From 2007 to 2019, my clinic wasn’t just a job—it was my whole life.
Every surgery, every emergency, every decision—ako lahat.
I didn’t let any other vet in the clinic touch a scalpel, especially during critical procedures like C-sections.
Not because I wanted control, but because I was afraid—afraid of mistakes, of complications, of clients losing trust.
That fear made me believe I had to carry everything on my own.
One moment changed me forever: I was at the PAHA Convention in SMX, Pasay.
A call came in—emergency C-section.
And I left the convention. Drove all the way back to Pasig just to perform it myself.
It hit me: something wasn’t right.
I had built a practice that depended entirely on me. And that’s not sustainable.
That’s not growth.
That’s burnout waiting to happen.
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So, I started letting go….
I began trusting my colleagues—training them, guiding them, and giving them space to grow.
Slowly, I stopped being just the only surgeon in the clinic. I became a mentor, a leader, a business owner.
And for the first time in years, I felt free.
After 2019, everything changed.
With the right people in place and a team I could trust, I finally had the breathing room to pursue my other passions.
I discovered I wasn’t just meant to be a clinician—I was also meant to be a builder.
I started expanding beyond the four walls of my clinic—exploring opportunities in veterinary distribution, diagnostics, mentoring, and business development.
I saw the bigger picture of veterinary practice in the Philippines and realized how much impact one vet could make if they stepped beyond the consultation table.
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Today, I’m still a vet…
But I’m also a business owner, a strategist, a mentor, and an advocate for sustainable practice.
And it all started when I stopped being afraid to let go.
To fellow vets who are still doing everything alone:
You are not weak for needing help.
You are not irresponsible for training others to carry the load.
You are evolving.
Because when your practice becomes bigger than just you—
That’s when it stops being a job…
And starts becoming your legacy.
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Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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