The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) has assembled scientific evidence that demonstrates how pets improve heart health, alleviate depression, increase wellbeing, support child health and development, and contribute to healthy aging.  In addition, companion animals can assist in the treatment of a broad range of conditions from post-traumatic stress to Alzheimer’s disease to autism spectrum disorder. The Pet Effect campaign, led by HABRI founding member Zoetis, is a multi-pronged campaign aimed to introduce pet owners to the health benefits of the human-animal bond, and to understand how important their veterinarians...

Led by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE), the Veterinary Debt initiative (VDI) has shifted direction with a new goal and strategic plan. The VDI is committed to lead efforts on education and advocacy to ensure veterinarians can pursue a lifetime of financial success. The VDI’s multi-year strategic plan includes raising awareness and providing access to resources that will enable pre-veterinary students, veterinary students and veterinarians to make highly informed financial decisions. Last month, the...

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) new website, My Veterinary Life, provides a robust collection of resources to start veterinary students, new graduates and early career veterinarians on the right path to financial health. The tools cover all areas of financial management­ — student loan borrowing and repayment options, personal finance, budgeting, salary negotiations and adulting costs.  For more information about myveterinarylife.org: AVMA Press Room AVMA@Work JAVMA News ...

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) new website, My Veterinary Life provides seven modules by Paul Garrard, one of the most respected student loan debt management experts in the medical and health professions communities. Topics include repayment programs, loan calculators, public service loan forgiveness, loan refinancing and much more in brief (less than ten-minutes each!), practical mini-webinars that are easy to understand....

The Higher Education Act (HEA) is a comprehensive package of legislation that governs higher education policy, including federal student loans. It’s important legislation because it greatly impacts the veterinary profession. With the Congressional clock winding down and without a Senate bill to negotiate and pass, the HEA debate will start again in the next Congress, which begins in January 2019. Here’s what you need to know about the HEA. In December 2017, the House of Representatives took action to advance their version of a HEA re-write. The House bill, known as...

Study: Members Want More Learning Opportunities A new report from the software provider Community Brands suggests that most association members are joining because of education and career opportunities, rather than out of a sense of professional responsibility. Read More From Associations Now Online 9/4/18 Is It Time for a New Learning Format? By Samantha Whitehorne While panel presentations, lectures, and small-group discussions are staples at conferences, associations that switch things up and introduce new formats can better engage attendees and appeal to different learning styles. Read More From The Money & Business Topic Blog – Associations Now Online...

Do you have responsibility for human resources (HR) as part of your job portfolio? Seeking to sharpen your skills in the HR arena? Curious about how solid HR principles play out in veterinary practice? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might want to check out the new expert trainer certificate program being offered through the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) in collaboration with Animal Care Technologies (ACT). This veterinary specific course teaches the most effective training methods, practical techniques, and how to apply adult...

I was honored to represent VMAE at the recently held Critical Issues Summit convened by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) to probe the topic of value-based pricing. John Volk of Brakke Consulting described it in the August 10, 2018 edition of Brakke’s Animal Health News & Notes: “The goal was to take a deep dive into pricing theory and to develop more effective ways for veterinarians to price their services in order to serve a broader audience yet increase revenues … Hats off to [VMAE member] Christine Shupe and...

In 51 seconds, you can watch this video describing the newly launched AVMA website My Veterinary Life. Designed for current students, new veterinarians, and rising professionals, the site provides resources on career planning (e.g. student externship locator), financial health (e.g. veterinary salary estimator), and career planning (e.g. wellbeing assessment). VMA executives might consider updating their websites to include a link to this curated resourced under appropriate sections of the VMA websites. In a nod of recognition, the website was covered by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in its...

VMAE, as one the three co-lead organizations, was referenced in an August 15, 2018 JAVMA news article (available online here) that describes how the initiative has established a new framework and goals. Previously referred to as Fix the Debt, the VDI has established three areas of focus: the individual, the veterinary profession, and society to focus its efforts and communications while recognizing the breadth and complexity of the issue. Ralph Johnson, CEO | VMAE...