Dr. Link Welborn
Link Welborn, D.V.M., (’82), of Tampa, has earned many distinctions in his career. To begin with, he graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine with honors at age 23, becoming one of the college’s youngest graduates. Although he always had a clear idea about becoming a veterinarian, he didn’t realize how practice management and service would shape his future.
Today, Welborn and classmate Tim Lassett, D.V.M., (’82), own six American Animal Hospital Association-accredited hospitals in Hillsborough County with a total of 170 practice team members, of which 32 are veterinarians.
Welborn, a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners who is certified in canine and feline practice, began to see his role in animal care more holistically. As he acquired more practices, he continued optimizing practice management and leadership.
“I realized that as much as I enjoyed caring for patients and clients one-on-one, there was a limit to who I could help as an individual,” said Welborn. “As an owner leading a practice, I was gratified that I could have a positive influence on more lives, including patients, clients, and practice team members.”
With a broader mindset, Welborn aimed to serve the veterinary profession. He has held leadership roles in several national associations. In the American Veterinary Medical Association, he served as chair of the Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee and received the AVMA President’s Award.
Additionally, Welborn served the American Animal Hospital Association as president, as well as in its many collaborative initiatives, including as AAHA Delegate to AVMA House of Delegates, AAHA Representative to World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and the AAHA-AVMA Preventive Healthcare Guidelines Task Force. In recognition, he received the AAHA Practitioner of the Year Award, its first dedicated service award in 2018.
As chairman of the AAHA task forces, Welborn helped create the first standards of accreditation for small animal specialty practices and contributed recent major enhancements and revisions for primary care small animal practices including the most recent AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines.
As a member of Veterinary Study Groups, a national organization that supports practice ownership, 20 years ago Welborn and several colleagues initiated a new leadership approach. Establishing Veterinary Management Groups, they engaged practice owners and managers to help each other succeed. Made up of 20 peers, each VMG meets to share resources, data and ideas to tackle common challenges.
Organized by practice segment such as small animal, equine, and many specialty areas, today, there are more than 50 VMG groups across the United States and Canada. To foster collaborative, open sharing, members of each group are geographically distributed so that they aren’t competitors, Welborn said.
“I’m very proud that numerous UF College of Veterinary Medicine graduates are VMG group members,” said Welborn, “and that leaders of both the UF small and large animal hospitals participate in the two academic VMG groups.”
Now as CEO of Veterinary Study Groups, Welborn was recently asked to serve as Chief Veterinary Officer North America for Covetrus to support its mission of empowering veterinary practices.
A state as well as national leader in the profession, Welborn has received the Florida Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian of the Year and the UF College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement awards.
“When I consider the joy and fulfillment I have experienced as a veterinarian for almost 40 years, I realize how fortunate I was to be accepted into the UF College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Welborn. “I became a member of the Dean’s Circle of Excellence to give a little back to the college that has given me so much, to remain a bit better informed about college activities, and to provide input if asked.”
Several mentors guided Welborn as a student — some served as formal mentors, while others demonstrated behaviors that were worthy of emulating. Welborn was particularly inspired by Michael Schaer, D.V.M., a professor of internal medicine who retired in 2012, and the late James Himes, V.M.D., Ph.D., who retired as an associate dean in 1992.
“I still remember Dr. Schaer in his office reading human medical journals before his workday started,” said Welborn. “He demonstrated to students not just the importance of continual professional development, but also of striving to provide better care tomorrow than we did yesterday.”
From Himes, Welborn learned the importance of caring for people in addition to animals in veterinary practice.
“He took the time to get to know every student, not because it was his job as the associate dean for student activities and instruction, but because he cared,” Welborn said.
As a member of the Dean’s Council, Welborn and other members were charged with establishing and promoting an alumni scholarship fund. Dr. Himes was beloved by all, so his name was the obvious choice for the scholarship.
“When I approached Dr. Himes, he was hesitant because he didn’t want to be the focus of attention, but eventually agreed to allow his name to be used for the James A. Himes Alumni Scholarship Fund since he knew it would benefit the students he cared for so much,” Welborn said.
Likewise, Welborn fosters a mentoring environment for young veterinarians and technicians in his animal hospitals.
“While some might identify me as a mentor, my goal is for everyone — student or graduate — to receive the support and guidance that they want from a group, not just me,” said Welborn. “After all, veterinary care is best provided by a team, not an individual.”
What advice does Welborn have for new graduates starting practice?
“No matter which segment of veterinary medicine you choose, a thirst for learning throughout life is critically important. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something,” Welborn said.
