UC-Davis introduces summer veterinary business certificate program

"Just tell me if they say something fishy about cats." (adobestock.com/olezzo)Business issues-a common coughing point for veterinary professionals. Don't you wish there was a quick program you could take to get all the basics directed solely toward veterinary practice? University of California-Davis is here with an answer-a new business certificate program designed by experts from UC-Davis's School of Veterinary Medicine and Graduate School of Management (GSM). Read on for the details of the program from a UC-Davis release.

What is it?

The Foundations of Veterinary Business program is designed to provide a cost-effective and time-efficient way for veterinarians to develop the solid business knowledge required to manage and lead a successful practice. The program is designed for DVMs working in the profession as associates, practice owners or leaders of large corporate practices. Hospital administrators and veterinary students with an interest in future practice ownership will also benefit from this program.

Who and when?

Instructors include business experts from the GSM faculty and experienced practice owners and consultants from the veterinary field, including Jim Clark, DVM, MBA; Andy Clark, DVM, MBA; Jim DeLano, DVM; Robin Brogdon, MA; Whitney Hischier, MBA; and Jeff Sanford, MBA.

The 2019 summer program, launching on May 31, includes online learning modules developed by the GSM in conjunction with three mandatory on-site Saturday meetings on June 29, July 20, and August 10.

“We've designed this program to allow working professionals to learn at their own pace while maintaining their work schedule,” says Dr. Jim Clark in the release. “Participants will also benefit from interactive learning and networking opportunities with a cohort of colleagues who are current or future leaders in the profession.”

What will you learn?

This course is designed to introduce key business concepts such as managerial accounting, finance, marketing, strategy, human resources and operations and how these concepts are applied in a successful veterinary practice. Participants will learn how to interpret financial reports and make calculations to assess performance and guide decision making. They will also learn how to be more effective leaders and use effective marketing. There are no course prerequisites and prior knowledge is not essential. There are very few mathematical equations used in this course; only a basic understanding of algebra is required.

Next steps

The registration deadline is May 3. The fee for the program is $4,000, which includes access to the online learning modules, three catered in-person meetings, materials and resources, and education fees. Enrollment is limited. For more information, contact the GSM's Executive Education Office at execeducation@gsm.ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-6840.

“We are excited to offer this new certificate program that is uniquely designed to address critical skills every veterinarian needs to productively advance their practice,” says Michael Lairmore, DVM, PhD, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, in the release.