A Successful Career Journey with a Bit of Chaos

Controlled chaos.

That’s how Dr. Jim Winsor’s practice manager of 20 years described life at Inver Grove Animal Hospital as the practice grew from being located in a little strip mall in 1987 to a 10-doctor practice with multiple expansions over the years.

Perhaps no story defined that controlled chaos more than the day Dr. Winsor had a dog escape and began chasing it down the road for a mile and a half.

“The dog ended up being just fine,” Dr. Winsor laughed as he recalled the story that involved a random woman and her infant letting him jump into their car to help commandeer the dog.

Dr. Winsor is a staple in the Minnesota veterinary community. He married his wife, Dr. Ann Winsor, in 1987 and together they grew Inver Grove Animal Hospital while tremendously helping the growth of the MVMA as well. Dr. Winsor has served as president, program chairman for the MVMA Annual Convention, a board member and as treasurer. He even helped the MVMA move into their current office space in South St. Paul. He also served on the board of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation (MVMF).

“I enjoyed being involved with wonderful veterinarians and just really enjoyed the leadership part of it,” Dr. Winsor said. “I was an MVMA member from the beginning and really enjoyed the people and the projects. It’s a great group to be involved with. I learned a lot and they helped so I like to give back.”

After moving from the strip mall to a hospital on five acres of land in Inver Grove, Dr. Winsor had dreams of running a four-doctor practice. Never did he imagine growing to a 10-doctor practice.

“It was growth that I had never envisioned,” Dr. Winsor recalled.

With the practice in need of another expansion in 2016, he decided it was time to sell.

“I was old enough to not want to take on a big construction project,” Dr. Winsor explained. “I had always envisioned peeling it off 20 percent every couple years and selling to existing associates. I found many younger veterinarians just had no interest in practice ownership and we had grown so large it was tough to afford to buy it.”

When it became evident he would need a new exit strategy, Dr. Winsor began looking for the right group, something he did not take lightly. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse from a group he trusted in Lakefield Veterinary Group.

“They gave a lot of medical freedom in the hospital,” Dr. Winsor said. “They don’t come in and take completely over. They are there to help with the business aspects but stayed hands off in the medical and to me that was very attractive.”

While he had no commitment to do so, Dr. Winsor stayed on as a veterinarian for five more years. While it was different to not be calling the shots anymore, he said the practice had outgrown him and he enjoyed the experience. Last October he decided to fully retire, but remains involved in MVMA and MVMF efforts. He sees the importance of helping the younger generation of veterinarians.

“The foundation activities are not only fun but create revenue for students that really need scholarships,” Dr. Winsor explained. “There are huge education costs and the MVMF is a necessary organization to help.”

Dr. Winsor said he encouraged all his associates to get involved with the MVMA and MVMF. One of thos that took it to heart is current MVMA Board member Dr. Lukas Wallerich. After helping at Inver Grove Animal Hospital as just a high school student, Dr. Wallerich continued to grow at the practice until he was actually Dr. Winsor’s boss his last few years of practice.

A true full circle moment in Dr. Winsor’s career journey and one that he can reflect on fondly. From starting in that strip mall in 1987 to chasing a dog for a mile and a half and eventually selling a successful practice, the former MVMA Veterinarian of the Year winner is a true epitome of the profession.