From Hesitation to Ownership: My Journey as a Livewell Founding DVM

From Hesitation to Ownership: My Journey as a Livewell Founding DVM

Dr. Lexi Nichols, Livewell Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach

I was initially hesitant when I was recruited by Livewell for a founding DVM position, but after meeting the team and speaking with several of the SVP founders, it was clear this was different from other corporate groups. SVP is founded by veterinarians and truly supports veterinarians and their teams. From the start, they emphasized that the hospital I would be founding should genuinely feel like my own. 

 

I was given the autonomy to build my team and practice medicine in a way that aligns with my values, without pressure to follow a cookie-cutter corporate model. That freedom, paired with the exceptional support from the Corporate Livewell team, made the entire opening process feel collaborative and empowering. They were present every step of the way and deeply invested in the success of the hospital. 

 

Stepping into the role of founding veterinarian was definitely intimidating, but it was also a challenge I had been seeking since graduating veterinary school. Now that we’ve opened our doors and begun seeing patients, I feel incredibly grateful for both my hospital team and the Corporate Livewell team (shoutout to Cameron, Bradey, Dr. Eric Krauss, Dr. Adam Conroy and my recruiter Jennifer) that helped make this possible. I would absolutely encourage any doctor considering a founding role with Livewell to take the leap because you will be supported, empowered, and truly feel like the hospital you’re building is your own.