Always Be Hiring: Trends + Retention Lessons for Vet Practices with Stacy Pursell

Smarter Vet Financial Podcast

Smarter Vet Financial Podcast
Always Be Hiring: Trends + Retention Lessons for Vet Practices with Stacy Pursell
Jul 31, 2026
Florida Veterinary Advisors

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Hiring in veterinary medicine is still competitive — but the rules are changing. In this episode, Tom Seeko sits down with Stacy Pursell, founder and CEO of The VET Recruiter, to unpack what veterinary employers need to understand right now about hiring, retention, culture, and leadership.

Stacy shares how she became the first recruiter in the U.S. to specialize exclusively in animal health and veterinary recruiting, what she’s seeing in today’s candidate-driven market, and why employer branding matters more than ever.

You’ll also hear practical insights on:

  • Why “retention starts on day one” (and what many practices miss with onboarding)
  • The role of communication, clarity, and leadership presence in reducing turnover
  • Why flexibility, workplace culture, and support staff impact hiring success
  • What “Always Be Hiring” really looks like — and how a talent pipeline helps you stay ahead

Contact our Guest: Stacy Pursell, CEO of The VET Recruiter (executive search & recruiting in animal health/veterinary space): https://thevetrecruiter.com/contact/  | https://thevetrecruiter.com/ | https://animalhealthnewsandviews.com/ 

Smarter Vet Podcast-https://flveterinaryadvisors.com/smarter-vet-financial-podcast/

Watch the no cost 5-part video course to review your finances and see where you could be doing better in your finances:
 5 Foundational Steps to Financial Balance Video Course-http://series.flvetadvisors.com/

Find out what you could be overlooking within your practice by taking our brief assessment:
 Test My Personal Financial IQ-https://flveterinaryadvisors.com/personal-test/

Sign up for a complimentary phone call to talk about how to get better use of all the cash inside your practice:
 Schedule a time-https://flveterinaryadvisors.com/contact-us

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Episode Artwork Always Be Hiring: Trends + Retention Lessons for Vet Practices with Stacy Pursell 29:39 Episode Artwork SVP Rewind: Rethinking Mental Health and Personal Growth with Dr. William Anton 44:20 Episode Artwork SVP Rewind: Dr. Ernie Ward on Leadership, Imposter Syndrome & Becoming Your Best Self 29:58 Episode Artwork How SmartVet AI Helps Vets Reduce Cognitive Load & Improve Decisions with Dr. Jamie Laity 25:32 Episode Artwork Understanding Veterinary Real Estate, Leasing vs. Owning, and Future-Proofing Your Practice with Brian Wine 26:18 Episode Artwork How Remote Teams & AI Are Changing Veterinary Practices with Kelly Cronin 29:02 Episode Artwork Episode 205 - 4 of 4: Why Many Practice Owners Regret Selling 27:35 Episode Artwork Episode 204 - 3 of 4: How to Turn Your Practice Sale Cash Into Income 29:14 Episode Artwork Episode 203 - 2 of 4: The 5 Years Before Selling Your Practice Matter Most 30:23 Episode Artwork From Big Decisions to Bigger Impact: Leadership Lessons with Dr. Emily King 29:55 Episode Artwork Episode 202 - 1 of 4: Is Your Veterinary Practice Actually Sellable? 24:08 Episode Artwork Episode 201 - Why Two Veterinarians Can Earn the Same… But Build Completely Different Lives 24:31 Episode Artwork Episode 200 - What Actually Matters Financially 26:49 Episode Artwork Episode 199 - The Trials & Trivia of Practice Ownership 20:41 Episode Artwork Communication, Connection & Mental Health in Vet Med with Catherine Haskins 27:54 Episode Artwork Episode 198 - The Hidden Cost of Financial Avoidance in Veterinary Medicine 28:57 Episode Artwork Solving HR, Retention & Culture Challenges in Vet Practices with Anthony LaPolla 27:09 Episode Artwork Episode 197 - Is Imposter Syndrome Quietly Driving Your Career? 26:56 Episode Artwork How Veterinary Professionals Can Build Stability, Fight Burnout, and Strengthen Their Future with Dr. Andy Roark 39:14 Episode Artwork Episode 196 - The Hidden Problems Inside Million Dollar Mutual Fund Portfolios 23:07 Episode Artwork Episode 195 - Does Your Risk Match the Return? 28:47 Episode Artwork Episode 194 - It’s Not About Being Rich—It’s About Having Options 20:04 Episode Artwork Leading with Curiosity: Andrea Crabtree on Communication & Accountability in Vet Practices 28:14 Episode Artwork Episode 193 - Am I Financially on Track as a Veterinarian? 24:06 Episode Artwork Episode 192 - 5 of 5: The No-Fail Retirement Income Plan 26:20