What does it really take to build a high-growth, high-culture veterinary hospital in a post-COVID world?
While most practices have been navigating a slowdown in visit volume, difficulty hiring veterinarians, rising labor costs, and increasing barriers to access-to-care, Dr. Alex Robb has done the opposite.
Goodheart Cherry Creek went from a brand-new practice to more than $6.8 million in revenue by year four — all during a time when many hospitals were reporting reduced demand and shrinking margins.
In today’s episode, we dig into the operational discipline, leadership mindset, and people-first philosophy that fueled rapid, sustainable growth despite the industry-wide headwinds. This isn’t theory — it’s a blueprint for anyone opening a hospital or scaling one in a challenging market.
🎙️ About the Guest
Dr. Alex Robb is the Founding Veterinarian and Medical Director of Goodheart Cherry Creek (Denver, CO), part of the Goodheart Animal Health Group. Known for his people-first leadership style, operational clarity, and commitment to culture, Alex has built one of the fastest-growing hospitals in the region.
🔥 In This Episode We Cover:
🏥 Building a Fast-Growing Practice From the Ground Up
How Goodheart Cherry Creek hit $2M in year one, $4M in year two, and is now projected to close year four at $6.8M
Why visibility, brand recognition, and market awareness matter more than people think
What Alex learned launching in Denver — a competitive, fast-growing, urban market
👥 Hiring Ahead of Demand
Why hiring “too early” is actually the key to growing fast
Understanding support staff labor cost as an investment, not a liability
How to choose the right people early in the journey — team members who can grow with the practice
The values and “deal breakers” Alex looks for in every hire and every partnership
🌱 Culture as a Growth Strategy
The virtuous cycle: how happy teams → happy clients → exponential growth
Why operational clarity, organization, and emotional consistency matter in the lobby as much as in treatment
Creating an environment where team members feel like it’s their practice too
Building resilience and positivity into the day-to-day workflow
🗣️ Communication + Psychological Safety
How Alex creates a culture where the team can give “hard feedback” safely
Why great organizations don’t avoid problems — they address them openly
How to lead through disagreement in a way that builds trust instead of breaking it
The importance of being able to challenge each other respectfully (partners, leaders, team)
📉 Avoiding the Complacency Trap
Why strong revenue can blind leaders to weak spots
The mindset that keeps a hospital improving long after the initial growth curve
Staying curious, hungry, and humble even when everything looks “successful” from the outside
📈 What Practice Owners Can Apply Today
How to analyze your local market (visibility, competition, demographics)
When to invest in labor and when to optimize labor
Grounding growth strategies in simple, human principles
The importance of being obsessed — in a healthy way — with making things better
Dr. Alex Robb Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-robb/
Dr. Robb's Goodheart Hospital: https://goodheartcherrycreek.com/
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