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About VSPA
The Veterinary Specialty Practice Alliance (VSPA), established in 1999, is a non-profit association representing veterinary specialty and emergency hospitals working in private practice throughout North America. Membership includes owners, administrators, and doctors of these facilities. The VSPA is a collective voice for issues related to specialty veterinary medicine, including sharing best practices related to hospital management and patient care.
The purpose of the VSPA is to be leaders in and advance the delivery of specialty veterinary services. The VSPA is a defined membership of privately owned, independent, veterinary specialty and emergency hospitals, where members actively participate in creating benchmarks and tools through communication and collaboration.
WHY JOIN
The independent practices in our alliance share a common philosophy…
That a successful practice creates a positive team atmosphere through shared passions, mentorship opportunities, exceptional patient care, and competitive salary and benefits, all while being proactive about the emotional well-being of the team. We’re also committed to staying privately owned. Our alliance of independently owned hospitals throughout North America support and learn from each other.
Our Vision
Cultivate a future for the continued evolution and sustainability of independent specialty and emergency veterinary practices.
Our Mission
VSPA strengthens leadership and organizational health through trusted relationships, shared innovations, and performance benchmarks, ensuring independent ownership in specialty and emergency practices remains a powerful force in veterinary medicine.
Our Values
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Advocacy
- Edification
- Synergy
- Camaraderie
NOURISH Private Ownership & FLOURISH with Independent Referral Practices
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
We are a nonprofit veterinary organization representing independently owned specialty and emergency hospitals. The alliance brings together hospital owners, senior specialists, and administrators to collaborate on issues unique to referral practices.
The mission is to advance specialty services while preserving independent ownership. This includes a strong commitment to clinical autonomy, sustainable private practice, and sharing benchmarks, tools, and practical insights across the network.
The alliance began in 1999 when leaders from referral hospitals sought structured collaboration and a trusted veterinary community focused on independence and high quality care.
Members offer a unified voice on topics that affect specialty and emergency medicine. This type of veterinary advocacy highlights the perspectives of privately owned hospitals and supports thoughtful discussions within the animal health industry.
Collaboration happens through conferences, forums, and working groups that encourage peer learning and practical support. Owners and administrators compare financial benchmarks, staffing strategies, and operational playbooks to inform real world decisions.
Programs include semiannual conferences, confidential benchmarking, recruiting visibility at major professional meetings, and evolving partner perks. These initiatives help hospitals share effective practices and strengthen operations.
Participants include leaders from independently owned specialty and emergency hospitals. This group spans finance, HR, marketing, operations, and medicine, all of whom value collegial learning and professional leadership development.
The alliance promotes a strong sense of veterinary community and unity by creating a space where peers support one another. Members share resources and guidance while maintaining full local control of their hospitals.
It functions as a not for profit veterinary association dedicated to the needs of independent referral hospitals. Clinical decisions remain entirely with each hospital.
Visit the About Us page to explore the organization’s history, values, and benefits. You can also contact the team for more details about participation.