Quality Veterinary Healthcare
“My late father, Dr. Ken Simmons, was a visionary and entrepreneur in the veterinary business world. And my late mother, Alice Simmons, consistently promoted the value of unwavering empathy. Simmons Veterinary Clinic is my realization of their wisdom, professionalism, and kindness.”
Originally from South Florida, Dr. Chris lives in Decatur with his wife, daughter and two labradoodles. Prior to opening Simmons Veterinary Clinic, he worked as an associate veterinarian in the area and spent a couple of years as a stay-at-home dad while completing an online Masters of Business Administration from the University of Florida.
Growing up, he was entrenched in the veterinary field as his parents owned and operated an entrepreneurial small animal hospital and pet resort. This unique experience imparted a sincere appreciation for the human side of veterinary medicine as well as the importance of creating fun moments for pets and their people.
In creating his vision for Simmons Veterinary Clinic, he developed the following foundational principle: To provide quality veterinary healthcare, we must equitably account for the collective emotional and physical well-being of each pet and person.
Dr. Chris enjoys ultrasonography, complex diagnostic problem solving, and finding creative ways to reduce animal stress at home or elsewhere. Outside of work, he loves exploring the Atlanta food scene and is an avid fan of the Florida Gators and Atlanta United.
Simmons has made one promise to himself: to stay small, personal, and agile. He envisions a future where the clinic is a hub for compassionate care, innovative practices, and community engagement. "I'm ambitious through innovation, not scope and scale," Simmons asserts, highlighting his preference for a nimble, responsive business model over the allure of corporate expansion.
.: How did the idea for your business come about?
I lost both of my parents in a plane crash in 2019. That’s not where my story starts, but it is where the idea of creating Simmons Veterinary Clinic took flight.
Veterinary medicine offers such a unique blend of entrepreneurial opportunity, puppy cuddles, complex problem-solving, and a deep service to a community of pet parents. Despite that, it’s a sad field if you get to know its people. They’re worn down. They’re tired. And maybe even a bit devoid of hope.
I created Simmons Veterinary Clinic to serve as a place of kindness for pets and their people. Pets deserve to have their emotional well-being factored into each appointment. Pet parents deserve a modern and transparent experience as well as the opportunity to be listened to. And perhaps most importantly, veterinary staff members deserve a truly supportive and creative workspace in which they can have agency and protection.
.: Who influenced your development and drive to move forward?
I grew up in the veterinary field.
My father was an entrepreneurial veterinarian who built a modern and frenetic veterinary hospital that was attached to a fun, levity-filled boarding facility and doggy daycare that included a “Barkeritaville Lagoon” and a “Barkers Hotel”. My mother was the steadfast moral compass and pragmatic leader of the whole thing. She kept it running, manageable, and kind. He kept it innovative and constantly evolving.
My dad’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit spurs me on. And my mom’s kindness lives deep within me. It’s the best of both of them that I see in Simmons Vet. And I hope I can always harness that.
.: Anything new on the horizon for Simmons Vet in the near future?
For the immediate future, our primary concerns are (1) nailing the pet parent customer experience and (2) fine-tuning our processes and procedures.
And as we grow, we will add to our staff and thus add to our capability to serve the Decatur community. The next big step is to get another awesome associate veterinarian in there who can take over our beautiful surgical and dental suite. Ultimately, I’d like to grow into about a 3-veterinarian practice with a handful of amazing support staff. No plans of getting bigger than that!
Couple of other things I’m excited about in our future:
– Introducing and implementing a membership model: I have been workshopping a membership plan (Simmons Vet Pet Plan) which will offer a simple, transparent, and affordable way to pay for your pet’s routine healthcare. My belief is that many pet parents dread the veterinary bill at the end of an appointment. This is a way to offset that fear by breaking it down into monthly installments.
– Outdoor Days! Given Simmons Vet is set in an old house, we also have a front and back yard. There is something special about the opportunity to potentially see appointments on our lawn or in a gazebo in our backyard. I think this could create a much more comfortable experience for pets, pet parents, and us veterinary healthcare professionals.