Meet Megan Usiak-McBeth | Urgent Care Veterinarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Usiak-McBeth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have been working in veterinary emergency ever since graduating from vet school. Just prior and during COVID it became very obvious there was a gap between emergency/critical care and general/daytime practice. People were struggling to get their pets into the day time practice in a timely manner and would wait 8, 12 hours or longer just to be seen on emergency, for something as minor as a torn toe nail or ear infection. My goal is to provide that missing piece. To help the day time and emergency communities who can get bogged down. I provide that urgent care when pets need medical care, cant get a timely appointment with their day time vet, but doesn’t require endless hours waiting in the busy ER.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
East Valley Urgent Pet Care is a single doctor (veterinarian) privately owned and operated clinic. In the world of Vet Med, so many clinics and hospitals are being bought out by corporate entities. We provide the best medicine – no strings attached. We are that bridge between day time ‘family’ veterinarians and the busy hectic emergency & critical care speciality hospitals. We provide competitive pricing.

I have personally been on the other side of the table with sick pets – and I strive to treat every owner and pet as I would hope to be treated in return.

At the end of the day, my success is built on my clients satisfaction – not the money.

Although I have always been surrounded by business minded people -my parents, my husband, my experience has always been in customer service and veterinary medicine. I waitressed and worked at a coffee shop in high school and all through undergraduate school. I started out as a veterinary technician at a multi-doctor general practice in NYS. After three years there, I knew I wanted more and applied to veterinary schools.

I got into veterinary school at the University of Glasgow in Scotland (my family is in Buffalo, NY). In Vet school – they dont teach you business… and only dabble in customer service/client communications. I was very set on never wanting to own practice – I didn’t want money to muddy my practice of medicine.

After graduation, My husband and I relocated to Phoenix Arizona for my internship training. No longer waterlogged or cold, we decided to stay. I worked as an associate veterinarian at the same ER I completed by internship for 7 1/2 more years.

As mentioned before – COVID was an extremely stressful time for the Veterinary Community, and there was a very obvious Gap in care in our area.

2021, we had our first baby – Shortly after, a friend of mine from vet school reached out with an idea to open a specialty practice in Colorado. We played with the idea, but ultimately decided that relocating away from my husbands family was not a good plan for us. Shortly after, I decided to go relief full time, realized how much happier I was as my own boss, and started working on opening an Urgent Care in the East Valley Phoenix area.

We closed on our lease in May 2022, started construction in July/August, and opened the doors January 7th 2023.
I have learned a lot just in this past year – and I know I am ready to learn so much more!

The runnings of a business don’t seem to be a stressor for me – but the runnings of people, and all the legal paperwork details have been very overwhelming. I have been very fortunate to have a great leadership team on board – my friend and colleague Stacey, and my husband Robert.

Along this journey – we have hit quite a few snags with construction, with contracts, funding, etc. I try to keep in mind, I can only control so much, some things aren’t worth getting upset or angry over, I need to just re-adjust and come up with an altered plan. NOTHING has gone as expected! but that’s ok – I’m happy with where we are today.

Our Brand: East Valley Urgent Pet Care is a privately owned and operated pet urgent care. We treat our pet patients like we would treat our own pets. We provide ample same day services. We will do our best to help the pet patients we see, but when our limits our reached, we do our best to provide referrals to get the pets what they need. Honesty, integrity, and compassion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The thing about Phoenix/Mesa – the suburbs/city is dry, it’s concrete, there isn’t much history within… but if you drive less than 2 hours in any direction you are in a whole new and exciting world.

Any time by friends/family come visit – we get out of the city. There are so many hiking paths, hills, mountains, the reservoir laks provide a cooler place to paddle board and kayak. Travel up north and there is Jerome, Verde Valley (with great wine and food!), Sedona, Flagstaff, Mogollon Ridge/Payson, you keep going, and you get Great national parks such as Grand Canyon, petrified forest, Colossal Cave, etc.
We love heading up north

When we stay in town – we stick to the smaller family owned restaurants when possible. During most the year, there is almost always a festival going on. Since the summer is really the time to stay inside…. most the year is for playing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are too many!! All my mentors in veterinary medicine that kept me going, motivated me to grow, learn, and take risks – through good times and bad. Specifically, Dr. Katie Smith DVM, DACVECC.

My Husband for standing by my side through vet school, life as an emergency vet, a new parent, and now as a new business owner.

My Parents! 110% Both my parents have a strong business background, and have been completely supportive every step of the process.

Website: www.evurgentpetcare.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evurgentpet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evurgentpetcare

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/east-valley-urgent-pet-care-mesa

Other: Tik Tok: @evurgentpet

Image Credits
Elani Dubois