Veterinary Innovation Podcast

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Veterinary Innovation Podcast

The Veterinary Innovation Podcast covers the most interesting, exciting, and controversial topics in the industry today.

09/25/2025

What if your pet’s collar could tell you when they’re not feeling well — before you even notice?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak sit down with David Teaster from SATELLAI to explore how his team is using satellite technology and AI to transform pet wearables. The conversation goes beyond simple GPS, diving into how these smart collars decode hidden wellness patterns, create virtual fences that are reinforced by training, and empower owners to foster closer, longer relationships with their pets.

Tune in to discover how this innovation is redefining pet safety and well-being: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/why-the-next-generation-of-pet-wearables-is-about-more-than-tracking/

09/18/2025

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in the veterinary conversation — but is it hype, or is it actually helping? 🤔

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Sonya Gordon, a professor of cardiology at Texas A&M University. She reveals how AI isn't a threat but a game-changing tool that can help veterinarians work smarter. Dr. Gordon explains how AI is:

✅ Freeing vets from endless medical records
✅ Adding precision to cardiology & radiology
✅ Training the next generation more effectively

Tune in to hear how the future of veterinary medicine is a powerful collaboration between human expertise and smart technology: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/the-adoption-of-ai-in-veterinary-practices/

09/11/2025

Everyone knows cats have 9 lives. But could longevity science unlock 10? 🐱

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Alex Voda from The Cat Health Company about how his team is building the first clinical-stage company focused on feline longevity. Alex explains how veterinary-first drug development has historically driven pharma innovation, why the longevity field still moves slowly, and how repurposed drugs could accelerate therapies for age-related feline diseases. They explore common and unique aging mechanisms in cats, and what these breakthroughs could mean for veterinarians in practice.

🎧 Tune in to learn how advancing feline longevity could transform veterinary care: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/nine-lives-and-beyond-the-future-of-feline-longevity/

09/04/2025

Are veterinarians truly equipped to meet the needs of senior pets?

While puppy care has clear protocols, older dogs are often managed without consistent standards. This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Dr. Lisa Lippman from the Senior Dog Veterinary Society about how her organization is closing this gap. She explains how CE-certified training and certification programs give veterinary teams the tools to identify different stages of seniority, create proactive wellness plans, and adapt clinics for the comfort and safety of older dogs. The conversation also highlights the use of validated quality-of-life scales to guide care decisions and the importance of supporting owners through anticipatory grief and end-of-life planning.

🎧 Tune in to discover how raising the bar in senior pet care is reshaping veterinary medicine: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/how-to-build-standards-of-care-for-senior-dogs-in-veterinary-medicine/

08/28/2025

How can veterinary clinics cut costs, reduce inefficiencies, and decide where AI really belongs in practice workflows?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Joe Chickerillo from Chckvet, a five-in-one platform helping practices replace multiple disjointed tools with one customizable solution. Joe shares how client feedback has guided Chckvet’s growth, what veterinary medicine can learn from dentistry’s digital transformation, and why AI should complement rather than complicate clinic operations.

🎧 Tune in to discover how smarter automation and streamlined analytics are reshaping the future of veterinary technology: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/useful-or-overkill-rethinking-your-clinic-tools/

08/21/2025

What happens when veterinarians leave traditional practice but still need access to vaccines, medications, and diagnostics?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Dr. Elianne Mimoun from The Veterkin Society, a virtual animal hospital designed to solve this exact problem. Learn how her membership model empowers veterinarians to care for their own pets and those of loved ones while maintaining autonomy outside of a clinic setting.

🎧 Tune in to hear how this $170 solution is redefining support for over 100,000 non-practicing veterinarians: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/how-independent-veterinarians-can-access-the-same-tools-as-clinics/

08/07/2025

How can veterinarians detect disease before symptoms appear?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Dr. Eve Hanks from MI:RNA Diagnostics to explore how AI and microRNA are being used to create predictive diagnostics that personalize treatment and improve outcomes for pets and farm animals. Eve shares her journey from clinical vet to CEO and how her platform is redefining early detection and preventative care.

