by Dr. Amy Hayek, DVM, MA, CVC, CVA
As a co-founder of Animal Chiropractic Education Source, I’ve always been driven by a singular goal: to help veterinarians and chiropractors build successful animal chiropractic practices. Over time, our mission has evolved, and in the last six months, it’s undergone a critical shift. It’s no longer just about helping doctors develop profitable businesses; it’s about fighting a larger, more urgent battle—one that impacts the very future of our professions.
When we started, we focused on empowering doctors to build practices that allowed them to enjoy better lifestyles, higher incomes, and the ability to serve more patients. These are still important, but the stakes have grown. I’ve realized that, as someone training the next generation of animal chiropractors, my time here is limited. Yet the need to guide and support veterinarians and chiropractors is greater than ever before.
The Rise of Corporate Capture in Clinics
Many of you are understandably fearful about promoting your services. Some worry that advertising animal chiropractic could put your licenses at risk. But we’re here to support you because the alternative is much worse—the slow erosion of trust in veterinary and chiropractic care, fueled by corporate capture.
What is corporate capture? It’s when large corporations buy up small veterinary and chiropractic clinics, keeping the doctor as the "face" of the practice while raising prices and pushing for more production. These corporations, often backed by big pharmaceutical companies, are focused solely on profits, not patient care. They pressure doctors to do more, see more patients, and make more money, all to feed the corporate machine.
And it’s not just about raising prices—these corporations are eroding the trust that patients and the public once had in their doctors. They are turning healthcare into a numbers game, where the doctor-patient relationship comes second to the bottom line.
They are even working to remove the doctor all together. These corporations are claiming "a shortage of veterinarians" as their reason to create pop-up clinics with just technicians who see the patient, then refer it to their giant corporate "referral clinic". Clients get thrown into the game of diagnostic overload. Not being allowed to develop a doctor-patient relationship.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
If this trend continues unchecked, we will lose not just clinics, but the heart of the veterinary and chiropractic professions. The doctors who once had a genuine connection with their patients will become mere employees, bound by corporate rules and quotas. This isn’t just a loss for the profession—it’s a loss for the patients who rely on us for care.
I know many of you are feeling the pressure. You’re overworked, overwhelmed, and wondering if there’s a way out. You might even feel trapped in the very clinics you once dreamed of owning. But there is a way out, and it starts with us taking a stand together.
What You Can Do Today
If you’re a veterinarian or chiropractor who’s ready for change—ready to protect your practice and your profession—now is the time. Animal Chiropractic Education Source is here to help you build a practice that serves your patients and supports your professional autonomy. You don’t have to bow to corporate pressure. You can chart your own path and continue to provide the highest standard of care for your patients.
Whether you’re new to animal chiropractic or an experienced professional, we have the resources to help you succeed. Join us at Base Camp Pro 2024, our annual event designed to equip you with the tools you need to thrive in today’s challenging landscape. This is our fifth year running Base Camp Pro, and it’s bigger and more critical than ever before.
This isn’t just about building better practices—it’s about preserving the future of our professions. If we don’t act now, corporate capture will continue to erode the trust patients have in their veterinarians and chiropractors. We’ll see more doctors feeling defeated, burnt out, and disconnected from their purpose.
The Time to Act is Now
We are fighting for the soul of our professions. Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’re ready to take control of your practice and protect your future, visit https://www.animalchiropracticeducation.com/ Sign up for our Intro to Animal Chiropractic course or join us at Base Camp Pro 2024. Together, we can ensure that animal chiropractic thrives—not just as a business, but as a profession built on trust, care, and integrity.
Let’s take a stand. Our patients, our practices, and our professions depend on it.
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