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UF VBMA plans continuing education conference

The University of Florida Veterinary Business Management Association will host its third annual business conference on Feb. 21, 2015, offering continuing education aimed at building and enhancing practice management within the veterinary profession.

Attendees will receive five free continuing education credits by attending talks that will be offered by three dynamic speakers, each offering a unique perspective on how to make a practice successful, what successful entrepreneurship looks like, and best practices for effective management strategies.

Practitioners, veterinary students and practice managers are all invited to attend the event, which will take place at in the new auditorium behind the academic building at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville.

This year’s first speaker will be Dr. Anthony DeCarlo, the CEO and co-founder of Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and current president of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. DeCarlo also serves as a trustee for The Seeing Eye Foundation, is a member of the advisory board for Project Animal International and volunteers for the Ronald McDonald Cancer Camp for Children, as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County. He will discuss opening and expanding your own practice.

The second speaker will be Dr. Amanda Donnelly, president of ALD Veterinary Consulting. The owner of ALD Veterinary Consulting in Tampa, Donnelly’s areas of consulting include financial management, human resources, marketing, client service training, and leadership coaching. She will speak about communications that foster teamwork.

Elise Lacher, owner of Strategic Veterinary Consulting, Inc. is our third speaker. A social worker by training, Lacher nonetheless successfully completed the CPA exam on her first attempt and is well versed in the language and function of business. In her role as consultant and owner of a practice management consulting firm, she puts both skills to use on a regular basis. Today, she only works with veterinarians to help them become successful business owners who enjoy coming to work each day. Lacher’s topic will be financial literacy for practicing veterinarians.

New this year will be a question and answer panel with members of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. Participation in this session is optional and will take place over the lunch hour. This will be an informal opportunity for veterinarians, practice managers and students to bring up any questions or ideas they might have in the realm of veterinary business.

“The lectures and presentations throughout the day provide students with an excellent environment to become aware of and develop the business management skills necessary to enhance their future veterinary careers,” said Jacklyn Melicharek, a second-year veterinary student and current VBMA president. “Additionally, practitioners, practice owners and practice managers are also able to further develop their business knowledge and gain valuable continuing education credit.”

She added that the cocktail hour at the end of the event gives students the opportunity to interact and network with practitioners from across the state of Florida.

“This benefits all attendees and fosters the growth of business management in the veterinary profession,” Melicharek said.

“This event has been wonderfully successful in its first two years,” said Caitlin Spindler, past VBMA president, who is planning this year’s event. “We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone who attended, including our speakers.”

Sponsoring the event for the second year in a row will be Patterson Veterinary. Representatives from Patterson will be present at the conference to encourage further growth of the veterinary profession in both medicine and business.
Registration for the conference can be made online via the VBMA’s website, www.ufvbma.com. The deadline for registration is Jan. 31. Anyone seeking more information can email ufvbma@gmail.com.