325: Building strong teams and cultural competency in veterinary practices

With over 12 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Lopes brings a deep understanding of patient care, team leadership, and client relations to his role as Practice Manager at Doral Veterinary Care (DVC). His career began in a 24-hour emergency and critical care hospital, where he spent six years as a veterinary technician before expanding into oncology, ophthalmology, and orthopedic surgery. Before joining DVC, he successfully managed multiple general practice veterinary teams across several cities, ensuring excellence in both medical care and client service.Lopes’s expertise extends beyond veterinary medicine. His first decade of professional experience was in hospitality, where he developed a keen ability to enhance client experiences and foster strong team dynamics—skills he seamlessly integrates into his work in veterinary care. His lifelong passion for animals began in childhood, growing up alongside a wide array of pets, from dogs and rabbits to a pig and a goat. This love for animals led him into zoological care, where he worked with an impressive range of species, including canids, raptors, primates, and large fauna such as rhinoceroses and giraffes. Notably, he has worked with all seven species of big cats and even the Southern Cassowary, known as the world’s most dangerous bird.Outside of work, Lopes is an avid aquarist who enjoys outdoor adventures, fitness, and—above all—spending time exploring the world with his wife and daughter.