by Katie Berlin, DVM
Change can be hard.
SVH has evolved quite a bit over the past 39 years. We now have two locations staffed with nine doctors and about 50 team members, and sometimes that probably seems like a long way from the small family practice Dr. Schaeberle started in Dover in 1979.
Dr. Schaeberle opened his practice with the unwritten goal of providing excellent care with a core of compassion and empathy for the people who trusted him with their pets. We might be more spread out now, and we might look a bit different, but under the external changes, our heart is the same. We come to work every day to nourish strong, healthy bonds; to heal; to connect; to love.
All of us, no matter our role at SVH, agree upon six core values that unite our two hospitals and our many team members:
- Best Medicine First
- Respect for All
- Team Driven – Lift Each Other Up
- The Bond is Essential
- Can-Do Attitude
- Grace Under Pressure
We want to make sure you know that no matter what growth lies ahead, these core values will never be sacrificed – in fact, the more we might grow and change, the more focused we promise to be on those values. They serve as the guiding light for all of the decisions we make, from large scale transitions to individual patient care.
As you can see, our logo and website have undergone a makeover recently. We have become an AAFP Cat Friendly practice. All of our team members are Fear Free certified. And, of course, we are always working hard to update our standards for both preventive care and treatment of sick pets – we know the only thing we can always rely upon is that our medicine will continue to evolve as new research, products, and therapies become available.
But the biggest asset we have in helping you and your pets is our amazing team. Note that several of our core values have to do with the culture we maintain inside SVH: all of our team members are skilled and knowledgeable, but they also treat our clients and one another with respect, they approach problems as if the solution is already waiting to be found, and they can handle intense situations with grace. When they are working together, they become more than a group of caring individuals – they become a team that can do incredible things.
The changes you’ve seen and will see at SVH are not a shift away from Dr. Schaeberle’s initial vision; they are a continuation of it. We are so grateful to be on this journey with you – your pets and your love for them are what drive us, every visit, every day.
