Just Vetting with Peter Tanella Ep. 19: Rethinking Ownership and the Future of Veterinary Medicine

🌿 Episode Description In this episode of Just Vetting, host Peter Tanella sits down with Dr. Mark de Wolde, veterinarian, entrepreneur, practice founder, and co-founder of MyVet Group and Nervex Neurotechnologies, for a wide-ranging conversation on veterinary ownership, innovation, succession planning, leadership, and the evolving future of veterinary medicine. Dr. de Wolde shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped his path into veterinary medicine, from growing up on a farm to surviving a childhood dog attack and witnessing a devastating barn fire that solidified his lifelong commitment to animal care. Those formative experiences helped shape both his philosophy as a veterinarian and his passion for building practices centered around empathy, culture, and purpose. Reflecting on his career journey, Dr. de Wolde discusses building and scaling five successful de novo veterinary practices while navigating the realities of burnout, work-life balance, and the emotional demands of ownership. He opens up about the difficult lessons that came with leadership, the importance of creating boundaries, and why family ultimately became the driving force behind his decision to transition out of practice ownership. Throughout the conversation, Dr. de Wolde offers valuable insight into succession planning and the evolving ownership landscape within veterinary medicine. Drawing from his work with MyVet Group, he explains why many practice owners are often unprepared for transition, how enterprise value can be improved over time, and why culture and autonomy remain central concerns for veterinarians considering partnerships or corporate transactions. The discussion also explores the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence within veterinary medicine. As co-founder of Nervex Neurotechnologies, Dr. de Wolde shares how AI-powered hardware, continuous monitoring tools, and smarter data collection may reshape patient care, improve efficiency, and help veterinarians reclaim valuable time while maintaining high standards of care. Throughout the episode, he explores: ✨ Building a career in veterinary medicine through resilience and passion ✨ The emotional experiences that shaped his commitment to animal care ✨ Scaling and operating multiple successful veterinary practices ✨ The realities of burnout and the importance of work-life balance ✨ Why culture and autonomy matter in practice ownership transitions ✨ Succession planning and preparing practices for long-term value ✨ The evolution of corporate and independent ownership models ✨ How mentorship and business education strengthen veterinary leadership ✨ The growing role of AI and continuous monitoring in veterinary medicine ✨ Why veterinarians must help shape the future of technology and regulation ✨ Creating better access to care through innovation and collaboration Dr. de Wolde’s perspective highlights how veterinary medicine continues to evolve far beyond clinical care alone. From ownership strategy and leadership to technology and ethics, he emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with compassion while staying grounded in the core mission of serving both patients and people. Whether you’re a veterinarian considering ownership, a current practice owner evaluating transition opportunities, or simply interested in where veterinary medicine is headed next, this episode offers thoughtful insight into the future of the profession and the people helping shape it. #Veterinary #JustVetting #VetLeadership #PracticeOwnership #VeterinaryMedicine #VeterinaryBusiness