It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Vetathome's chief veterinarian, Karolina Henzel, has been named one of three finalists for the prestigious title of Veterinarian of the Year 2025. For those of us who work closely with Karolina on a daily basis, this is a fantastic acknowledgement of her significant work to renew and humanize our industry.
The nomination highlights Karolina's passion for developing new, sustainable forms of care and her courage to go her own way. Since taking office as Chief Veterinary Officer in 2023, she has been the driving force in our work to make care more accessible and adapted to the conditions of animals – whether it takes place in the home, at our store clinics or at the clinic.
From Nairobi to Vetathome
Karolina's journey began far from the Swedish clinics. She knew as a child that she wanted to be a veterinarian, and her commitment to animals and nature was strengthened when she lived in Nairobi, Kenya as a teenager. After her education in Poland, she worked as a volunteer with wild animals in places like Mali. These experiences gave her unique insights into both the challenges and opportunities of animal welfare.
Back home in Sweden, she worked at large animal hospitals, but soon felt that something was missing in the traditional system.
”"I loved the animals and the pace, but at the same time I saw how the pressure and workload wore us down. There was no time for conversation, reflection and to really meet the animal owner"”, says Karolina in VeterinärMagazinet.
A common thread of security and innovation
Today, Karolina leads the medical work at Vetathome with the goal of lowering the thresholds for care. She describes our philosophy as ”fear free” – creating an environment where animals feel safe and stress is minimized. Through the collaboration with Arken Zoo and our clinic in Östermalm, she has created a structure where advanced medical expertise meets a heartfelt approach.
Jury's praise
The jury emphasizes Karolina's warm leadership and her commitment to the well-being of both animals and colleagues. They highlight how she shows that the future of veterinary care can be both high-tech and deeply human, and how caring can be the strongest driver for change.
”Throw now, cack later”
Karolina's motto permeates our entire operation. She prefers to let the actual results speak for themselves, and this nomination is clear proof that her vision of a more sustainable work environment and respectful care really makes a difference.
We are all keeping our fingers crossed for the final decision! Regardless of the outcome, Karolina is already a winner in our eyes and an invaluable part of Vetathome's journey towards more modern animal healthcare.
Want to read more?
The complete and personal portrait of Karolina can be read in the latest issue (no. 7) of Veterinary Magazine. There she talks more about her driving change work, her leadership and her heart project with Wildhood Foundation.You can also read more about Karolina and the other finalists in VeterinärMagazinet's article here: Meet the nominees for Veterinarian of the Year 2025
