Women alumnae of UF visit
Small Animal Hospital
Dr. Dana Zimmel, interim chief of staff of the UF Veterinary Hospitals, addresses a group of UF women alumnae and friends April 15 inside of the Banfield Conference Room on the third floor of the new UF Small Animal Hospital.
An inaugural leadership event sponsored by the UF Foundation drew approximately 90 influential UF women alumni and friends to the new Small Animal Hospital (date) for an overview its services, led by one of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s own up-and-coming women leaders, Dr. Dana Zimmel.
Zimmel, who is interim chief of staff of the UF Veterinary Hospitals, was introduced to the women, who came as participants in the UF Women All Access Pass event, by UF College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Glen Hoffsis. Zimmel spoke to the group for about 15 minutes and then answered various questions relating to the hospital’s purpose and mission.
“I tried to use the opportunity to explain what a specialty hospital is and how it can benefit the community,” Zimmel said. “I discussed the pinwheel (a graphic which embodies the concepts of our college’s core values) and our goal of putting the patient/client experience first.”
Zimmel told the group that the college’s goal was not only to provide students with the best possible training in veterinary medicine, but also to stress the importance of effective communication with clients.
“I explained that we are a place that believes in teamwork, and tried to draw a distinction between our practice and regular veterinary practices and how we work together with the local veterinarians.”
In addition, Zimmel talked about the importance of clinical trials for advancing the profession and the discovery of new treatments for animals.
“The UF women’s inaugural leadership event was an initiative designed to increase volunteer leadership and philanthropy from alumnae and friends of UF,” said Suzanne Woodward, who coordinated the event for the Foundation. “The women who attended this event did so to learn from faculty and alumnae about research and advancement at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Pharmacy, the creative writing process and leading in the business world.”
Participants also visited the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Harn Museum of Art, the Small Animal Hospital and Hough Hall.
