331 - How (Un)affordable Will Care Be?

Dr. Jules Benson joins Dr. Andy Roark for a deep dive into the economics of veterinary care, where it’s headed, and what it means for your practice. Using data trends from the last few years, Dr. Benson breaks down the troubling pattern of rising veterinary service costs and declining client visits, projecting what that could look like by 2030. But this isn’t a doom-and-gloom forecast. Together, they explore practical, optimistic strategies for keeping care accessible, building client trust, and thinking entrepreneurially about pricing, transparency, and innovation in independent practice. If you’re a veterinary professional looking to understand where the industry is going and how to stay ahead of it. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

https://illuminate.vet/

Jules Benson on LinkedIn

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jules Benson is the Principal at Tapetum Lucidum Consulting and the 2025 Chair at the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). With over two decades as a practitioner, industry executive, strategist, and data and technology leader, his focus lies in identifying and applying innovation that can improve the lives of pets, pet families, and veterinary healthcare teams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop

Owning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!

Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!

Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy Roark

Inside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.

Register for Office Hours here!

Learn more about Simparica Trio here!

On Demand Team Training Bundle

Great medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.

Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!