• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Establish a veterinary conference protocol

October 29, 2004
Nan Boss, DVM

When you are attending a conference paid for by your hospital, your goal should be to learn as much as you can to share with the rest of the team.

When you are attending a conference paid for by your hospital, your goal should be to learn as much as you can to share with the rest of the team. Although it is perfectly acceptable to take advantage of the amenities available, such as local attractions or restaurants, that's not the reason you are attending the meeting. You are there to learn, and you cannot be at your best after partying until 2 a.m.

Just as your clients watch you and judge you according to your dress, speech and mannerisms, your teammates and colleagues do, too. If you want your co-workers or boss to respect you when you get back home, you need to be on your best behavior. Inappropriate dress and deportment implies that you don't care about your clients' pets or concerns. In the same way, staying out half the night at a conference implies that you don't care what others think about you and that having fun comes before the good of the clinic or the team.

It doesn't matter if you agree with the philosophy, because it's the way things work in the real world. You don't get respect for sitting in the back of the room, dressing down or staying out late. You get it by showing up on time, listening intently, making sure your boss or team leaders know you are interested and involved -- just like at work. If you choose not to do these things, just don't expect extra points during your next job review. Also, remember who's paying your way.

If more than one staff member is attending, be a mentor. Help newer staff members get the most out of their seminar experiences. If you are the only one at an entire seminar, or a particular lecture, you are expected to bring what you've learned back to the group.

Advertisement

Much of the benefit of any conference comes in sharing what you have learned. You will usually find the "A" students hanging out somewhere immediately after the day's lectures, discussing what they've learned and deciding how to implement it when they get back home. Want to be seen as a leader at work? Make sure you're in on these discussions.

Schedule a meeting once you return to work to discuss topics while they are fresh. The sooner you schedule the meeting, the more each individual, and the clinic, will benefit from what you've learned. If you have specific goals and plans from the meeting, be sure to write them down. Goals put in writing are much more likely to be achieved. Put in a callback to remind yourself to go back to your notes later on, or add your new goals to your next performance evaluation.

Related Content:

BusinessPractice Operations
Veterinary training to expand in Ontario with government investment
Veterinary training to expand in Ontario with government investment
VHMA announces latest class of CVPMs
VHMA announces latest class of CVPMs
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis

Advertisement

Latest News

Q&A with a keynote: Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, FAVD

Proper praise for a flourishing team environment

Chronic feline pain from all perspectives

Veterinary training to expand in Ontario with government investment

View More Latest News
Advertisement