Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) students are invited to compete against each other in Merck Animal Health’s first Veterinary Simulation Business Challenge. The competition, which will be funded by Merck for the next 3 years, will address the connection wellbeing of veterinary professionals and financial management.

"Veterinary schools do a good job of clinically preparing students for the profession, but business education is what allows them to be successful personally, professionally, and financially, and what shapes the future of veterinary leaders," said Taylor Tillery, DVM, veterinary academic and industry liaison lead at Merck, in an interview with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) News.

According to the AVMA, the competition is looking to provide hands-on learning and equip veterinary students to become flourishing and successful practitioners through simulated exercises.

 Teams made up of 3 members from VBMA chapters across the United States will be given the chance to participate in these real-world simulations of a hypothetical clinic with the chance to win $30,000.

Each simulation will be created by Advantexe, an experiential learning provider, and the competing teams will run as well as operate the startup clinic as a general manager and owner. The teams will be responsible for real work decisions a clinic could face every day, ranging from purchasing equipment, planning budgets, and building relationships with clients.

“This experience will not only build their confidence, but also provide them with a competitive edge as they move forward in their careers, equipping them with skills that will be highly valuable whether they pursue practice ownership or other leadership roles in the veterinary field. The contest launched on January 19 at the 2025 VBMA National Meeting in Dallas and the response has been “overwhelmingly positive,” explained Bella Raux.

In January 2001, Meghan Stalker Wood, the first VBMA president, began a club at the University of Pennsylvania called the Veterinary Business Management Association, which will go on to become the VBMA it is today. The goal of the VBMA is to improve the success of veterinarians and the veterinary profession and was founded at a time when recently graduated veterinary students were entering practice ownership, and were in need of skills to help practices succeeded.

In 2004, with support from advisors and sponsors, the VBMA expanded to the original 16 chapters nationwide, including

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

Now, as of today, the VBMA has 38 chapters in 100% of all veterinary schools in the United States, and 7669 members.

The winning team, along with the grand prize of $30,000, will receive trophies during a ceremony at the 2025 AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum, taking place on October 8-9, 2025.

Won C. Merck Animal Health, VBMA partner for inaugural business simulation challenge. American Veterinary Medical Association. Published January 27, 2025. Accessed January 30, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/merck-animal-health-vbma-partner-inaugural-business-simulation-challenge

Veterinary Business Management Association . About Us – VBMA. Vbma.biz. Published December 4, 2015. Accessed January 30, 2025. 

98 Veterinary Business Management Association. VBMA – Veterinary Business Management Association. Vbma.biz. Published December 3, 2015. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://vbma.biz/

Articles

VBMA students are invited to compete in a scholarship program aiming to prepare the next generation of veterinarians for entrepreneurship 

Animal health organizations launch business simulation challenges 

An oral procedure is carried out on a dog at UC Davis in the Meadowview Foundation Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center. (Photo courtesy of UC Davis)

The veterinary hospital at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) recently opened the Meadowview Foundation Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center. The new space houses the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service (DOSS), which offers a complete range of dental services for cats and dogs. Widely recognized as a global leader in dentistry and oral/maxillofacial surgery, DOSS is at the forefront of translational research that leads to “cutting-edge” treatments, with the center attracting clients from across the US and occasionally around the world as well according to a UC Davis report.

Its new location, which is almost 150% larger than the DOSS’ prior site, has 3 standalone dental care/oral surgery operatory spaces, giving the new center the ability to offer more private clinical care.

 The prior facility for the DOSS only had one open area suite, which interfered with team’s ability to perform routine rechecks or receive appointments as an oral surgery took place a few feet away, said a UC Davis correspondent.

 Meanwhile, the new center’s 3 individual suites allows the team to provide personalized care independently of other patients or administrative functions, according to a UC Davis report.

Additionally, every area in the Meadowview Center mimics a human dentistry/oral surgery suite. “The new place is inspired by similar offices in the human medical world,” Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS, service chief of DOSS, said in a university video.

 “We actually used the same machines, the same concept that we had in the previous dental operatory with the company A-dec, except that now, 30 plus years later, this is the facility we envisioned moving forward.”

“Physical separation of administrative duties and patient care was extremely limited in our previous space,” said Arzi in a report.

 “The Meadowview Center is a relaxed setting to examine the patient and operate independently of other activities occurring simultaneously in the center.”

The new center also has a designated space for staff to take breaks and recharge between patient appointments, marking a contrast to the previous location’s layout which combined patient care and workspace areas, limiting the use of drinking water and other personal care things.

The facility is equipped with a sterilization center, which is separate from the operatory area and has more space. One new feature in the new sterilization center is an instrument washer, which replaced “the old ultrasonic system,” according to Kimi Kan-Rohrer, dental hygienist at the center.

