July 2021

VETgirl teaming up with BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital and Mars Veterinary Health

By Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT

I get it. You’re shocked. Or scared. Or excited. Well, we are too! But here is how I know that this next phase is going to be the best yet for the veterinary community and the patients that we treat and love.

Back in 2012, I had the amazing opportunity to lecture in India. While visiting, I helped some veterinarians perform a thoracocentesis on a HBC dog. One of the veterinarians said to me that they thought it was one of the first thoracocentesis procedures done in the country. While I’m sure that wasn’t true, it made me feel fortunate to have the opportunity to elevate the quality of emergency critical care globally.

That same year, I reached out to fellow tech-savvy PennVet ECC resident, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, with a crazy idea that I had been simmering for almost a decade… being able to provide education in a format never used before – via technology. Little did I know, we’d be one of the first online veterinary continuing education (CE) providers out there. Our goal and passion? To deliver clinically relevant, practical CE. Because we wanted our veterinary colleagues to take away 2-3 “learning points” per lecture that was going to directly help save that patient’s life. That way you could learn anywhere, regardless of where you were. Like in India.

Through the help of fellow resident mates and colleagues, along with our continued passion for delivering clinically relevant, practical CE, it’s been an honor to see VETgirl continue to grow. And grow, we did. Over the past 8 years, we’ve expanded from just small animal to add more opportunities to learn: large animal, veterinary technician, leadership, practice management, nutrition, certificates, LIVE conferences and so much more.

That’s why we decided to team up with BluePearl and become part of Mars Veterinary Health. This partnership will help us take VETgirl to the next level that we always dreamed of. Please know that this won’t fundamentally change anything about what we do and love here at VETgirl. It’ll still be Garret and me at the helm, ensuring our content stays clinically relevant. Practical. Lifesaving. And unbiased.

Globally.

Let’s elevate the quality of veterinary medicine worldwide. It took us almost a decade to grow it in North America, and we still have a long way to go. But, reflecting back on my veterinary visit to India, I wanted to help bring VETgirl’s CE to a more international level. And we wouldn’t be able to take it global without them.

Our view? Why not expand to help save HBC’s needing that thoracocentesis around even the most remote corners of the world? Because our patients deserve better.
By partnering with BluePearl and Mars Veterinary Health, it’ll allow us to provide unprecedented opportunities, support, and access to high quality education to all veterinary professionals, national and international. We’ll be able to raise the level of education and expand our community globally.

We firmly believe that joining the Mars Veterinary Health family brings only positive changes for the veterinary community. It will certainly make the company stronger and the increased resources will ensure that we are more capable of providing quality, clinically relevant, practical, unbiased, and convenient education as well as an improved user experience – not just better technology, but more content offered in different languages, with closed captioning and transcriptions to make it even easier for people to learn.

We have always been passionate about giving back to our veterinary community – with free, sponsored CE, with decade-long support for several Diversity, Equity & Inclusion scholarships at veterinary schools, with stress-relieving social media humor, with our boutique veterinary conference for our most loyal, with our first ever-hire being prioritized as our Chief Happiness Officer and licensed social worker. Because we truly love our veterinary community.

Thank you for all that you guys do. Thank you for loving to learn and for always striving to save that patient’s life.

We’re not going anywhere. Thank you for trusting us to continue to learn with us.

Deepest regards,

Justine & Garret

  1. So happy for both of you!! So grateful to have access to your VetGirl content! Feel like yesterday we were back at VHUP. Time flies when you’re having fun! Kim Hershhorn Galligher VMD 2003

  2. What an incredible accomplishment, Justine! Sounds likes the sky is the limit for VetGirl … I wish you guys the very best of luck on this new adventure!

  3. It is awesome decision. I really love you guys as a veterinarian and follower from IRAN. Good luck!
    I really appreciate you!

  4. Very exciting! BluePearl is very lucky to have you guys as is all of MVH! All the best going forward!

  5. Congratulations!

    Looking forward to having you officially in the UK. Hope you keep the cost as reasonable as it’s been.

  6. Congratulations!!! Welcome to the Bluepearl/MVH family. Can’t wait to see what is next for VETgirl.

  7. That’s great news! Sounds very promising. I appreciate having use of vetgirl from where I’m based in the Caribbean

  8. It’s really sad that you had to partner with a huge corporate practice to go globally. The service that you provided was wonderful. You will be a huge asset for other veterinarians around the world. I guess Blue Pearl will take over even more practices. So, will this also mean that membership fees will be going up soon? It’s such a shame.

    • Hi Denise, we don’t anticipate any changes to our membership fees at this time, and we are still driving the bus and aim to keep things the same asset you always expect! Best, Justine

  9. So happy and excited for VetGirl’s 2 amazing founders! Excellent move which will have significant, broad-reaching, positive repercussions for vets around the world. Well done!

  10. Congratulations on your new adventure and to many more….world wide adventures. We too have joined the blue pearl MARS team.

  11. Congratulations, GP & JL, and welcome to the BluePearl family! Can’t wait to see how VETGirl leverages this new partnership to influence global learning in our industry!
    All the best- KH

  12. I have been a VetGirl member from the start and I am so happy for you going forward. Keep VetGirl relevant, consistent, quality, affordable and fun as it had been so far. Good Luck!

  13. Dear Justine and Garrett,
    I have been a loyal member of VetGirl for many years and I am so glad that you found a way to expand your truly unique approach to the delivery of veterinary continuing education worldwide. Please stay true to the philosophical roots that drove your vision – quality, clinically relevant, practical, unbiased, affordable, and convenient education – and your personal commitment to supporting members of the military! Love you guys and see you at our third VetGirlU back in MN this summer!
    ~klh

Only VETgirl members can leave comments. Sign In or Join VETgirl now!