Is practice ownership still possible for associate veterinarians?

Version 1 — Brief

A new Uncharted Veterinary Community podcast is tackling a question that’s become more urgent across the profession: for associate veterinarians who want more control over their future, is it smarter to buy a practice, start one from scratch, or stay put? In “To Buy, to Start, or to Stay — Is Practice Ownership Possible?,” Dr. Andy Roark and guest Roy Jane frame ownership as a real, but increasingly complex, career path at a time when practice sales, corporate consolidation, financing costs, and succession planning are all shifting. That discussion also lands in a profession where ownership change is no longer abstract for many clinicians: in another Uncharted episode, Dr. Gene Bauer described learning his longtime practice had been sold only after the deal was done, underscoring how stressful and disorienting ownership transitions can be for teams when associates are not part of the succession plan. Against that backdrop, the broader market appears to be resetting: consolidation activity has slowed from its peak, ideal corporate targets are now generally larger, higher-EBITDA hospitals, and some industry groups are pushing new training and support aimed at keeping private ownership viable for the next generation. Uncharted is also expanding owner-focused education through offerings like its Practice Owner Summit and leadership training, reflecting growing demand for practical business skills alongside clinical work. (aaha.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the ownership question is no longer just personal finance, it’s a workforce and care-delivery issue. AVMA’s 2025 economic report shows practice owners report higher satisfaction with job, lifestyle, and the profession than associates, while independently owned practices still made up the large majority of respondents in the 2024 practice owner survey. At the same time, student debt, high borrowing costs, valuation expectations, and competition from well-capitalized buyers can make the path to ownership feel harder to access, especially for early-career clinicians. And when associates cannot step into ownership, practice sales may happen around them rather than through them, with direct effects on culture, autonomy, and retention. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Expect more attention on associate buy-in models, ownership training, leadership development, and whether lower deal velocity creates a wider opening for veterinarian-led acquisitions in 2026. (aaha.org)