As we reflect on 2024, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to our outgoing Chair, Matt Musselman, Chief Operating Officer of Farm Services at Dairy Farmers of America. His outstanding leadership has been an inspiration. We are also excited to welcome our incoming Chair for 2025, Kent Luther, Senior Vice President of U.S. Pet Health Veterinary Sales at Elanco Animal Health. The work we do as an organization is only possible because of the unwavering leadership of our Advisory Board and the dedication of volunteers who generously support us throughout the year.
As we prepare for another year of progress and innovation in the industry, I want to share my predicted key trends, challenges, and breakthroughs. Together, we can continue to drive the industry forward.
Feline Health: The Year of the Cat
I believe 2025 will mark the beginning of a transformative era for feline health. As a proud cat lover, I am thrilled by the promising new therapeutics, nutritional advancements, and investments in feline healthcare. The coming year will bring significant strides in feline-centric care, with a focus on improving the way we approach medical treatments, diagnostics, and overall wellness for cats. I foresee exciting innovations in clinics that will better address the unique needs of feline patients and their owners.
Technology: Revolutionizing the Industry
Technology is rapidly reshaping every facet of our industry, from veterinary clinics to farms and food animal production. Whether it’s improving research and development, enhancing feed conversion, advancing genetics, or optimizing track-and-trace systems, technology continues to play a pivotal role. In 2025, we can expect even more breakthroughs that will drive efficiency and productivity. As younger generations move into leadership and ownership roles at the clinic level and on the farm, we will see more rapid shifts in adoption of technology as these generations are digital natives. As the industry embraces these advancements, we will continue to see profound changes that shape our future.
Food Animal Innovation and Investment: An Ongoing Challenge
Despite the progress we’ve made, there remains a critical gap in innovation and investment in the food animal sector. While solutions may not always be immediate or easy, it is essential we come together as an industry to address this issue. Collaboration will be key to identifying new approaches and finding long-term solutions that benefit both animals and those who care for them.
Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Efficiency
Though AI is still in its infancy, I am confident it will continue to evolve rapidly, impacting organizations across multiple disciplines. From communication and marketing to customer service, AI promises to create new opportunities for businesses to streamline their processes. However, as AI grows, companies must prioritize employee training and establish clear policies to ensure its ethical and legal use, avoiding potential pitfalls as technology develops.
Addressing the Mid-Level Practitioner Gap
One of the most pressing issues facing our industry is the growing demand for veterinary services, which consistently exceeds our capacity to meet that need. Whether due to a shortage of rural veterinarians, a shift in the number of hours worked by existing professionals, or inefficiencies in clinic processes, the need for more accessible and timely care remains critical. In 2025, we must continue to explore innovative solutions to ensure pets and animals across the U.S. receive the care they need, without long wait times or the burden of traveling to distant clinics.
Rebranding Animal Health: Changing the Narrative
One of the greatest challenges facing our industry is its misunderstanding by the public. Many people still associate animal health careers solely with roles like veterinarians, shelter workers, and farmers. While these are vital, they represent only a small part of the diverse opportunities available within our industry. Companies are increasingly looking outside agricultural schools to find future talent. That’s why we’re excited to announce a unified branding campaign, set to launch at the 2025 Animal Health Summit in Kansas City, on August 25-26. This initiative will help shine a light on the broad and exciting career paths available in our industry, inspiring the next generation to join us in driving innovation and progress.
As we head into 2025, I invite you to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. What are the key trends you’re watching? What’s on your radar for innovation? How are you planning to navigate the challenges facing our industry?
I look forward to hearing from you as we embark on another exciting year of growth and progress!