Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Foster.
Hi Anna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up near NASA in Texas, where my love for animals and adventure began. I spent much of my childhood in Hawaii, falling in love with the ocean and all its incredible creatures.
I went to undergrad and veterinary school at Texas A&M University and graduated in 2018 with a doctor in veterinary medicine.
Over the years, I’ve worked in almost every area of veterinary medicine: small animal, equine, food safety, food animal, aquatics, and exotics. But it wasn’t until I pivoted to the business side of vet med, working with forward-thinking startups, that I found my true why: making the veterinary experience better for vets and pet owners.
I’ve spent my career blending veterinary medicine with business innovation— leading strategy, clinical operations, and customer experience. I continue to consult and advise veterinary businesses, helping them navigate this modern era of vet med.
Currently, I practice emergency medicine with VEG in Houston, an open-concept ER for pets, because I love the excitement of seeing interesting cases, calming people during their most panicked moments, and enjoying the flexibility that allows me to embrace a work-hard-play-hard lifestyle.
Being a veterinarian is one of the most fulfilling careers in existence. However, burn out and suicide rates are high. I co-founded The Evolved Vets, a virtual business, to provide Life Coaching for veterinarians. We use a proven method grounded in neuroplasticity and values-based living to help veterinarians live their unique version of a successful life. Me and my business partner, Dr. Bethany Weinheimer, co-host The Evolved Vets Podcast.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I like to remind myself of a saying from one of my mentors: “careers are jungle gyms, not ladders.” Rarely, if ever, are they smooth and upwards.
I moved to New York during Covid for a few years in pursuit of a wonderful job opportunity. Being in NY during Covid was challenging in itself. As you might imagine, it’s quite different from Texas. Moving myself and my husband wasn’t easy, being away from family, postponing starting our own family, and the increased cost of living. It was totally worth the career growth though!
Now that we’re back in Houston, I’ve started a virtual business with another veterinarian. We focus on wellness and business skills in vet med. This is rewarding yet challenging when we still get a lot of push back that what we’re teaching is unrealistic or unnecessary, yet burnout rates are increasing in the field.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Evolved Vets?
The Evolved Vets (TEV), led by Drs. Anna Foster and Bethany Weinheimer, provides Life Coaching for veterinarians.
Both emergency veterinarians from Houston and seasoned leaders, Anna and Bethany have lived through the highs and lows of vet med–rising into leadership, hitting rock bottom, and rebuilding careers and lives they love.
Their coaching uses a proven method grounded in neuroplasticity and values-based living to help veterinarians live their unique version of a successful life.
Their thought leadership has been published in Today’s Veterinary Business and other leading industry outlets, and their work is reaching an international audience of veterinarians seeking new tools for personal growth and career sustainability.
Anna and Bethany co-host The Evolved Vets Podcast, a fast-growing personal development podcast for veterinarians that blends real-life stories with actionable strategies. Their work creates a safe, inspiring space for veterinarians to develop the emotional intelligence, leadership, and self-worth skills that aren’t taught in school, but are essential for long-term sustainability in the field.
How do you think about luck?
Luck favors the prepared! I’ve had many lucky breaks— one was the opportunity to move to New York to play a foundational role in a revolutionary open-concept pet ER startup that grew from 10 to over 100 hospitals during my time in NY. An “unlucky lucky” one was not being promoted into a role I thought I wanted, which led me to start my own company that is much more aligned with my values.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://EvolvedVets.com
- Instagram: @evolvedvets
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@evolvedvets?si=ieppCAGN7o1TMAbe
Image Credits
Austin TX Headshots
