Practice Smarter—Elevating Care With AI
March 17, 2026
In March, Vetcor’s University Recruitment team hosted a webinar with Dr. Aaron Smiley, Chief of Staff at Devonshire Veterinary Clinic and co-founder of VetSOAP, to talk about a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: Artificial Intelligence. Veterinary care is changing, and AI is helping our teams save time and reduce effort.
For students and new grads, Dr. Smiley’s message was empowering: AI is here to assist your expertise, not replace it.
Practical Ways AI is Helping in the Clinic
Dr. Smiley outlined several practical ways AI is currently being integrated into the clinic to reduce administrative fatigue and improve patient outcomes:
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Smarter Documentation: Tools like VetSOAP act as an AI scribe, listening to client conversations to generate comprehensive medical notes. This means less time staring at a screen and more time connecting with your patients and clients.
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Summarizing the Story: AI can quickly scan long, complex medical histories, flagging the most important details so your team can walk into the exam room feeling fully prepared.
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Real-Time Clinical Support: Dr. Smiley showed how he uses AI to cross-reference cases with PubMed in seconds. Imagine being able to look up breed-specific genetic data or the latest peer-reviewed research right between appointments!
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Supportive Coaching: AI can analyze client interactions to help track things like empathy and clarity. It’s a great way for mentors to provide objective, high-quality coaching to new grads as they find their footing.
Addressing AI Concerns
We know that new technology can raise valid concerns. During the session, students shared their thoughts on skill erosion and liability. Dr. Smiley’s take: It’s all about the "Michael Scott Rule"—just because the GPS (or the AI) tells you to turn right doesn’t mean you should drive into a lake! Whether it’s managing a tricky foreign body case or interpreting a complex diagnostic, the human doctor is always the final authority. AI is simply the "co-pilot" that helps you get there with more confidence.
Grow With a Team That Leads the Way
At Vetcor, we’re committed to providing the tools, technology, and mentorship you need to thrive. Whether you’re looking for a summer job, an externship, or your first role as a DVM, we want to support your growth in an environment that embraces the future of medicine.
Want to join a community that’s practicing smarter? We’d love to have you on the team. Check out our open roles and student opportunities at vetcor.com/careers.
