The Joy Prescription: Inside the Vet Revolution to Thrive, Not Just Survive

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Jones, a veterinarian and Director of Veterinary Medicine at Shepherd Veterinary Solutions, shares her deeply personal and powerful journey from childhood dreams of vet med to burnout, evolution, and bold leadership. Now based in Phoenix, Arizona, Lauren owns and leads the Animal Hospital of Chester County remotely, while serving the broader industry through tech and advocacy work. She opens up about the mental toll of veterinary work, the importance of human-centered leadership, and how embracing team input and streamlined software radically improved her practice and quality of life.

📌 Key Notes & Takeaways:

🐾 Her Origin Story & Pivot to Ownership

• Knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since age 6.
• Bought her first practice five years out of school and a second shortly after.
• Life shifted during COVID when her family relocated from Philadelphia to Phoenix, prompting her to sell one hospital and lead her practice remotely.

🔥 Burnout & Mental Health

• Experienced intense burnout working 80-hour weeks while raising young kids.
• Describes the emotional rollercoaster of vet med (from puppy visits to euthanasia in minutes).
• Calls attention to staggering mental health stats in the industry — up to 3x the national average for suicide and depression.

🌟 “Reclaiming Joy” as a Mission

• Stepped into a thought leadership role at Shepherd Veterinary Software to promote joy and sustainability in the profession.
• Uses her platform to speak out on destigmatizing burnout and creating meaningful support systems.

👥 HR Philosophy & Leadership Lessons

• Early mistake: trying to separate team from business decisions — now deeply values team buy-in.
• HR game-changer: explaining the “why” behind every change, from software rollouts to operations.
• Learned the hard way that even small changes (like phone systems) can disrupt workflow and morale without proper onboarding or communication.

💡 Tech as a Catalyst for Culture Change

• Emphasizes the right tools (like Shepherd) can reduce late nights, free up time, and help staff feel more present in life.
• Her motto: “Let’s get in, get out, and get home.”
• High-quality medicine and a quality life should coexist.

🧠 What It Takes to Be a Business Owner

• Grit, determination, and especially the ability to pivot.
• Strong emphasis on humility — being able to say, “This didn’t work. Let’s try again.”
• Belief that joy isn’t optional in business — it’s a responsibility.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means the system is.”

“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It doesn’t make you a bad vet, or a bad person.”

“You can be a great doctor and still make it home for dinner.”

“When you get your team’s buy-in, that’s when the culture really starts to change.”

“The tech shouldn’t slow us down — it should give us our lives back.”

“What it takes is grit, the ability to pivot, and the belief that we all deserve joy — and we should fight for it.”