Latest news with #veterinarymedicine
Entrepreneur
21-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Am I Leading With My Heart? Here's a Tip for Authentic Leaders
Too many leaders chase numbers and forget people. And it's costing them more than they think. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. There's a misconception in business that you can be either people or performance-driven, but not both. That thinking isn't just flawed; it's dangerous. When you sacrifice humanity for short-term wins, you risk alienating the people who made your business worth something to begin with. I've seen this tension firsthand in industries like healthcare and veterinary medicine, where performance pressure is surging, leading to a sharp focus on optimizing profit margins. To get there, many leaders default to ruthless management styles, prioritizing growth or efficiency, often to the detriment of the people who followed their passion – and compassion – into those lines of work. As a seasoned healthcare CEO who has successfully scaled multiple companies, I know there's a better way. I've long practiced heart-led leadership, an approach that centers empathy, trust and service without sacrificing business performance. It is possible to meet aggressive business goals without taking a 'command-and-control' approach, and studies concur: companies with leaders who put their people first so they can better care for customers are 4.2 times more likely to outperform their peers, and achieve an average 30% higher revenue growth. The path to stronger financial performance and more sustainable business growth begins with people. Here's how. Take the time to understand those doing the work It's all too easy to view growth as numbers on a spreadsheet, but understanding the people behind the profits gives leaders an edge. After all, people don't tend to leave companies; they leave toxic cultures or bad managers. When I join a business as CEO, I'm often working alongside a passionate founder who is shifting into a new role. More often than not, I'm also restructuring teams and welcoming new people into the fold. At one healthcare company where I was brought in to rapidly consolidate new practices, we completed 17 transactions in 2.5 years. It was an enormous amount of change, and it could have been disastrous. Fortunately, taking a heart-led approach allowed me to connect with them quickly. I listened first. I asked questions. I showed up with curiosity, clarity and even vulnerability. That gave people the confidence that I had their best interests at heart, and allowed me to move team members into new roles with far less friction. Trust is the real accelerant. In high-credibility organizations, employees are 250% more motivated, have a 41% lower absence rate and are 50% less likely to quit. That leads to higher engagement, creativity and productivity across the board. And retention follows trust. People are more likely to remain in a role when they feel connected to their team and valued by their leaders. When work becomes overly transactional, the motivation to stay fades. Related: Why Nobody's Reading Your Company Blog — and How to Fix It Build a culture where people can thrive Before I got into healthcare, I worked as an investment banker. I only spent a year in the role, but it felt more like a decade thanks to a culture of 24/7 availability and the expectation to work 100-hour weeks churning out pitch decks and Excel models. To make matters worse, new hires were simply thrown into the deep end and expected to swim — or sink. The role had a significant impact on my leadership approach and reinforced my inclination to develop nurturing work cultures — even in profit-driven industries. Culture isn't just a feel-good concept; it's the infrastructure that keeps a business standing, especially in high-growth, high-pressure workplaces. When leaders create environments where people feel supported, respected and empowered to grow, performance naturally follows, and service businesses thrive as a result. Related: 4 Ways to Help Your Entry-Level Hires Thrive in the Workplace Get to know yourself, too Strong leadership starts from within. I'm sure I'm not the only CEO who's opted to keep board and investor-related challenges to themselves. In one instance, there were hurdles affecting how I showed up at work, but my colleagues didn't know why until I eventually opened up about it. When I finally shared, their response surprised me: they were eager to help. That support reminded me that vulnerability isn't weakness, it's trust in action. Self-awareness is a powerful tool. My own process involves a long-standing habit of journaling, writing reflective letters and asking for feedback. These habits have helped me recognize