Dr. Zay on Modern Veterinary Medicine
Having worked in the veterinary space for many years, I’ve personally experienced many troubles and issues in our industry. Not many people know this, but the suicide rate in veterinary medicine is 4.4 times higher than that of the general public. Our job is stressful — we’re often faced with life-threatening situations — but the truth is, many vet clinics create an unhealthy workplace. That leads to faster burnout and depression, and it’s certainly a deterrent for people considering a veterinary career. No one goes into veterinary medicine to make a lot of money — we do it because we love animals and want to help them get and stay healthy. I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on our industry, and that’s how Bond Vet was born.
We started the company with two main goals. First, to nurture and foster the human-animal bond. Animals are phenomenal for human beings and our well-being. They help humans overcome ailments, feel less lonely, and increase the overall quality of our lives. Especially during the pandemic, people have realized how important that relationship is. We feel fortunate to support that bond and help pets (and by extension, their humans) live longer, better lives.
Our other goal is to create a healthy workplace in the veterinary industry — to prove it can be done. With such high rates of burnout and unhappiness, it’s clear the industry hasn’t done enough to make it better. My goal is to create a healthy workplace culture, one where team members truly look out for one another. Whether it’s covering a shift or assisting with a simple task, I want to make sure every member feels supported in their daily role and in their overall career path. Team members are the most important people in an organization — a happy team often translates to a happy client experience. We are driven by a core set of values and a mission, and a clear toolkit to help our team handle various situations and communicate with one another and with clients.
My ultimate desire is to revolutionize the veterinary industry. To do that, we have to build facilities that not only function, but function exceptionally well. Things move quickly in a veterinary clinic environment, so it’s important to stay calm and do the little things just as well as we do the big things as we provide the best care possible.
As Bond Vet’s Chief Veterinary Officer, I see my role as making sure we are delivering on the promises we make to our clients and our care team. For me, it’s very important that we are continuously growing as a team, keeping open lines of communication and sharing feedback and improving our care. As a veterinarian and as a human being, I want to make sure we are always seeking out the best knowledge from the people around us — at Bond Vet, we’re never too stubborn to change how we do things.
I am more than thrilled to see the company grow and to see the thousands of pets we’ve helped. But what keeps me going is seeing how our team members grow, personally and professionally. Here’s to better vet care — and a better experience for the people who deliver it.
