Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Simmons.
Hi Chris, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi there. Excited to talk with y’all!
Yea, I grew up in the field.
My father was an entrepreneurial veterinarian who built a modern and frenetic veterinary hospital that was attached to a fun, levity-filled boarding facility and doggy daycare that included a “Barkeritaville Lagoon” and a “Barkers Hotel”. My mother was the steadfast moral compass and pragmatic leader of the whole thing. She kept it running, manageable, and kind. He kept it innovative and constantly evolving.
I lost them both in a plane crash in 2019. That’s not where my story starts, but it is where the idea of creating Simmons Veterinary Clinic took flight.
Veterinary medicine offers such a unique blend of entrepreneurial opportunity, puppy cuddles, complex problem-solving, and a deep service to a community of pet parents. Despite that, it’s a sad field if you get to know its people. They’re worn down. They’re tired. And maybe even a bit devoid of hope.
I created Simmons Veterinary Clinic to serve as a place of kindness for pets and their people. Pets deserve to have their emotional well-being factored into each appointment. Pet parents deserve a modern and transparent experience as well as the opportunity to be listened to. And perhaps most importantly, veterinary staff members deserve a truly supportive and creative workspace in which they can have agency and protection.
With Simmons Vet, I aim to thrive through innovation rather than scale and scope. To confidently find happiness through a deep and caring relationship with the community rather than insecure dependence on a constantly adding clientele. And to foster a safe and happy workplace rather than trap its staff through predatory noncompete clauses.
My dad’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit spurs me on. And my mom’s kindness lives deep within me. It’s the best of both of them that I see in Simmons Vet. And I hope I can always harness that.
As for other less interestingly written background:
– I graduated from the University of Florida in 2010 with my Bachelors of Science.
– Then graduated from there again in 2014 with my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
– I worked as an associate veterinarian at my father’s hospital in Lake Worth, FL for a year (before he sold to VCA)
– I then got a job offer to work at The Village Vets in Decatur in 2015.
– I spent the first couple of years there as an associate veterinarian but then was thrust into a management role that ultimately resulted in a Chief Operating Officer title.
– After a rough 2019 (lost my parents, lost a good friend from vet school unexpectedly, and my wife gave birth to our daughter), I resigned with the intent of working relief shifts around town while planning my next moves.
– I got accepted to the University of Florida’s online MBA program (graduated in 2021).
– The pandemic hit right as we were about to start our daughter in daycare, so I accidentally then became a stay-at-home Dad for about 18 months.
– Finally closed on 121 Church Street property in November 2021, broke ground on construction in May 2022, and finally opened Simmons Vet on April 17th, 2023.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a winding and bumpy road.
For starters, I always envisioned doing this in tandem with my parents. I’ve missed their wisdom so many separate times along the way. They’ve been a big part of my inspiration, but I never got the opportunity to bounce ideas off of them. I never got the chance to show my Dad the cool, new technology I’m using. And I never got the chance to strategize a kind and secure HR plan with my Mom.
Instead, these types of moments were emotionally complex. For example, I was excited to purchase my modern animal kennel units with glass doors, various light settings, and a heating element built in. But genuinely sad that I couldn’t share that moment with my Dad. And I spent countless hours toiling over how to structure an Open-PTO policy and was so frustrated that I couldn’t just call my Mom to talk it out.
Another struggle was my naivety in navigating the renovation of an old house to convert it into a highly functional and visually interesting veterinary clinic. I worked with an architect who promised lots of guidance but mostly did the bare minimum. And I worked with a contractor who failed to prioritize my project until the very end. Ultimately, the end product turned out great, but it was very stressful because I felt like I had to fight for my vision the entire time.
The latest big struggle came as I transitioned from a constant father figure to a busy business owner over the course of a few months. That really caused some strain on our family as we all adapted to our new roles. Fortunately, I’ve mostly been able to put work to the side when I am home. And I feel validated and thankful that I designed my business with a Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm work week as it has allowed me the space I need to be present with my family.
We’ve been impressed with Simmons Veterinary Clinic, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Simmons Veterinary Clinic is a modern, outpatient-exclusive “family practice” style veterinary clinic that offers modern digital touchpoints for pet parents, Fear Free policies for pets, and agency and boundaries for its staff. And all set in a charming old house with a tranquil front porch with rockers and a backyard dog-walking space.
We specialize in preventative maintenance and urgent medical and emotional healthcare for dogs and cats. We offer long appointment time slots and lots of face time with our staff. And we have a strict no-animal-tackling policy!
There are a few things that set us apart:
– The facility itself: There just aren’t many veterinary clinics that reside in a “house” setting. It’s more inviting and far less “sterile” to both pet parents and pets alike.
– Our willingness to factor in the emotional well-being of the animal in tandem with the physical well-being of the staff: Many pet parents are used to watching their dog or cat get held roughly or muzzled or scruffed at the vet. In contrast, we always have discussions surrounding pre-visit medications to reduce pet stress. And we are committed and willing to find creative and pragmatic ways to perform medical procedures.
– High tech: We are entirely paperless and we have a companion smartphone app that houses all of the pet’s medical records. It also offers instant booking and instant message chat features. Additionally, we leverage AirPlay to screen share and discuss diagnostics in the exam rooms. And we have a modern suite of laboratory and imaging diagnostics, several of which employ AI to quickly and accurately ascertain useful medical information.
What are you most proud of?
That my brand is committed to creating an equitable and sustainable workplace in the veterinary field. Each decision we make must be good for pet parents, their pets, and the staff. We believe the old model where a general practice veterinary clinic serves as your pet’s “one-stop shop” (family practice, ER, boarding, and grooming) is unsustainable. The “do everything for everybody” approach has morphed into a “do nothing of significant value for anyone” reality.
I’m proud to stay small and narrow in scope so that we can really deliver for our customers time and time again. And I’m proud and eager to partner with the other veterinary clinics and specialties in our area to create a more sustainable “horizontal” ecosystem.
What do you want our readers to know?
That the possibility of an intimate relationship with your veterinarian in which you and your pet feel calm and emotionally safe exists. And that you don’t have to feel “icky” about bringing your pet to the vet. You can come to us and feel welcomed, protected, and perhaps even pleasantly surprised.
What are your plans for the future?
For the immediate future, our primary concerns are 1) nailing the pet parent customer experience and 2) fine-tuning our processes and procedures.
And as we grow, we will add to our staff and thus add to our capability to serve the Decatur community. The next big step is to get another awesome associate veterinarian in there who can take over our beautiful surgical and dental suite. Ultimately, I’d like to grow into about a 3-veterinarian practice with a handful of amazing support staff. No plans of getting bigger than that!
Couple of other things I’m excited about in our future:
– Introducing and implementing a membership model: I have been workshopping a membership plan (Simmons Vet Pet Plan) which will offer a simple, transparent, and affordable way to pay for your pet’s routine healthcare. My belief is that many pet parents dread the veterinary bill at the end of an appointment. This is a way to offset that fear by breaking it down into monthly installments.
– Outdoor Days! Given Simmons Vet is set in an old house, we also have a front and back yard. There is something special about the opportunity to potentially see appointments on our lawn or in a gazebo in our backyard. I think this could create a much more comfortable experience for pets, pet parents, and us veterinary healthcare professionals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simmons.vet/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simmonsvetclinic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simmons.vet.clinic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/89882822/
Image Credits
Nastja Canovas
