On December 31, 2022, Dr. Bob Murtaugh retired from his role as Thrive Pet Healthcare’s Chief Professional Relations Officer. He will continue to serve as a champion and mentor to veterinarians, pursuing candidacy for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)’s 2023 President-Elect.
A true servant leader with more than four decades of experience in the veterinary industry, Dr. Murtaugh’s impact reaches across and outside the Thrive community. He has demonstrated incredible dedication to enhancing standards of care, improving access to veterinary care, and mentoring new veterinarians with his trademark approachability, integrity, and empathy. He has also been instrumental in shaping the landscape of veterinary critical care.
Since joining Thrive Pet Healthcare in 2015 as a partner and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Murtaugh contributed to the network’s growth from 15 to more than 350 veterinary care locations across 37 states.
As Chief Professional Relations Officer, he cemented Thrive’s partnerships with leading veterinary schools nationwide, developing a pipeline of top veterinary talent to Thrive’s network through externships, sponsored residencies, and countless other training opportunities.
While a faculty member at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Murtaugh founded the School’s emergency and critical care program, going on to work with a group of internists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists to petition the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) for provisional recognition of the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care (ACVECC). He has since served as President of ACVECC, Chair of the ABVS, and President of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS). Additionally, he was the first veterinarian to be inducted as a Fellow in Critical Care Medicine into the American College of Critical Care Medicine for human health.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Murtaugh for his tremendous contributions to Thrive Pet Healthcare and the veterinary profession at large.
