Jason Szumski’s path reflects vet med’s growing AI skill shift

A new Vet Life Reimagined episode spotlights Dr. Jason Szumski’s unusually fast pivot from recent veterinary graduate to startup co-founder, framing him as part of a broader shift in how early-career veterinarians are entering the profession. In the March 23, 2026, episode, host Dr. Megan Sprinkle interviews Szumski about practicing full-time at a 24/7 ER-GP hybrid clinic while also co-founding VetSOAP, a veterinarian-led AI scribe company. The episode positions AI not as a replacement for clinicians, but as a practical tool for reducing documentation burden, supporting confidence in new graduates, and helping veterinarians act on ideas without waiting for a traditional career arc. VetSOAP says its platform is used by thousands of veterinary professionals, and University of Illinois coverage from 2024 shows the product grew directly out of Szumski’s experience as a new grad struggling with note volume, time pressure, and the need for mentorship. (music.amazon.co.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the story is less about one founder and more about what skills may matter next: communication, leadership, business fluency, and the ability to evaluate AI tools critically. That lands at a moment when veterinary organizations are trying to define guardrails for AI adoption. The Veterinary Innovation Council has described AI scribes as a relatively low-risk use case compared with diagnostic AI, while also urging transparency, validation, and clinician oversight. Its 2025 guidance on AI scribing says veterinarians still need to govern the medical record’s content, watch for automation bias, protect privacy, and make sure any recording technology fits local rules and workflow. (todaysveterinarybusiness.com)

What to watch: Expect more attention on whether veterinary schools, employers, and regulators treat AI literacy and implementation skills as core workforce competencies, not side interests. (navc.com)