Stephanie Goldschmidt, DVM, BVM&S, DAVDC; Maria Soltero-Rivera, DVM, DAVDC; and Arzi make up the DOSS team. Each with a unique sub-speciality, Goldschmidt focuses on surgical oncology, Soltero-Rivera specializes in oral medicine, and Arzi spearheads temporomandibular joint/trauma and reconstructive surgeries.

“With the opening of this new space, it’s an exciting time to be part of this team,” said Soltero-Rivera in the report.

 “I look forward to what this means for the advancement of our sub-specialty areas.”

“The Meadowview Foundation Dental and Oral Surgery Center was made completely with donors’ funding, from start to finish,” said Arzi in a video, explaining that Meadowview Foundation sponsored most of it. Still, the center also received donations from private people and foundations.

 “In general, everything here was made possible by donations,” he said.

Warren R. UC Davis opens new Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center. News release. January 24, 2025. Accessed January 30, 2025. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-opens-new-dentistry-and-oral-surgery-center

Meadowview Foundation Dental and Oral Surgery Center Tour, UC Davis Veterinary Medicine YouTube page. Accessed January 30, 2025. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiFoIW2-J3I

The Meadowview Foundation Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center was made possible thanks to donations

New dentistry and oral surgery center at UC Davis layout inspired by human dentistry suites

Attendees at the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (Image courtesy of North American Veterinary Community) 

The 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, California, has officially concluded, but the dvm360 coverage has not! We have compiled this list of the current coverage we have available to readers on dvm360.com to provide an inside look for those not in attendance, or those who might have missed some news during all the conference excited.

Here is our highlights of this year’s VMX:

Kate Myrna, DVM, DACVO, a professor at the University of Georgia in Athen, shared during her lecture 

more information on what these cysts are in dogs or cats, how the occur, and how they originate in the back up of the pigmented epithelium of the patient’s iris or ciliary body of the iris. Throughout the coverage, readers will be presented with how to identify iridociliary cysts as well as diseases linked to them

Updates in pyoderma: diagnosis and treatment

Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, an assistant professor at Iowa State University, presented during VMX on what happens when veterinary professionals treat pyoderma with topical therapy, and it is not successful. Throughout the lecture, he outlines the next steps that veterinary professionals can take for treating pyoderma in canine patients, plus recommendations based on guidelines published in 

2014 “Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis”

Kevin Costner at VMX 2025: Finding your heart

Kevin Costner on stage at VMX (Image courtesy of VMX)

VMX kicked off this year with a keynote address delivered by Academy Award-winning actor, director, and producer Kevin Costner. During his address, Costner made connections between his journey through life as well as the calling that drives the work veterinary professionals do every day. Costner’s shared with attendees present at the address heartfelt stories about animals, perseverance, and purpose.

Tips for simplifying ophthalmic exam in general practice

Ron Ofri, DVM, PhD, DECVO, explained to attendees in his lecture 

 multiple ways that veterinary professionals can make ophthalmic examinations in general practices less scary. Ofri shared during the lecture multiple steps professionals can utilize to ensure these examinations are as smooth as they can be, and lead to a resolution for the patient’s ocular issues.

In an interview with dvm360 prior to his lectures at the VMX in Orlando, Florida, Alex Sigmund, DVM, DACVO, known on social media at TheEyeGuy, shared practical strategies for general practitioners to diagnose and manage corneal ulcers. He discussed early signs to watch for, the importance of reevaluation, and recommendations for the most effective Elizabethan collars.

Treating and managing Cytauxzoonosis in feline patients

During an interview Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), participated in with dvm360 ahead of her lectures at VMX, she highlighted the importance of veterinary awareness of Cytauxzoonosis, a tick-borne disease in cats. She discussed its expanding geographic range, early clinical signs, evolving diagnostics, key considerations for veterinary professionals, and more.

Understanding mechanical ventilator types

Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia), director of training and staff development at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital in New Jersey, and a founder of the Anesthesia Nerds organization explained in this dvm360 interview the difference between mechanical ventilators used in the intensive care unit for long-term patient treatment and those used for administering anesthesia

Varroa mites and their effect on honey bees

Jörg Mayer, DVM, MS, DABVP, DECZM, DACZM, professor of zoological medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, sat down with dvm360 on-site at VMX to discuss how understanding varroa mite and how it effects an individual bee, as well as the colony, is required for their care.

Elanco Animal Health announced during the conference that Lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel chewable tablets (Credelio Quattro; Elanco Animal Health), officially launched on the market and are available for order. The products provide canine patients protection against 6 parasites.