🎧 Tune in to learn how this cutting-edge approach could redefine preventative care in veterinary medicine: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/can-ai-and-rna-predict-your-pets-next-illness/

07/17/2025

The most promising ventures in vet med may not be new — they're simply waiting to be elevated.

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov sit down with Luke Hedlund of Tucannon Partners, who shares his proven strategy for identifying and scaling undervalued clinics. Luke reveals how to spot practices with untapped potential, implement operational efficiencies that boost profitability, and avoid the common pitfalls of overvaluing startups.

🎧 Listen here: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/how-to-breathe-new-life-into-clinics-and-businesses/

06/19/2025

In this episode, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Michael Blackwell from AlignCare Health Inc. to explore how One Health can transform veterinary care access for underserved families. He discusses how this model connects pet care with human healthcare systems, tackles zoonotic disease risks, and could save billions in public health costs — all while redefining what it means to support the modern family.

🎧 Tune in here: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/how-to-align-human-and-animal-health-in-practice/

06/12/2025

How much time is your clinic losing to outdated workflows?

In this episode, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome James Merchant, co-founder of ClinicWise, to explore the true cost of operational inefficiencies in vet clinics. From missed calls to repetitive follow-ups, these small problems are stacking up, and they’re driving staff burnout and lost revenue.
James reveals how clinics are saving hours every week with AI-powered digital assistants, deep PIMS integrations unlock smarter, personalized communication, and co-designing features with real clinics lead to faster adoption and better outcomes.

🎧 Tune in here for real-world results and the tools helping practices get their time and sanity back: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/ai-driven-client-communication-for-veterinary-practices/

06/05/2025

🔎 Struggling with rising staffing costs and unreliable admin support?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Cory Pinegar from Teem to discuss how remote administrative teams, smart training programs, and empathy-driven support are helping veterinary clinics reduce costs, boost reliability, and overcome staffing burnout.

Listen to the episode to explore how remote teams and smart training can ease veterinary staffing struggles — without losing the human touch: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/can-remote-staff-really-understand-your-clients/

05/29/2025

💡 How do we use AI safely and ethically in veterinary medicine?

This week on the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Lea-Ann Germinder from Germinder & Associates, Inc., to discuss how Responsible AI is reshaping veterinary medicine. Germinder unpacks the ethical, legal, and educational gaps surrounding AI adoption and shares why now is the time for veterinarians to engage with these fast-evolving tools.

Tune in for a deep dive into how Responsible AI is transforming veterinary practice, what clinicians need to know to adopt it ethically, and why staying informed is essential in an AI-driven future: https://veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com/episodes/how-to-use-ai-safely-ethically-legally-in-vet-med/

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How it all started...

Shawn: “The idea of creating the Veterinary Innovation Podcast came to me when I was thinking about the veterinary space and how there was a ton of cool and innovative things happening within the industry. I was interested in discussing these things with Ivan to hear his perspective, and as we got into these conversations, we quickly realized these talks might appeal to a broader audience. I’ve been an avid podcast listener for almost six years now. I have always liked the way that podcasts capture thoughts in a very organic and fluid way.”

Ivan: “The veterinary domain is a fast developing industry and has a lot to catch up with human medicine. There are a number of entrepreneurs that are challenging the status quo and solve the pain points in addition their day to day work.

Shawn and I were both blessed with an opportunities to create and exit out of companies and live the full experience of the startups end to end. When considering how to share these conversations, we figured that a podcast would be the ideal medium. We thought this form of communication would resonate with our audience. The goal was to get industry leaders to share their insight in a way that is both informative and fun.”

We are working hard every day to generate new topics and find new guests that you guys want to hear from. We think we’re getting better every episode. We hope you grow with us and tune in for years to come.