February 11, 2025
The Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) student chapter received the “Most Innovative Award” at the recent National VBMA Meeting in Dallas.
The Iowa State chapter was selected for their “Paws on Practice Ownership” events which provided College of Veterinary Medicine students the opportunity to visit local veterinary clinics to learn more about practice ownership as a veterinarian and observe various clinic layouts and designs. Five area clinics participate in the program.
“These clinic visits consist of a general introduction of the owner and practice, a tour of the facility and an open discussion with the practice owner,” said April Stich, a second-year veterinary medicine student and the current VBMA president. “We discussed business start-up costs, pathways to business ownership, managing student debt, choosing a location for a clinic, marketing, hiring staff, client communication, and new graduate advice.”
The “Paws on Practice Ownership” event was implemented in 2023 by Kelci Vashaw, a current third-year veterinary medicine student and former VBMA executive board member.