302 - Alex Voda | Pharma R&D and Longevity
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome from to discuss how the startup became the first clinical-stage company focused on feline longevity. Alex explains why cats are better models than other species for pharmaceutical R&D and how repurposing existing drugs could accelerate new treatments. He shares insights into why longevity companies still move slowly, highlights common and unique feline aging mechanisms, and reflects on what these innovations could mean for veterinarians, pet owners, and the broader future of veterinary practice. Learn more about . Alex recommends .
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301 - Dr. Lisa Lippman | Senior Dog Veterinary Society
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
Puppies have clear care protocols — but what about seniors?This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak dive into conversation with from the about how her team is closing one of the biggest gaps in veterinary medicine. She explains how the Society is closing a critical gap in veterinary education by offering CE-certified training and a certification program for veterinarians and technicians. The discussion covers identifying senior and geriatric stages across breeds, creating proactive wellness plans, adapting clinics to reduce stress and support mobility, and using quality-of-life scales to...
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300 - Joe Chickerillo | Chckvet
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome from to speak about the company’s evolution from an online booking tool into a five-in-one veterinary platform. Joe explains how Chckvet integrates booking, analytics, communications, reviews, loyalty programs, and client portals into one customizable solution. He shares how client feedback has guided product development and reflects on lessons learned from scaling SaaS in dentistry, highlighting parallels to veterinary medicine. The discussion also explores where AI belongs in practice workflows, where it risks being unnecessary, and how...
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299 - Dr. Elianne Mimoun | The Veterkin Society
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with from , a virtual animal hospital created to address a challenge many veterinarians face after leaving clinical practice or never in clinical practice: access to affordable tools, medications, and diagnostics. Drawing on her 20+ years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Mimoun explains how her membership-based model helps veterinarians care for their own pets and those of loved ones without relying on brick-and-mortar clinics. You will learn how this innovative solution works, who use it, what is the future of The Veterkin Society and why it could...
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298 - Dr. Eve Hanks | MI:RNA Diagnostics
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak meet with , the founder of to chat about her remarkable journey from clinical veterinary practice to becoming the CEO of a pioneering diagnostics company. Eve shares how her background in immunology led to the creation of an AI-powered platform that uses microRNA to detect disease earlier than ever before. You`ll discover how predictive diagnostics can improve clinical decision-making, reduce uncertainty, and support personalized care for both pets and production animals. Learn more about . Dr. Hanks recommends
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297 - Luke Hedlund | Tucannon Partners
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
What if the most effective way to innovate in veterinary medicine isn't to start something new, but to take something that already works and make it work better? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak explore insights from , the Founder of , about exactly that approach. Luke is looking for one business within vet med to manage and make a majority investment in. He is open to vet clinics, but he’s more focused on vendors to vet clinics. Luke shares his approach to fixing the issues that frustrate everyone - ineffective meetings, unclear communication, and poor decision-making processes. He...
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296 - Dr. Michael Blackwell | AlignCare Health Inc.
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with from the University of Tennessee, and the Director of , about the increasing challenges families face in accessing veterinary care and how the One Health model offers a transformative solution. Dr. Blackwell explains that many of the barriers to care stem from human social and financial realities, not just veterinary logistics. By integrating veterinary services with human healthcare, social work, and community resources, One Health creates a holistic, family-centric approach that supports underserved families, mitigates the risks of...
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295 - James Merchant | ClinicWise
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
Veterinary clinics are facing growing pressure from chaotic workflows, missed calls, scattered forms, and burned-out front-desk teams. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak sit down with , co-founder of , to explore how deeply integrated, AI-powered tools are helping practices streamline client communication, automate repetitive tasks, and reclaim hours of staff time each week. James shares how ClinicWise was co-designed with busy hospitals to ensure it solves real, everyday problems — from pre- and post-appointment workflows to personalized education and smart intake. Learn...
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294 - Cory Pinegar | Teem
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak connect with from about how veterinary clinics can reduce overhead and improve reliability by outsourcing administrative tasks to remote teams. Cory shares how Teem’s model uses structured training, real-time performance data, and an empathy-first approach to create scalable support without sacrificing service quality, even as staffing costs and turnover continue to rise. Learn more about . Cory Pinegar recommends .
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293 - Lea-Ann Germinder | Germinder & Associates
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome , Founder and President of . They chat about the complex challenges and transformative potential of Responsible AI (RAI) in veterinary medicine. Drawing from her PhD research and presentation at Cornell’s SAVY Symposium, Germinder outlines the ethical gaps, legal gray areas, and educational challenges shaping AI adoption in vet med. She also breaks down what clinics must know before adopting AI and why ignoring it isn’t an option anymore. Learn more about . Discover more about . Lea-Ann Germinder recommends .
info_outlineWhat if the most effective way to innovate in veterinary medicine isn't to start something new, but to take something that already works and make it work better?
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak explore insights from Luke Hedlund, the Founder of Tucannon Partners, about exactly that approach. Luke is looking for one business within vet med to manage and make a majority investment in. He is open to vet clinics, but he’s more focused on vendors to vet clinics.
Luke shares his approach to fixing the issues that frustrate everyone - ineffective meetings, unclear communication, and poor decision-making processes. He also discusses the risks of chasing inflated valuations over product-market fit, and explains why imaging and workflow improvements hold untapped potential for better pet care and business performance.
Learn more about Tucannon Partners.
Luke Hedlund recommends “The Manager's Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition” by David Dodson for practical leadership frameworks.