For many veterinarians, a love of animals begins long before professional training. It starts with childhood curiosity, time spent caring for family pets, or experiences on farms where animals become part of everyday life. Those early connections often spark a lasting interest in medicine, science, and service.
Carlee R. Tucker, DVM, followed a path that began much the same way. Growing up surrounded by animals and encouraged by a family that valued both education and agriculture, she developed an early passion that would eventually lead her into veterinary medicine. Today, she is not only a practicing veterinarian and hospital owner but also an advocate for independent practice ownership and the future of the profession.
Finding Her Own Path
“Since I was a little girl, I had a passion for veterinary medicine,” Dr. Tucker recalls. Her mother was a science teacher, and her grandparents maintained a small dairy operation. Those influences helped shape her interests from an early age.
Dr. Tucker earned a Bachelor of Science in animal science in 2016 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 from Kansas State University. Like many veterinary students, she considered specializing. However, she ultimately chose a different route. “I decided to be a general practitioner because I loved the variety and wanted to work with cows.”
After beginning her career as an associate veterinarian, Dr. Tucker gained firsthand experience with both the rewards and challenges of the profession. Those experiences eventually inspired her to pursue practice ownership.
In 2023, Dr. Tucker purchased Winfield Veterinary Hospital, a place that held special meaning for her. Years earlier, she had worked there as a high school student caring for the kennels. Returning as the owner represented a full-circle moment in her career.
Supporting Independent Veterinarians
Today, Dr. Tucker owns and operates the practice while managing two associate veterinarians. One of her proudest accomplishments has been creating a workplace where employees feel valued and supported.
Dr. Tucker believes veterinary medicine can be both ethically grounded and financially sustainable. That belief led her to launch Veterinary Practice Rising in 2025, a consulting and education business designed to help veterinarians explore ownership opportunities and build successful private practices through the “people-first” healthcare method. When hospital staff are supported and prioritized, healthcare professionals can better serve clients, provide higher-quality care, and do so with genuine compassion – all while maintaining a profitable practice.
Dr. Tucker’s work is driven by concerns about the growing influence of corporations and private equity within veterinary medicine. “My big focus, my big passion, is combating private equity and corporations,” she says.
Dr. Tucker wants future veterinarians to understand that ownership remains a viable option. She believes private practice offers professionals greater flexibility, stronger community ties, and the opportunity to create lasting impact. “One veterinary student, after gaining clinical skills and working a few years, can buy a practice and potentially impact thousands of lives,” she explains.
A Mission Beyond Animal Care
Over the next decade, Dr. Tucker hopes to help create a shift toward independent ownership throughout the veterinary profession. She also plans to work with fellow practice owners to advocate for ethical and sustainable standards that support both veterinary professionals and the communities they serve. “I want to teach veterinarians to build sustainable, ethical private practices,” she says.
For Dr. Tucker, the goal extends beyond business ownership. It is about helping veterinarians build rewarding careers while improving animal care, supporting local communities, and creating opportunities for future generations of veterinary professionals.