patterns, regulate emotions and connect more meaningfully. You don't have to do it my way, but every leader benefits from building emotional fluency. In the high-pressure environments of healthcare and veterinary services (along with many other sectors), sincere engagement with others is simply not optional. It's how you keep teams aligned, motivated and resilient. And knowing yourself helps you adjust in moments of crisis, critical decision-making or strategic execution. The best leaders know when to step forward decisively and when to pull back to listen. They carry humanity with them, even under pressure, and create environments where people do their best work. They understand that profits have to be there, too, and that when you prioritize people, performance ultimately follows. So ask yourself: what would change if you treated empathy as a strategy, not a soft skill? Chances are, your team — and your bottom line — would thank you for it.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ready-made stem cell therapies for pets could be coming
Earlier this week, San Diego startup Gallant announced $18 million in funding to bring the first FDA-approved ready-to-use stem cell therapy to veterinary medicine. If it passes regulatory muster, it could create a whole new way to treat our fur babies. It's still an experimental field, even though people have been researching stem cells for humans for decades. Seven-year-old Gallant's first target is a painful mouth condition in cats called Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS), which Gallant says could receive FDA approval by early 2026. The field has shown some encouraging early results. Studies on dogs with arthritis showed improvements in pain and mobility, with some benefits lasting up to two years. But when researchers tried similar treatments for kidney disease in cats — that's another condition Gallant wants to tackle — the results were more mixed. What makes Gallant's approach different is convenience. Most stem cell treatments today require harvesting cells from the patient or donors with matching tissue, whereas Gallant's therapy uses ready-to-use cells from donor animals, even if they are a different species. Investors clearly see potential here. The funding round was led by existing backer Digitalis Ventures, with participation from NovaQuest Capital Management, which previously invested in the first FDA-approved human stem cell therapy. The company has an interesting backstory. Gallant's founder, Aaron Hirschhorn, previously sold DogVacay to its biggest rival in the dog-sitting marketplace, Rover. Hirschhorn passed away in 2021; Gallant is now led by Linda Black, who joined as its president and chief scientific officer from nearly the beginning. Gallant has now raised at least $44 million altogether from investors. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
TechCrunch
04-07-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Ready-made stem cell therapies for pets could be coming
Earlier this week, San Diego startup Gallant announced $18 million in funding to bring the first FDA-approved ready-to-use stem cell therapy to veterinary medicine. If it passes regulatory muster, it could create a whole new way to treat our fur babies. It's still an experimental field, even though people have been researching stem cells for humans for decades. Seven-year-old Gallant's first target is a painful mouth condition in cats called Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS), which Gallant says could receive FDA approval by early 2026. The field has shown some encouraging early results. Studies on dogs with arthritis showed improvements in pain and mobility, with some benefits lasting up to two years. But when researchers tried similar treatments for kidney disease in cats — that's another condition Gallant wants to tackle — the results were more mixed. What makes Gallant's approach different is convenience. Most stem cell treatments today require harvesting cells from the patient or donors with matching tissue, whereas Gallant's therapy uses ready-to-use cells from donor animals, even if they are a different species. Investors clearly see potential here. The funding round was led by existing backer Digitalis Ventures, with participation from NovaQuest Capital Management, which previously invested in the first FDA-approved human stem cell therapy. The company has an interesting backstory. Gallant's founder, Aaron Hirschhorn, previously sold DogVacay to its biggest rival in the dog-sitting marketplace, Rover. Hirschhorn passed away in 2021; Gallant is now led by Linda Black, who joined as its president and chief scientific officer from nearly the beginning. Gallant has now raised at least $44 million altogether from investors.
