Justine Lee to retire from VETgirl in July 2026

Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, says she will retire and step down from her role as VETgirl’s director of medicine, effective July 2, 2026, marking a leadership transition at one of veterinary medicine’s best-known continuing education brands. In a farewell post published April 10, 2026, Lee reflected on helping build VETgirl from its 2012 startup roots into a global online CE company and said co-founder Dr. Garret Pachtinger will carry the mission forward. The company’s published background describes VETgirl as founded in 2012 by Lee and Pachtinger, with an emphasis on practical, clinically relevant CE for veterinarians and technicians. Lee is also still listed on the VETgirl U 2026 program in Salt Lake City, where she’s scheduled to speak June 19 and June 21. (linkedin.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less about a sudden strategy shift and more about succession at a CE platform that has had broad reach across small animal practice, emergency medicine, toxicology, technician education, and leadership content. Lee’s departure closes a founder-led chapter, while Pachtinger’s continued role suggests operational continuity in VETgirl’s educational model and brand positioning. For clinicians and practice teams who rely on the platform, the practical question is whether programming, faculty mix, and conference strategy stay steady through the handoff. (linkedin.com)

What to watch: Watch for any formal announcement from VETgirl about post-July 2 leadership structure, branding, and whether Lee’s June 19-21, 2026 VETgirl U appearance is framed as a final public handoff moment. (linkedin.com)