Our OfficeHours Series is a recurring, dependable space for connection and real-time conversations with colleagues and guests. Whether you join us live to ask questions and engage directly or listen later as a recorded podcast, we’re glad you’re here.
Our goal is to foster community, spark curiosity, and provide practical support for health entrepreneurs—helping you navigate both the cultural and ideological aspects of your work, as well as the detail-oriented, day-to-day realities of running a business in healthcare.
These discussions are designed to build, support, and encourage a resilient, well-resourced community of health entrepreneurs. We emphasize resilience, self-care, collaboration, and wellbeing—because thriving as a health entrepreneur isn’t just about what you do, but how you sustain yourself in the process.
Special Edition - Veterinary Medical Entrepreneurs
Listen in on this discussion on veterinary medical entrepreneurs in this special edition of office hours - the Veterinary Medical Entrepreneur.
Our guest this month is Dr. João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr.
Together, we chat about these questions?
What is veterinary medical entrepreneurship?
Who is a veterinary entrepreneur?
We cover these topics in our conversation:
Dr. Gewehr speaks about these characteristics of the veterinary medical entrepreneur:
Courage and resiliency
Knowledge - study it!
Independence / self-direction / self-organization
Freedom
Responsibility / duty-of-care
and, Fun!
We discuss the challenge of entrepreneurship in emerging industries:
Entrepreneurship in medical industries, particularly animal care
Entrepreneurship in the veterinary cannabis industry
And, end with a community message from Dr. Gewehr: “You have the right to remain silent, but you have the responsibility to speak out.”
About Dr. Gewehr
Dr. João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr
Veterinarian (MV), Master in Veterinary Medicine (2024).
Dr. João Lourenço Hasckel Gewehr has always felt a deep connection with animals, which inspired him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, where he has made significant contributions in both traditional and cannabis-based veterinary practices.
In 2019, Dr. Gewehr traveled to the United States to study under Dr. Andre, founder of Veterinary Cannabis, and completed the Veterinary Cannabis Counselor (VCC) certification. After returning to Brazil, he graduated from Santa Catarina’s State College in 2020 and began practicing as a general veterinary clinician in Florianópolis.
In 2021, he shifted his focus toward cannabis medicine, launching the course "Médico Veterinário Canabinologista" (MVC – Cannabinologist Veterinary Doctor) in collaboration with RED Medical Cannabis Brazil. That same year, he published the e-book Guia Inicial da Cannabis na Medicina Veterinária (Initial Guide of Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine).
Dr. Gewehr completed his Master’s Degree in 2024 at the Federal University of Brazil, with groundbreaking research on the effects of phytocannabinoids in canine anesthesia, which was published in a high-impact international journal.
Today, he is the visionary founder of an international educational platform dedicated to teaching the use of phytocannabinoids in veterinary medicine and advancing professional development, with courses available in multiple languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
You have the right to remain silent, but you have the responsibility to speak out.
He is also a partner in a company specializing in customer service automation using artificial intelligence, contributing to innovation and the advancement of humanity.
Dr. Gewehr remains passionate about advancing knowledge of the endocannabinoid system in animals and inspiring veterinary professionals to explore this promising field. He currently resides in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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