Introducing dvm360 and Chewy Health’s December Innovator of the Month: Kwane Stewart, DVM, Co-Founder and President of Project Street Vet

Sponsored by Chewy Health

The Innovator of the Month series, sponsored by Chewy Health, spotlights veterinary professionals who are driving positive change and inspiring their peers. By recognizing outstanding clinicians, technicians, and paraprofessionals, Chewy Health aims to highlight impactful initiatives and promote a brighter future for veterinary medicine.

Kwane Stewart, DVM, has practiced veterinary medicine in California for over 2 decades. During a 5-year tenure as a shelter veterinarian in an underfunded area of California, Dr. Stewart decided to embark on a new mission: providing free veterinary services to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness. As Co-Founder and President of Project Street Vet, Dr. Stewart aims to expand the organization’s reach across major cities in the United States to provide free-of-charge check-ups, medication, and even food. With his personal motto of “no judgement, just help,” Dr. Stewart knows that there are myriad reasons why pet parents may not be in the position to afford health care for their pets. With access to care being an increasingly hot-button topic across the veterinary industry, Dr. Stewart is carving out a way to make obtaining that much-needed care easier.

Note: The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

dvm360: Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your work?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: I am Co-Founder and President of Project Street Vet, a 501c3 we established in 2020. Our mission is simple: we give free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness.

dvm360: What was the pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to pursue Project Street Vet?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: There was a moment outside of a 7-Eleven where I randomly met this unhoused gentleman and his dog. His dog was suffering from a really bad skin condition. I treated the dog then saw the same man about a week and a half later, and the dog was transformed. I realized that, in those five minutes of care, I changed this dog's life and this man's life. That inspired me to do what I'm doing, and it’s been 13 or 14 years now.

dvm360: What does success look like for you? How would that impact veterinary medicine, your practice, or community?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: My dream is to be in the 15 largest cities. If we had a Project Street Vet team in those markets, we would account for about 75 percent of the homeless population in pets. It's an expansion that will probably take another two years. However, if I can reach that, we will have a serious footprint.

dvm360: Can you share a specific example of how your innovation has positively impacted the veterinary community or success stories that demonstrate the effectiveness?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: For many years it was just me, and now we've expanded to 8 cities and in those 8 cities I probably have 12 to 15 volunteer vets and maybe 30 to 35 veterinary techs. We have a little network and family of people doing the work. I think the biggest impact that I’ve noticed is a renewed belief in our purpose and what we're here to do. I spoke with someone who felt stuck in the mundane and had lost their desire and passion for the profession. I found that people who do this work for passion and not for pay are given a new lease on their career.

dvm360: How has your work been received by the veterinary community and by pet owners or other stakeholders?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: My work has been received with open arms and gratitude in ways that are hard to describe. It's very emotional and we have very personal interactions. It's not just the folks on the streets but the veterinarians and people who hear my story, or donate, or read the book. I'm building this beautiful network of people who are inspired to do more of this.

dvm360: What are your plans for the future development of Project Street Vet?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: It comes down to growth and expansion, we're on a tear. So, give me two years and check back with me.

dvm360: What advice would you give other veterinarians or researchers who aspire to innovate in their field?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: I think what drives vets, and I say this a lot, is the passion. You sometimes start to lose that in the race of building net wealth, or your practice, or staying afloat financially, or paying off your student loans. Then you start to lose that childhood part of you—the part that wanted to be a veterinarian. That seven-year-old boy in me dreamed of being a vet, and I sometimes realize I'm starting to stray from my very basic nature of helping animals.

dvm360: In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges facing the veterinary field today, and how can we work together to solve them?

Kwane Stewart, DVM: A pressing challenge is access to care. I think if you ask any vet, that'll be in their top three challenges. There aren’t enough of us. The number of pet parents and pets in the country is outpacing the number of care providers. Unless we empower technicians or telemedicine as it becomes more popular, we're going to keep losing this battle and more and more pets aren't going to be seen to get the care they need.

Dr. Stewart closes out the 2024 Innovator of the Month series, which has brought forth some insightful conversations about advancing the veterinary field in more meaningful ways. Over the past five months, dvm360 has partnered with Chewy Health to celebrate these veterinary professionals who have combined compassion and innovation to make positive changes across access to care, affordability, practitioner burnout, and more. Creative new charities, products, and professional development programs are all included in this exciting series – Check out the other great innovators featured in August, September, October, and November of 2024!