How Dr. Nita Vasudevan is breaking all the rules

Leadership runs through Dr. Nita Vasudevan’s veins.

In fact, it’s almost as if being a leader in the veterinarian community is what she was born to do! As a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Nita has spent every moment since high school – when she first shadowed a veterinarian – dreaming of becoming a vet herself.

But as a natural leader, she has taken this role a step further. Now, Dr. Nita is honored to be joining the bold venture of PetSmart Veterinary Services.

Her new role?

Get ready…it’s a big one: Lead Veterinarian and Regional Medical Veterinary Advisor!

We are so excited to congratulate Dr. Nita Vasudevan on her next adventure and learn more about her thoughts on how leaders can merge their love of animals with putting cutting-edge ownership in the hands of aspiring practitioners.

Do Everything Alone? It Doesn’t Have to be That Way

There is nothing quite as exhilarating as showing up to work each day, knowing this job is exactly what the universe had planned for you all along. Especially because for veterinarians, it can take almost a decade of schooling to fully complete a DVM program.

After all that education, many aspire to open their own practice.

But as Dr. Vasudevan explains, “Practice ownership is so coveted but so daunting for so many small animal practitioners. We want to practice on our own terms, dictate our own quality of medicine, form special individual relationships with clients and have staff that exude all these same goals – but starting from scratch can seem impossible.”

Luckily, that’s where PetSmart Veterinary Services comes in.

“I think the mission of PetSmart Veterinary Services to put ownership in the hands of passionate veterinarians by giving them the best tools to practice the best medicine AND giving them a team that can help achieve this, is where the future of our industry is headed,” she says. “To have an amalgamation of some of the best in the business give eager clinicians a chance to be independent business owners but with the safety of a concrete foundation? That’s just the most confident push in the best direction you can ask for.”

Since the American Animal Hospital Association expects the United States will need approximately 41,000 more veterinarians by 2030…it couldn’t come at a better time!

Put People and Patients First, Always

Animals are at the heart of what vets do. However, as professionals, we also rely upon our fellow human pet owners for everything, from a clear history to clinical signs, compassion, and even down to the nitty gritty finances.

That’s why for Dr. Nita, it’s crucially important to put people first and focus on the experience.

Therefore, she encourages her colleagues to, “Focus on the way you AND your staff make the owners feel from the second they step into your doors to the second they leave. Give them the confidence to know that from both a human and a science level, you are doing the best to take care of them and their family member. Focus on the experience – the relationship; the medicine will be there at the foundation of it all.”

Yes, we love pets! But it’s important not to ignore that human part of medicine.

Parting Thoughts

Dr. Nita’s final advice?

Just keep going.

She explains:

“In every step or stage of your life, you think it absolutely cannot get any worse. You think your life in that moment is just the hardest it will ever be. When you are in high school, it’s the exams and the college applications. When you are in college, it’s the real world staring right back you from the future. From the real world, its every bill and job application. But what do you learn from that as the years pass and you cross each milestone? That you can do it.”

Remember, no matter what, you made it this far and you will always be a success!