Meet Lindsay Baker of Animal Hospital of West Woodstock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Baker.

Hi Lindsay, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Like many little girls I dreamed of being a vet as a child. I moved away from it as I got older once I realized it was more than just playing with pets all day. In college I struggled to find a major that connected my love of science and animals until I reconnected with the idea of veterinary medicine. I got a job while in college as an assistant at a local vet clinic and I loved the medicine, pets, and daily challenges. I completed my undergrad in Biology at the University of South Alabama and then Vet School at Louisiana State University.
My associate jobs took me to Las Vegas, Nevada, Jacksonville, Florida and then finally Woodstock, GA
Throughout school and the early years of my career I had a passion for business and practice ownership. While in school I completed optional training to earn the Veterinary Business Management seal on my diploma. It took 10 years after graduation, many hours worked as an associate harnessing the technical and soft skills needed to succeed, and 2 babies before the dream became a reality and I found a practice to purchase here in Woodstock. That was 3 years ago and it has been a total whirlwind but also totally worth it!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not! But anything that is worth it never is! I grew up pretty poor in South Georgia. Neither of my parents had college degrees but understood the importance of education and encouraged me to always keep going. I worked several part time jobs throughout undergrad and vet school to pay for living expenses and try to keep my student loan costs down. I once had 3 jobs at the same time! I logged many hours and on call shifts at my first job as an associate veterinarian but the experience I gained was invaluable and gave me the confidence to know that I would be able to handle anything this job could throw at me.
Several years later I was introduced to the Army Reserves and decided to join to help with the high cost of health insurance and to help with student loan repayment. I served in the active Reserves as a Captain in the Veterinary Corps for 6 years and am still serving in an inactive role. This chapter of my life was definitely not easy; it came with on-site soldier training for weeks at a time away from my family, weapons training, and physical fitness tests that all pushed me outside of my comfort zone. However, it also introduced me to the concept of true leadership. What started as a temporary stint for financial gain led me down a path to find skills in culture building, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and people development that has ultimately made successful business ownership and mentorship’ possible.

As you know, we’re big fans of Animal Hospital of West Woodstock . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a full-service veterinary practice servicing cats and dogs. We offer wellness and preventative care, in-house diagnostics and internal medicine work ups with bloodwork, x-ray and ultrasound, out-patient and in patient internal medicine treatments, soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, dentistry, and end of life care. My mission is to preserve and enhance the human animal bond by partnering with my clients in the care of their pets. My belief is that one size does not fit all when it comes to veterinary medicine. Each pet parent and family has their own perspective and financial considerations when it comes to choosing care for their pet. My goal is to educate clients on their options and meet them where they are to provide the best level of care possible within the constraints of the client. The practice was started over 30 years ago by the previous owner and was known for its courteous and hospitable home-town care. There has been a huge shift in veterinary clinics being bought and managed by corporate entities; we are one of the few in the area that remain privately owned. I feel like this shift towards corporate structuring is detracting from traditional veterinary-client-patient relationships. As the clinic continues to grow, I am committed to update and modernize the medicine and technology but without compromising the client experience.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As I have traveled down the road of what it means to be a true leader I have discovered my passion for people development. One goal of my career is to go beyond the surface level offerings of veterinary medicine and to invest in the people on the ground who make it run. I have established and continue to work to improve pathways for personal and career development of my staff and rising veterinarians. We work on technical skills, communication skills, and emotional intelligence skills necessary to rise within the profession. And if vet med is only a temporary stop on their path to their ultimate goal, I mentor and coach as needed to help them realize their dreams. I have 2 boys at home who are the light of my life. As a working mom I struggle daily with my desire to be present for every minute and milestone while also feeling like I have so much more to give to the world. My desire is to be a role model for my children and others around me, especially young girls. I hope to leave behind a legacy of both compassion and guidance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://animalhospitalofwestwoodstock.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalHospitalofWestWoodstock