As VHMA closes out its fiscal year and takes inventory of its accomplishments, innovations and challenges, I would like to acknowledge our members, the Board, staff and Business Alliance Partners because all of you have contributed to VHMA’s growth and development.
Through your input and support, VHMA has successfully identified and provided the tools and resources that are essential for managers who are eager to lead their practices and the industry.
Moreover, you have been instrumental in helping VHMA develop best management practices that are the foundation of thriving practices.
What accounts for VHMA success? I maintain that it is tied to the VHMA Life. I’ve referred to VHMA Life throughout the year. While the term is new, it is not a new concept. VHMA Life concisely articulates the lifestyle and passion for excellence, advancement, camaraderie and support our members have always embraced---it is the VHMA experience!
During 2017-2018, we celebrated VHMA Life and the energy, commitment and thought our members invest in being consummate professionals and supportive and helpful colleagues.
Members apply the tenets of VHMA Life when they participate in MemberConnect and offer support and guidance to their colleagues. Congratulations to this year’s top contributors: David Hawkins, Ashley Keith, BS, DVM, MBA, MEcon, and Meghann Oliver.
In 2017-2018 there were numerous ways that our colleagues worked in partnership with VHMA to advance the profession and the industry.
Members applied to the 2018 Emerging Leaders program, which is designed to foster future leaders in the industry. Melinda Chavis and John Jeffreys, BS, RVT, CVPM, demonstrated passion for veterinary management, commitment to professional advancement and confidence in assuming leadership roles. They are our 2018 recipients.
The 2018 DVM360/VHMA 2018 Manager of the Year Award attracted a strong pool of candidates, managers who are leaders, motivators, learners and adapters. They are role models. Ten finalists were selected and all have impressive credentials and are well qualified. With so many outstanding finalists, the final decision--- which will be announced in December---will be difficult.
Every two years VHMA conducts a Member Assessment Survey. The results of the most recent survey were published in 2018. The responses were thoughtful and insightful and provided VHMA essential information about the Association’s future direction. Topping the list of industry issues that respondents are concerned about are: finding competent staff, identifying new business models and changing markets and increasing advocacy efforts on behalf of veterinary managers and recognition of the key role they play.
One of the ways VHMA advocates for managers is through our relationship with Partners for Healthy Pets. We are committed to using this forum to clearly define the role of the manager and explore best practices that will ensure that managers excel.
Focusing on significant and emerging industry issues is another way VHMA equips managers to be essential employees and leaders in their practices. This summer, VHMA hosted a groundbreaking Critical Issues Summit that brought together veterinary industry movers and shakers to brainstorm strategies for revamping pricing decisions through value-based pricing.
We continued to tap into the industry’s compelling issues through our partnership with Veterinary Medical Associations Executives (VMAE). Our first collaborative effort was an educational webinar series organized around boosting financial IQ.
These efforts have been instrumental in positioning VHMA as a community of advanced leaders in veterinary management and the growth in membership reflects that. VHMA’s membership is 3,370 managers strong, and we are proud to have a 569 active CVPMs.
The Association is financially strong, allowing us to reinvest in the association and membership by increasing our investments in marketing, technology and education.
The VHMA Board has helped to move the VHMA forward. Mathieu Doyon, LLB, MBA, CVPM and Jessica Manning, CVPM, will be stepping down to pursue other opportunities. We extend our sincerest thanks for their valuable contributions and their commitment.
Finally, a special thanks to our Business Alliance Partners: Alera Veterinary, Animal Care Technologies, Alera Veterinary, atdove.org, AVMA PLIT, CareCredit, Elanco, Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions/VetStreet, IDEXX, Nationwide, Patterson Veterinary, Stratford Animal Health, Vetmatrix, and VetSuccess.
On behalf of the VHMA Board, we value your enthusiasm, feedback and participation and thank you for a banner year. We are excited to work with all of you in the coming year to discover, transform and progress together!
To life…to VHMA Life!
Jim Nash, MHA, CVPM
VHMA President