Dr. Kate Elden (Dutch CMO) on Veterinary Telemedicine, VCPR Laws, AI, and Expanding Access to Care

On the Drat and Drake Veterinary Podcast, we interview Dr. Kate Elden, recently hired as Chief Medical Officer at Dutch, one of the biggest telemedicine platforms, about her career path from equine practice to small animal general practice, medical director roles, and ultimately telehealth. Dr. Elden describes how COVID accelerated her telemedicine experience and why cost and access barriers keep many pets from receiving care, citing reports that large portions of pets miss veterinary services. She discusses how rising standards of care and clinic hours contribute to affordability and access challenges, and argues telemedicine is a key solution despite restrictive state VCPR regulations. They also address AI as a growing tool that still requires a “human in the loop.” Dr. Elden explains Dutch’s guardrails, follow-ups, pharmacy logistics, and her leadership approach, including how parenting shapes her work.