Malay Mail
25-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
A heart to care for all creatures, big and small — Malaika Watanabe
JUNE 25 — For most people, animal health only brings veterinarians to mind, in their role as animal doctors who treat our pets when they're sick. But what about bioveterinary sciences? To shed some light on this convergence of veterinary medicine and animal sciences, Prof Dr Malaika Watanabe, Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine at IMU University, explains that studies in this field is a gateway to many professions. 'The health and welfare of humans and animals are intertwined in many ways. Pets offer us companionship, livestock help to provide sustenance, and biodiversity protects entire ecosystems,' said Prof Watanabe. 'Quite simply, we need them, and we need to know how to care for them properly – even livestock that are destined for the slaughterhouse deserve to exist with as little suffering as possible. That's where bioveterinary science comes in.' What's the point of bioveterinary science? While well-established in many parts of the world, it is relatively new as a field of study in Malaysia and few universities offer this course of study, which involves a combination of medical knowledge such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pathology, as well as animal care and management. Students pursuing bioveterinary science also have the opportunity to learn basic clinical skills such as restraint, handling and nursing care. Broadly speaking, it focuses on key species namely dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats/sheep, poultry and pigs, which are primarily companion animals and livestock. Graduates in bioveterinary science may choose to continue their education and pursue professional qualifications as veterinarians – of which there are only approximately 3000 in Malaysia while the current demand requires at least 6,000– or seek opportunities in various animal-related fields, from livestock care and veterinary assistants to research and farm management. At its core, bioveterinary science supports the ethical and responsible treatment of animals. This also serves to protect public health by maintaining levels of hygiene and other standards that reduce environmental contamination and help prevent zoonotic diseases that can infect humans, explained Prof Watanabe. The scope of bioveterinary sciences, therefore, is much wider than most people are aware and offers a career pathway that may not be commonly considered. Bioveterinary science supports the ethical and responsible treatment of animals. — Picture courtesy of IMU University The bigger picture All life is intertwined, hence animal health and welfare is not just of concern to animal lovers. Much of the world continues to rely heavily on animals and animal-based products – global meat production has more than tripled over the past 50 years while the emotional connection humans have with companion animals contributes to a booming pet industry, which was valued at over USD246 billion worldwide in 2023 and projected to surpass USD427 billion by 2032. This growth is also reflected locally, with over 50% of Malaysians owning pets and contributing to a 25% growth in 2022 in the pet care sector that encompasses pet care services, sales of pets and veterinary services. 'When you work to ensure animal health, you are also working to ensure environmental health and, by extension, ensuring human health as well. Let me give you an example: I'm a small animal clinician, and when I talk to owners, I always emphasise that owners have the responsibility to deworm their dogs and cats – this is because infected animals can shed parasitic eggs in the environment. This can put humans at risk, especially children in playgrounds, who could get infected and become seriously ill. So being a responsible pet owner and being responsible for the health and wellbeing of your fellow human beings is a complete circle,' said Prof Watanabe. In another example, livestock management that prioritises animal health reduces the risk of disease and culling. Managing livestock efficiently and ethically is essential for food security, which is critical in many countries, so it is important to make it as sustainable as possible. In addition, keeping animals healthy also helps prevent unnecessary or indiscriminate use of antibiotics, which can have repercussions on humans, she explained further. Raising the bar on animal health and wellness 'Respect for this mutual wellness needs to be instilled from a young age so that we can work towards better standards for how animals are treated. Mindsets take a long time to change, and it all boils down to education and awareness, from families to schools and society at large so that we have compassion for all living things,' said Prof Watanabe. 'Working with animals, especially when you are working to ensure their health and wellness, can be gruelling. Even as students, you will be exposed to veterinary clinics, poultry farms, horse stables, and various other environments that might not seem pleasant – it's not just about playing with cute little pets! It's important to understand the reality of the situation. However, passion and genuine compassion for animals will help sustain you.' This can take you down many paths, she explained, and may lead you to discover your true calling, be it as a beloved neighbourhood veterinarian or a successful livestock manager, to more specialised pursuits such as conservation and zoology, in the footsteps of iconic conservationists like Jane Goodall and Steve Irwin did, by becoming outspoken advocates for animals, each in their own unique way. *Prof Dr Malaika Watanabe is the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at IMU University. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
A rare chance to gather data at the Calgary Stampede
Calgary Watch The Calgary Stampede is working with the University of Calgary's faculty of veterinary medicine on a few different studies.
