🌿 Episode Description

In this episode of Just Vetting, host Peter Tanella sits down with Dr. Robert Goodman, longtime leader of Everhart Veterinary Medical Group in Baltimore, for a thoughtful conversation about practice ownership, leadership evolution, and the realities of building a veterinary organization that stands the test of time.

Dr. Goodman reflects on the early influences that led him into veterinary medicine, including the impact of a childhood dog that first sparked his interest in the human–animal bond. Growing up in Cleveland and later attending The Ohio State University for veterinary school, he eventually joined Everhart Veterinary Medical Group in the early 1980s, when the practice was a much smaller operation. What began as an opportunity to practice medicine quickly became an immersive education in mentorship, business operations, and the realities of running a veterinary hospital.

Looking back over decades in the profession, Dr. Goodman shares how the practice evolved from a single-doctor hospital into a respected multi-location veterinary organization rooted in strong client relationships and community trust. He discusses the lessons learned along the way — from wearing every hat early in his career to navigating the transition from associate to owner and eventually leading a growing veterinary enterprise.

With candor and perspective shaped by years of experience, Dr. Goodman also explores how veterinary medicine itself has changed. From advancements in technology and diagnostics to rising expectations from clients and increasing costs of care, he reflects on the challenges practice owners face today and the importance of thoughtful leadership in maintaining both quality medicine and sustainable business operations.

Throughout the conversation, he reflects on:

✨ The early influence of the human–animal bond in shaping his career path
 ✨ Joining a small veterinary hospital in the 1980s and learning every aspect of practice operations
 ✨ The mentorship and hands-on experience that shaped his leadership philosophy
 ✨ Transitioning from associate veterinarian to practice owner
 ✨ Growing Everhart Veterinary Medical Group into a multi-location organization
 ✨ How veterinary medicine has evolved through technology, specialization, and rising client expectations
 ✨ What associates often misunderstand about the responsibilities of ownership
 ✨ Building a strong practice culture that supports both staff and patients
 ✨ The importance of long-term planning, leadership development, and succession in veterinary practices
 ✨ Maintaining community roots while expanding and modernizing a practice

Dr. Goodman offers the perspective of someone who has spent decades navigating both the clinical and business sides of veterinary medicine. His experience highlights that lasting success in practice ownership requires more than medical expertise — it demands adaptability, mentorship, and a commitment to building teams that can carry a practice forward for generations.

Whether you’re considering ownership, currently leading a veterinary hospital, or thinking about the long-term future of your practice, this episode provides valuable insight from a veterinarian who has helped shape the growth of a respected veterinary organization over the course of an entire career.

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