Matthew Salois, PhD, economist and President of VMG, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle the question a lot of clinic leaders are quietly asking, are we really in a veterinary recession and if so, what do we actually do about it? If your numbers feel tighter, clients seem more price sensitive, and every expense feels heavier than it used to, you are not imagining it. Matt breaks down the data behind why veterinary medicine has been in a recessionary phase since late 2024, why the worst may already be behind us, and how practices can make smart, calm decisions without panic cutting or short term thinking. They dig into relief vet decisions, inflation pressures, workforce planning, productivity, spectrum of care, and why communication and efficiency matter more than shiny new services right now. Gang, let’s get into this episode!
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LINKS
Matthew Salois on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msalois/
Article Referenced: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1689704/full
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ABOUT OUR GUEST
Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices.
Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians.
From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies.
Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.
