How a Veterinary Scientist Is Bringing At-Home Diagnostics to Pets
Shelley Rankin’s journey isn’t a typical startup story. It began in the quiet corners of a veterinary microbiology lab, where she spent years immersed in the unseen battles happening inside animals. Yet, the fast-paced world outside was about to reshape her path completely.
When the pandemic swept across the globe, people retreated to their homes, relying on simple tests to monitor their health. Watching this unfold, Shelley kept asking herself a persistent question: Why shouldn’t pets have the same ease of access to diagnostics as humans?
Her entrepreneurial roots traced back much further. Growing up around her family’s butcher shop, Shelley saw firsthand how small ventures could grow with care and smart decisions. That early exposure planted the seed of possibility that no business was too small to become something more.
At university, she took her curiosity a step further, running a diagnostic lab and diving deep into microbiology. It was there she sharpened her ability to translate complex science into practical solutions. Still, despite the security of academia, the pandemic's shift stirred something in her. The notion of empowering pet owners to care for their animals at home began to take shape.
After earning her MBA, Shelley crafted a capstone project around this idea, the spark that became Create Vet. Leaping from a stable career to uncharted entrepreneurial territory raised eyebrows among family and friends. Yet Shelley saw the doubts as confirmation she was challenging the right status quo. “If everyone thinks this is the right thing, maybe you’re on the wrong track,” she recalls reflecting.
Create Vet’s mission is deceptively simple: give pet owners the tools to rule out common health issues at home, easing stress and reducing unnecessary vet visits. The implications go beyond convenience, this could open access to care for communities where veterinary services are scarce. It’s a quiet revolution, much like the at-home pregnancy tests that changed healthcare decades ago.
The hurdles ahead are real. Proving the concept works, addressing regulatory concerns, and building a strong team require grit and patience. But Shelley’s clear-eyed optimism is unwavering. She knows meaningful change is rarely easy, but that makes it worth pursuing.
The question has shifted from if pets can benefit from at-home diagnostics to when it will become widespread. Shelley stands ready, blending her scientific knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to bring that future closer.
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