Veterinary Innovation Podcast

310 - Dr. Andrew Ciccolini | Serenity Vet

Veterinary clinics are currently facing a market shift where appointment volumes are down, revenues are tightening, and relief staffing has become both expensive and administratively messy. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Andrew Ciccolini, co-founder of Serenity Vet, about a new subscription-based relief management model that replaces 20% transaction fees with a streamlined, flat-fee platform. Dr. Andrew shares how clinics can use data-driven tools—like profitability calculators, market benchmarks, and Average Check Transaction (ACT) tracking—to ensure relief shifts drive revenue rather than just filling gaps. Learn how to reclaim control of your relief network, reduce administrative burnout, and run a more profitable practice in a shifting economy.   Learn more about the Serenity Vet. Dr. Ciccolini recommends "Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time" by Rob and Steven Shallenbergers.

309 - Tom Roffe-Silvester | Veterinary Task Force

Veterinary professionals are masters of the clinic environment, but what happens when the electricity goes out, supplies run low, or a patient is miles from the nearest hospital? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak connect with Tom Roffe-Silvester from Veterinary Task Force and Exped Vet to discuss the evolution of Expedition Veterinary Medicine. Tom shares how his background in the British Army led him to create specialized training and assurance solutions for the working dog community and humanitarian responders. Learn how "survival" training — ranging from Arctic operations to tactical first aid — is helping veterinarians reduce burnout by building resilience, adaptability, and leadership skills that are just as valuable in a local clinic as they are in a disaster zone.   Learn more about the Veterinary Task Force LTD. Tom recommends YouTube - William Micklem - the GO! Rules - How to run your own race and thrive in sport and life.

308 - Todd Zion | Akston

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Todd Zion, the Founder and CEO of Akston, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of long-acting therapeutics for companion animals. Todd, who previously founded a company that engineered the first clinically tested glucose-responsive insulin, explains why his pivot from a $500M human health exit to the pet health market makes perfect sense. Todd details how Akston's Ambifect platform is being used to develop treatments for chronic pain, dermatitis, and cancer that can last for six months or even a year on a single dose, reducing the burden on pet owners and veterinary teams. He also provides a candid look at the streamlined regulatory pathways in veterinary medicine compared to human health, and how their manufacturing platform is poised to make these cutting-edge biologics more accessible and cost-effective for everyday pet care.   Learn more about Akston. Todd recommends "Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health" by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Kathryn Bowers.

307 - Dr. Nathan Mitchell | SIMON Education Systems

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Nathan Mitchell, co-founder of SIMON Education Systems, LLC, a company designing and distributing realistic and affordable veterinary diagnostic simulations. Dr. Mitchell, who started the company with his brother and mentor based on his own struggles learning diagnostics, shares how SIMON's ultrasound and ophthalmic simulators allow students and doctors to practice skills for unlimited amounts of time without the stress, risk, or ethical concerns of a live patient. They discuss how customizable, tag-based probes for ultrasound — which can display both normal and pathological findings — are reshaping veterinary education and continuous training. Learn more about SIMON Education Systems. Dr. Mitchell recommends finding inspiration from the mentorship and expertise of people around you, specifically those who offer guidance and support.

306 - Yale Zhang | Seismi Inc

High-end monitoring tech for pets is often too expensive and complicated for the average practice, creating a major barrier to reliable care. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by hardware entrepreneur Yale Zhang, founder of Seismi Inc., to discuss how his company is disrupting the space with affordable, non-invasive monitoring. Yale shares how Seismi makes continuous monitoring accessible to any clinic through accurate, affordable, subscription-free technology designed for real-world use. They also discuss what it takes to bring good hardware to life and how this innovation could make home monitoring for senior and feline patients a reality. Learn more about Seismi. Yale recommends "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology" by Chris Miller.