With clinics across Atlantic Canada and beyond, the employee-owned network plans to expand its model of advanced, affordable urgent care to more communities nationwide under Dr. Duguay’s leadership
Dr. Marco Duguay, a Moncton-based emergency veterinarian and co-founder of Urgent Care Group, the Canadian urgent care network powered by Galaxy Vets, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the network. The newly created leadership role reflects the need for additional operational structure as the organization continues to expand, with clinics now operating in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario, and a new location planned in Newfoundland later this year.
Originally launched in the United States in 2021 by veterinarian and entrepreneur Dr. Ivan “Zak” Zakharenkov, Galaxy Vets was created to support independent veterinary professionals through employee ownership. Based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Dr. Zak partnered with Dr. Marco Duguay and Dr. Ashley Ellsworth to launch Urgent Care Group in Canada in 2023, adapting the Galaxy Vets model to focus on building new veterinary hospitals and expanding access to urgent care services in underserved communities.
As the organization grows, Dr. Zak will continue serving as President and Chair of the Board, remaining involved in the group’s long-term strategic direction and vision.
“Marco is the ideal leader to drive our vision of expanding this network across Canada through employee ownership and our mission of returning medicine to veterinary professionals,” said Dr. Ivan Zak. “Over the past three years, he has shown not only exceptional medical skills, but also a strategic mindset, operational excellence, and strong data-driven business acumen.”
Born and raised in Bathurst New Brunswick, Dr. Duguay received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dalhousie University in 2017 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2021. Passionate about small animal medicine with a special interest in surgery, he has focused his career on emergency and urgent care medicine. Before taking on the role of CEO, Dr. Duguay served as Director of Analytics for the organization, helping develop the systems and operational infrastructure behind the growing network. He plans to stay actively involved in patient care, combining his leadership position with clinical practice.
“I chose veterinary medicine because animals can’t advocate for themselves,” he said. “Urgent care is especially rewarding because you get to help a sick or injured pet feel better and see the relief that brings to the family standing beside them. I’m excited to lead the next stage of growth for Urgent Care Group and continue improving access to advanced and affordable urgent care in more communities.”
Originating from New Brunswick, the Urgent Care Group is an independent, employee-owned network of veterinary clinics – a model that keeps care locally driven and veterinary-led. The organization currently operates walk-in clinics in Moncton, Fredericton, Quispamsis, Truro, Charlottetown, and Ottawa, with plans to open 30 more locations across the country over the coming years.
“We’re building toward a network from tip to tip of Canada,” said Dr. Duguay. “We founded Urgent Care Group to address the growing gaps in access to care in local communities. Too often, pet owners were struggling to get timely help, especially after hours or when their regular clinic was fully booked. That’s why our hospitals were designed to work alongside family veterinarians and provide advanced urgent care when pets need to be seen sooner.”
That thinking shaped the services the organization offers today and how urgent veterinary care is delivered and experienced by pet owners.
“From the beginning, we focused on meeting pet owners where they are,” Dr. Duguay explained. “We introduced extended hours, with clinics open until midnight, seven days a week, because emergencies never happen on a schedule. We developed custom payment plans that don’t require a credit check, so cost never decides what’s best for the pet. Our hospitals also use technology like online booking and a pet parent app to make getting care more convenient and less stressful for families. We wanted to create a service that feels modern, practical, and genuinely accessible for the communities we live in.”
Outside of work, Dr. Duguay spends most of his time with his family and tackling DIY projects around the house. He, his wife and daughter can often be found roaming local trails or playing at the park. At home, you can usually find him building something for their 4 cats or nerding out over tech, whether that’s the latest AI release, vintage cameras, or old-school electronics.
About Urgent Care Group (UCG)
Urgent Care Group (UCG) is a Canadian network of employee-owned veterinary urgent care hospitals powered by Galaxy Vets. Founded in 2023, the organization operates walk-in and urgent care hospitals across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario, with plans for continued nationwide expansion. Designed to work alongside family veterinarians, UCG provides advanced veterinary urgent care for pets when regular clinics are fully booked or closed, offering after-hours veterinary services, online booking, and custom payment plans to improve access to care. With a mission to give veterinary medicine back to veterinary professionals, the organization allocates equity to all employees, including veterinarians, technicians, and support teams, creating new pathways to ownership without upfront investment.
Learn more: https://galaxyvets.com/.