughout the European Union, the United States, and more recently, Canada — consolidation in veterinary ownership has been a reality. This change in ownership has come in many forms, including large companies with national and international scope growing a network of practices, as well as large, private, business-minded veterinary groups buying practices to expand their footprint. Nearly all veterinary practices are incorporated (“corporate”) no matter who carries the risk; this is simply business and taxes, and this is not at all new.
I won’t spend time here delving into “why” this movement and shift in ownership has happened over the past 20 years. There are many practical reasons, and it was foreseeable from a business perspective.
Of course, this is not unique to the veterinary profession. Simply look at many other health professions that experienced a similar shift well before veterinary medicine: pharmacy, dentistry, and optometry, to name but a few.
In working to create sustainable and healthy workplaces, I have had the opportunity to meet with veterinary medical directors from Europe and North America from mostly larger companies, but also from some of the smaller and lesser-known veterinary companies. Many veterinary organizations are continually working to build out resources for improved veterinary workplaces and wellness. Our colleagues at the British Veterinary Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association are leaders in this space. There are many very capable individuals at the table with significant resources, and a lot of very good work is being done to build better veterinary workplaces. The CVMA is engaged in this space, learning from and supporting the work of those interested in building a stronger and more resilient profession.
Over the past few years, there has been an evident, unhealthy divide amongst some in our profession that sets a tone of an “Us versus Them” mentality. You’ve seen it in the ad for a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician, the social media post, or the sign at the roadside. Of course, entrepreneurship is something our profession has a long history of, and we should be proud of this. I encourage any colleague to follow their dream and build a practice and successful business, but we should be cautious of the narrative we contribute to for our own well-being and that of our colleagues.
The “Us versus Them” narrative assumes one is better than the other and ignores the reasons for many of the changes we’ve lived through in the past few decades in veterinary medicine. There is an implication that small or private veterinary business is somehow a better workplace, which ignores all the very significant work being done globally to improve workplaces and well-being. Of course, history and our own experiences tell us there are both great workplaces and those needing improvement, regardless of size or ownership type. Instead, workplace culture is more likely to contribute to the workplace experience. Over the last several years, I have seen some of the most driven and capable business-minded veterinarians build new practices in a variety of ownership forms. The one thing they have in common is that they are driven to serve and be successful.
Our profession is a service business, and the financial and social pressures exist for both small practices and larger ones. There are a few really simple truths when it comes to veterinary business. We either see enough patients to pay the bills or charge more per patient visit — and either way, no matter who carries the risk, the bills still need to be paid. When this doesn’t occur, it is hard to have a good workplace; it is even harder for the profession to be financially healthy and our teams to be well.
In the days ahead, I am optimistic veterinary practices will become better workplaces as practices small and large strive to improve culture and reinforce why we serve society. There is already significant support being offered by large practices to smaller ones, often in the form of regional referral and specialty centers, despite the narrative of division or difference.
It has long been understood that our teams are stronger when we are united. We are stronger when we genuinely work to improve ourselves as individuals and we pull in the same direction as a team. “United we stand, divided we fall” (a quote attributed to Aesop) has withstood over 2000 years of storytelling and is as relevant today as it has been at so many crucial times in history. I hope that each of us can reflect on our own role in collective strength, building each other up and building a more resilient profession.
“... do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.” Aesop, The Bundle of Sticks, 6th century BC.
Trevor Lawson