{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"313 - Ryan Leech | First 100","description":"This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome back industry growth consultant and Bird Bath host,&amp;nbsp; Ryan Leech, to talk about what 2026 might look like for veterinary medicine. After the biggest conferences of the year, a few themes kept coming up: vet care affordability, rising salaries, corporate consolidation, and growing pressure on margins. Ryan challenges the profession to stop searching for a &quot;silver bullet&quot; in AI or telehealth and start embracing the uncomfortable lessons of operational efficiency. From the &quot;Walmart-ification&quot; of vet med to the shrinking middle class of pet owners, this episode is a reality check on the economics of being a veterinarian in 2026. Learn more about the First 100. Discover more at The Bird Bath. Ryan recommends Huge* If True with Cleo Abram. ","author_name":"Veterinary Innovation Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/www.veterinaryinnovationpodcast.com\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40317175\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/ffb400\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40317175"}