Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Dr. Bob Lester, columnist for Today’s Veterinary Business, to discuss the corporations that are buying veterinary practices, the autonomy of the modern veterinarian, the difference in compliance culture and commitment culture, and what motivates people to go to work.

LINKS:

Subject article: What Corporate Gets Wrong https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/commitment-culture-compliance/

Live Workshop: The Secret Sauce to Optimizing Workflow w/ Senani Ratnayake:

https://unchartedvet.com/product/the-secret-sauce-to-optimizing-workflow/

Live Workshop: 12 Steps to Critical Conversations w/ Dr. Andy Roark: https://unchartedvet.com/upcoming-events/

Charming the Angry Client On-Demand Staff Training: https://drandyroark.com/on-demand-staff-training/

What’s on my Scrubs?! Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/training-tools/

Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop

All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Bob Lester remains as passionate about the veterinary profession as the day he entered veterinary school (sometime last century). He is a firm believer in the veterinary profession's double bottom line proposition of doing well by doing good. Dr. Lester is a graduate of Oregon State and Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and completed the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Leadership Academy.

He spent his early career as a small-town mixed animal practice owner before joining the founding

leadership team at Banfield Pet Hospitals. At Banfield, he held positions in medicine, operations,

franchising, human resources, and professional relations. After a rewarding career at Banfield/Mars Inc., he left as Vice President of Professional Relations to help found the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine where he served as Assistant Dean. Dr. Lester’s LMU-CVM team pioneered a novel community-based clinical education program and developed the professional skills curriculum including instruction in communication, leadership, teamwork, and practice management.

Bob is now a co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and member of the Board of Directors for WellHaven

Pet Health, a family of companion animal practices that believes in caring for the caregivers so that they can care for others. WellHaven Pet Hospitals are both new build full-service AAHA/Fear Free hospitals, acquired and joint venture affiliate practices.

Bob was a two-time gubernatorial appointee and Chair of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining

Board. He was the state delegate to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. He served as a site team member for the AVMA Council on Education, and on the Job Analysis Task Force for the International Council for Veterinary Assessment. Dr. Lester authors the column “Creative Disruption” for Today’s Veterinary Business.

In addition to his board position at Well Haven Pet Health, he serves as a board member and Treasurer of Pet Peace of Mind a non-profit which keeps hospice patients together with their pets through the end of life. He also serves as Vice President of the board of the North American Veterinary Community, and on the advisory boards of easy vetclinic, Pet Desk, AirVet, and the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Lester’s interests include all things veterinary, writing, start-ups, speaking, business and

leadership development, the human-animal bond, and giving back to the profession that has done so

much for him and others. His family includes his wife Crystal, two amazing daughters McKenzie and Paige, and two rescue Yorkie’s Jessie and Woody.