For Nashville veterinarian Josie Horchak, everything changed when she pivoted her career from owning two busy clinics—managing employees and juggling care for over 6,000 patients—to running The Concierge Vet, a boutique practice that trades volume for personal connection.
"I love being a veterinarian," Horchak says. "I love taking care of animals and building relationships with my clients. But I wasn't able to do that anymore—I was just managing the business."
Josie's love of animals started when she was a kid. "I grew up in Indianapolis, and my grandparents had a farm in Zionsville, Indiana, and I spent all my free time out there. They had all kinds of animals, so from a very young age, I was exposed to many animals, big and small." She loved spending time with her grandparents' animals, and when her parents got her a car when she was 15, she had to find a way to pay for gas and maintenance. "I walked down the street to start looking for a job, and the first place I passed was a veterinary clinic. I went in, submitted my application, and was hired as a kennel assistant. I have never worked in any other field since."
In 2024, she launched The Concierge Vet, Nashville's first concierge-style veterinary practice, which just celebrated its first anniversary this July. Her business model is simple: personalized, in-home veterinary care with a focus on strong relationships, comfort, and quality over quantity.
Today, Horchak limits her practice to about 100 patients, many of whom live in Belle Meade and Green Hills. All of her clients have her personal cell number. "Pets love to get sick at 9 p.m. on a Friday—it's like they know when you have dinner plans," she says with a laugh.
However, Horchak's services extend far beyond basic checkups and vaccines. Through a partnership with Harding Animal Hospital, she can rent a surgical suite as needed to perform more advanced procedures, such as dental cleanings, soft tissue surgeries or any procedure that requires anesthesia. "I can handle everything from exams to dentistry to surgery—it's full-service, just without the waiting room," she explains.
Much of her business has grown through word of mouth, something Horchak intentionally encourages. "I wanted this to grow organically," she says. "It has exceeded all of my expectations."
In addition to caring for Nashville's pets, Dr. Horchak also shares her veterinary expertise on her podcast, "In The Vet's Office with Dr. Josie Horchak," produced by iHeartMedia and the Nashville Podcast Network. On the show, she and co-host Shannon Ella address common pet concerns—from feeding and potty training to dental hygiene—with humor and honesty. The podcast also includes listener Q&As, guest interviews, and her popular "Paw & Order" segment, where she shares things she'd never do with her own pets.
"We also bring in guests," she says. "One of my favorite episodes was with my husband. We talked about putting down one of our dogs, Biggie. It was really personal." Other guests include veterinary surgeon Dr. Marta Agrodnia, Lauren Akins, SWAT Officer Steve Holland and Justin Anderson. She has also discussed topics such as navigating your pet's aging and her dramatic rescue of Saya, a dog in Mexico who followed her and her husband around during a trip, only to surprise them back home by giving birth to a litter of puppies. The show, now a favorite among pet owners nationwide, will kick off its fourth season this fall.
Outside of work, Horchak has a passion for polo. "I think I could ride a horse before I could walk," she jokes. She plays with the Nashville Polo Club between May and October, riding her four polo ponies—Mariposa, Blue, Grace Kelly, and Evita—alongside her retired hunter horse, Timmy. "Ninety percent of polo ponies are mares," she explains. She had a professional Polo player and star of the Netflix docu-series "POLO," Pamela Flanagan Devaleix, on her podcast to discuss the sport and common misconceptions about how polo ponies fare.
After nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Horchak has no regrets about changing course. "I'm not saying no to growth," she says. "But my priority is to maintain the current level of care we provide." The animals Josie cares for are significantly calmer at home, and the owners feel that peace as well. It's intimate, personal and exactly what veterinary care should be.
At every turn, I am reminded that I love being a veterinarian. I love taking care of animals. I love talking with and educating my clients, making them feel comfortable with whatever treatment plan we decide on.