Bayer offers scholarships for effective client communication

Chatty veterinary students across the country could win $2,500 scholarships if they’re participants in the 2014 Bayer Excellence in Communication Awards. Designed for third- and fourth-year students, the competition aims to reward strong communication with clients in a clinical setting.

Faculty at each participating veterinary college will judge and select school-level winners, according to a release from Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health division. The national winner, who will be awarded $5,000 total, will be selected by an independent panel of Bayer Communication Project-trained faculty using a standardized score sheet to evaluate each submission. School winners must submit a video of a client interview to the Bayer veterinary technical services team. School-level winners will be selected by March 1, 2014; the national winner will be chosen by May 1, 2014.

Bayer says the Excellence in Communication Award was created last year in response to the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, which revealed a communication gap between veterinarians and pet owners, especially regarding the value placed on regular veterinary care. “The purpose of the Bayer Excellence in Communication Award is to help develop strong communications skills among veterinarians that will, in turn, result in healthier pets,” says Cristiano von Simson, DVM, MBA, director of veterinary services for Bayer, in the release. “The overwhelmingly positive response to the award last year, our inaugural year that involved seven veterinary schools, led to our expanding to 21 additional schools. We are confident that student submissions will help encourage other veterinary students to sharpen their veterinary communications skills.”