Unlocking Opportunity: A Conversation About Veterinary Practice Ownership and Finding Your Path
0.5 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians
Overview:
What does it really take to own a veterinary practice today? In this engaging and real conversation, Jennifer Bruns, DVM, MPVM, sits down with Vernard Hodges, DVM, to explore the highs and lows of veterinary practice ownership through the lens of lived experience.
Together, they’ll unpack:
- The biggest wins and most rewarding aspects of owning a practice—from professional freedom to financial opportunity
- Common pitfalls and “watch outs,” and how to proactively avoid or manage them
- What to do if you feel stuck, scared, or unsure about taking the leap into ownership
- The best career advice Dr Hodges has received—and what he wishes more veterinarians knew early on.
This program is for veterinarians and veterinary professionals at all stages of their careers. The goal of this webinar is to offer practical insights, suggestions, and motivation to help attendees think differently about what’s possible in veterinary medicine. Whether you are ownership-curious or already on the path, you’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and actionable next steps.
Learning Objectives:
- Recall key benefits and opportunities that come with owning a veterinary practice.
- Explain common challenges in veterinary practice ownership and the reasons they occur.
- Demonstrate strategies to move forward when experiencing fear, doubt, or uncertainty around ownership.
- Compare and contrast different approaches to leadership and business development in veterinary ownership models.
- Assess personal readiness for ownership and identify areas for growth or support before taking the next step
Jennifer Bruns, DVM, MPVM
Dr. Jennifer Bruns is a seasoned veterinary leader with over 20 years of experience guiding and supporting veterinarians and hospital teams toward excellence. As a trusted consultant, she has dedicated her career to coaching veterinary professionals on leadership, practice ownership, and effective hospital management. Known for her hands-on approach, Dr. Bruns has developed managers and leaders at all levels, empowering them to foster thriving, collaborative team cultures.
In her role within PetSmart Health Services, Dr. Bruns bridges the veterinary profession with organizational leadership, offering support and guidance across a network of hospitals. She shares her expertise with new practice owners, providing insights into practice operations, management, and strategies to promote both clinical and business success. Dr. Bruns is a sought-after speaker, presenting at conferences and veterinary schools on topics such as practice management, client communication, and leadership in veterinary medicine.
Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Bruns is dedicated to advancing veterinary education, having contributed to mentorship programs and served as a facilitator for student communication labs at UC Davis. Her commitment to the industry is grounded in her belief in empowering veterinarians with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve success and well-being in practice ownership and hospital leadership.
Dr. Bruns holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine from The University of California, Davis. She lives in Woodland, California.
Vernard Hodges, DVM
Dr. Vernard Hodges, a proud graduate of Fort Valley State University and the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, is a fish biologist and veterinarian who practices on all types of animals in central Georgia, from koi to camels. Dr. Hodges is a founder of multiple successful veterinary hospitals, but he practices primarily at Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Bonaire, GA. Dr. Hodges and Critter Fixer were so successful, they caught the attention of the National Geographic Channel. He stars in a television show called “Critter Fixers: Country Vets” on National Geographic Wild and Disney+, which aired its fifth season in 2023.
Dr. Hodges considers himself a Renaissance man; he loves dabbling in all types of enterprises. He operates the Critter Fixer Cattle Company, a ranching operation with over 100 head of Black Angus cattle. He started a real estate company in 2001 that has grown to a multi-million-dollar business comprised of several apartment complexes and commercial properties. He started writing a real estate blog that ultimately led to his writing a bestselling book: “Bet on Yourself: From Zero to Millions.” In 2023, Dr. Hodges launched Vetopia, a national conglomerate that operates several PetSmart Veterinary Services franchised hospitals across the country and promotes ownership among the veterinary community.
In addition to his businesses, Dr. Hodges loves giving back to his local community. In 2011, he started the Dr. Vernard Hodges “It Takes A Village” Foundation, a nonprofit charity organization that teaches children business skills. He believes that the best way to overcome socioeconomic disparity is to have multiple streams of income. In 2021, the Foundation launched the “Vet for a Day” program, which targets children aged 12-15 to help them gain the tools to enter the veterinary profession. Dr. Hodges and the Foundation partnered with Zoetis in 2022 to make Vet for a Day a nationwide program, and the program has visited over 20 cities to date. Dr. Hodges has won numerous awards for his business acumen and his community service. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and enjoys spending time with his four dogs and watching sports with his 19-year-old son, VJ, a sophomore at Morehouse College.
This course is RACE-approved for 0.5 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
This activity is sponsored by PetSmart.
