311 - David Nietzke | Snout
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome , the Chief Operating Officer at , to discuss a transformative approach to veterinary wellness plans. As veterinary costs rise and visit frequencies decline, many clinics struggle with "legacy" wellness models that create administrative nightmares and delayed cash flow. David shares how Snout has redesigned the experience by financing transactions upfront, ensuring clinics get paid immediately while pet owners enjoy predictable, interest-free monthly payments. You will learn how removing the financial barrier of the exam fee can skyrocket client...
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310 - Dr. Andrew Ciccolini | Serenity Vet
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
Veterinary clinics are currently facing a market shift where appointment volumes are down, revenues are tightening, and relief staffing has become both expensive and administratively messy. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with , co-founder of , about a new subscription-based relief management model that replaces 20% transaction fees with a streamlined, flat-fee platform. Dr. Andrew shares how clinics can use data-driven tools—like profitability calculators, market benchmarks, and Average Check Transaction (ACT) tracking—to ensure relief shifts drive revenue rather than just...
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309 - Tom Roffe-Silvester | Veterinary Task Force
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
Veterinary professionals are masters of the clinic environment, but what happens when the electricity goes out, supplies run low, or a patient is miles from the nearest hospital? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak connect with from and Exped Vet to discuss the evolution of Expedition Veterinary Medicine. Tom shares how his background in the British Army led him to create specialized training and assurance solutions for the working dog community and humanitarian responders. Learn how "survival" training — ranging from Arctic operations to tactical first aid — is helping...
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308 - Todd Zion | Akston
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome , the Founder and CEO of , a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of long-acting therapeutics for companion animals. Todd, who previously founded a company that engineered the first clinically tested glucose-responsive insulin, explains why his pivot from a $500M human health exit to the pet health market makes perfect sense. Todd details how Akston's Ambifect platform is being used to develop treatments for chronic pain, dermatitis, and cancer that can last for six months or even a year on a single dose, reducing the burden on pet...
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307 - Dr. Nathan Mitchell | SIMON Education Systems
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome , co-founder of , a company designing and distributing realistic and affordable veterinary diagnostic simulations. Dr. Mitchell, who started the company with his brother and mentor based on his own struggles learning diagnostics, shares how SIMON's ultrasound and ophthalmic simulators allow students and doctors to practice skills for unlimited amounts of time without the stress, risk, or ethical concerns of a live patient. They discuss how customizable, tag-based probes for ultrasound — which can display both normal and pathological findings...
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306 - Yale Zhang | Seismi Inc
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
High-end monitoring tech for pets is often too expensive and complicated for the average practice, creating a major barrier to reliable care. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by hardware entrepreneur , founder of , to discuss how his company is disrupting the space with affordable, non-invasive monitoring. Yale shares how Seismi makes continuous monitoring accessible to any clinic through accurate, affordable, subscription-free technology designed for real-world use. They also discuss what it takes to bring good hardware to life and how this innovation could make home monitoring...
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305 - Kimball Carr | Inspire Veterinary Partners
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome , CEO and President of , to discuss how his company is challenging the consolidation status quo in veterinary medicine. Kimball shares his vision for a long-term growth model built on an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), designed to fight burnout and create wealth for doctors, technicians, and clinic staff — not just top-level executives. Learn why IVP pursued a fast IPO to ensure long-term stability and funding leverage, and how this unique structure aims to keep the future of veterinary ownership and leadership in the hands of the...
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304 - David Teaster | SATELLAI
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with , Product Marketing Director at , about how smart wearables are moving way past “just GPS.”. David explains how their AI-powered collars use advanced GPS and motion tracking to spot changes in your pet’s activity, give you early clues about their health, and create customizable virtual fences. The discussion highlights the importance of innovation in creating closer, longer-lasting relationships between pets and their people. Learn more about . David recommends .
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303 - Dr. Sonya Gordon | Cardiac Education Group
Veterinary Innovation Podcast
This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with , a professor of cardiology at and member of the . She shares a unique perspective on how AI is transforming veterinary education and clinical practice. Dr. Gordon explains that rather than replacing veterinarians, AI is a tool that enhances efficiency and improves patient care by streamlining medical records and adding precision to diagnostic imaging. She also discusses her work with CEG, the not-for-profit group of board-certified veterinary cardiologists that provides independent clinical recommendations for canine and feline heart...
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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 .
info_outlineThis week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome David Nietzke, the Chief Operating Officer at Snout, to discuss a transformative approach to veterinary wellness plans. As veterinary costs rise and visit frequencies decline, many clinics struggle with "legacy" wellness models that create administrative nightmares and delayed cash flow. David shares how Snout has redesigned the experience by financing transactions upfront, ensuring clinics get paid immediately while pet owners enjoy predictable, interest-free monthly payments.
You will learn how removing the financial barrier of the exam fee can skyrocket client compliance and visit frequency. From mapping messy PIMS codes to securing a $110M capital injection to fund clinic payouts, David explains how Snout aligns the incentives of the pet owner, the provider, and the patient. This episode offers a roadmap for any practice looking to transition from reactive care to a thriving, proactive preventive model without the traditional risks of "do-it-yourself" plans.
Learn more about the Snout.
David recommends TEDx Talks: “What Being a Veterinarian Really Takes“ by Melanie Bowden, DVM