In a world of Amazon and Uber-level convenience, where digital disruptors are changing the way the world interacts and how we do business, why do we think that the vet profession won't be impacted? "We're facing a lot of disruption. There is this class of digital disruptive dis-intermediators that are emerging and trying to displace the position of the veterinary clinic. Many of them explicitly have the mission to become the most trusted, most convenient touch point in the pet care journey." Dr Thom Jenkins is the co-founder & CEO of PetsApp, a client engagement platform the streamlines client interactions, and in this episode he'll show you why the veterinary profession is, and should remain, at the heart of animal care, why disruptors  think they can compete for the role of ‘most trusted’, and how they’ll do it. You’ll hear how practices are integrating telemedicine and online services with the physical touch points of traditional bricks and mortar clinics, how we’re our own worst enemies when we overpromise and underdeliver, and how a tech-savvy vet sees the role of AI in the future of veterinary science. Thom also tells us about his experiences of working as a vet in China. Please give us your feedback on how to make the podcast better by answering 12 questions here. Join me at the combined ASAV/VBG Conference on 12-16 August on the Sushine Coast, or, for our US listeners, at IVECCS in St Louis on 7-11 September for more emergency and critical care content than you ever imagined possible! Join our nerds for better patient outcomes and more clinical confidence by signing up for our RACE approved clinical podcasts at vvn.supercast.com for a free 2-week trial. We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via email at [email protected], or catch up with us on Instagram. And if you like what you hear then please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.  Topics and timestamps 05:30 Bad Decisions, Good Stories: Dr. Jenkins' Adventures 11:21 Veterinary Career in China: Challenges and Opportunities 21:51 The Future of Veterinary Medicine: Challenges and Solutions 35:48 Managing Expectations in Veterinary Practice 36:01 The Culture of Martyrdom in Veterinary Medicine 36:46 Setting Realistic Expectations for Customer Delight 38:52 The Role of Disruptors in Veterinary Medicine 40:47 Balancing Quality, Convenience, and Cost 42:29 The Importance of Physical Touchpoints 45:35 Leveraging Technology for Better Client Communication 50:47 The Role of AI in Veterinary Practice 56:37 Addressing Bottlenecks in Veterinary Business 01:09:55 Final Thoughts and Advice for New Graduates