A drive to help wildlife affected by California fires

Those in attendance at VMX this year had the opportunity to donate to support animals affected by the wildfires in Southern California. North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) ran a fundraising drive with donations benefiting t Pasadena Humane Wildlife Relief Fund, which operates in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Virbac, a global leader in animal health, announced the launch of ZENIFEL Pheromone Products. ZENIFEL is a solution that was created to help feline patients relax and improve their wellbeing through the products ingredients, feline facial pheromones with 

extracts, a plant-based product also known as cat nip.

Service aiding pets and humans in crisis earns 2025 NAVC Gives Marquee Award

BestyBnB, based in Kansas City, Missouri, was named the 2025 NAVC Gives Marque Award winner. BetsyBnB is a service that connects care provides with pets of individual in crisis, and as the winner of this award, they will receive $25,000 to help the organization continue its mission to support animal and human wellbeing.

Since VMX has wrapped up for 2025, here are some highlights of dvm360’s conference coverage 

VMX 2025 Recap 

In the morning of January 7, 2025, a series of wildlife fires started in the Los Angeles area of California. Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, the fires engulfed homes and land across thousands of acres. The fires have caused families across the area to flee their homes, and some injured, including pets and other animals.

Tips to help prepare clients and the veterinary team for a disaster situation

To help those impacted by the fires, Antonio Pedraza, DVM, MVM, cert SAS, MRCVS, and his team at the Sevilla Veterinary Hospital in Santa Monica, California, opened its doors 24/7 to provide free veterinary care to pets harmed in the devastating fires. On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Pedraza joins host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to share what this experience as like and when he began to take the action needed to help these families and pets. 

That's incredible. And not only that, too, Doctor, I mean, you've opened up your clinic seven days a week you're seeing patients and providing care and helping out. Share with the listeners what what you and your team have been doing.

Antonio Pedraza, DVM, MVM, cert SAS, MRCVS

: The day of the fire that was on Wednesday, we basically, we were glued to the TV, basically just we didn't know what to do. And there was one moment that we decide to move forward. And as you know, veterinarians always we like to to do a little bit step on and step in, basically, and get better and help our patients and people, and what we decide to do is we decide to close our normal veterinary services and focus on providing care to the animals in needs. 

All the members of my hospital, we were able to show up to work even though they were very close to the to the fire, but they really wanted to do something different, right? And we offer a wide range of medical attention from of free treatment, including exam, diagnostics, X-rays, any kind of blood work, medication, to ensure that every pet received attention that they needed. And as you know, there was a lot of local rescues that were said to be full with this place animal and this animal, they need to be treated, and also they were separated from their family or injured from the these [disasters], you know, what we decide to do is to provide any kind of medical care and surgical care free, with no cost to the to the patient. 

Stelloh T, Lenthang M, Cohen R, Helsel P. California wildfires: What we know about LA-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more. NBC News. January 18, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-wildfires-what-we-know-palisades-eaton-los-angeles-rcna188239

Podcasts

Antonio Pedraza, DVM, MVM, cert SAS, MRCVS, shares more on the work he is doing to help pets impacted by the wildfires in California on this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast

Providing care for animals during the California wildfires

 for the treatment of pyoderma is not successful, the next step is empirical systemic treatment, according Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, assistant professor at Iowa State University. According to his lecture 

, presented at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida, systemic antibiotics are no longer the recommended first treatment of choice due to the rise in antimicrobial resistance and awareness. However, in cases where topicals have failed or cannot be used to treat a patient’s infection, systemic treatment is the next treatment of choice, followed by bacterial culture and susceptibility.

Recommendations for systemic treatment of pyoderma in 

2014 “Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis” shows 3 tiers of systemic antimicrobial treatment options for pyoderma in dogs.

The first tier is the primary choice of therapy of known or suspected pyoderma. For this tier, clindamycin or lincomycin is recommended. First generation cephalosporins (such as cefalexin, cefadroxil) and amoxicillin-clavulanate is also suggested, as well as trimethoprim- and ormetoprim-potential sulphonamides.

In the first or second tier, third generation cephalosporins (cefovecin, cefpodoxime) are suggested. “There is insufficient evidence for this working group to reach consensus on categorization of these agents as first or second tier drugs…and concerns about selection of ESBL [extended-spectrum beta-lactamase]-producing 

),” wrote the organization in its guidelines.

In the second tier, doxycycline or minocycline; chloramphenicol; fluoroquinolones (such as enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, orbifloxacin, pradofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, which should only be used when other options are not available); rifampicin; and aminoglycosides, including gentamicin and amikacin are the suggested antimicrobial drugs.

Additionally, first tier antimicrobial drugs (clindamycin, lincomycin and potentiated sulphonamides) can be “considered when cultures indicate susceptibility,” according to the document.

The third tier, which consists of linezolid, teicoplanin, and vancomycin, is only reserved for when the first 2 tiers are “not appropriate and cultures indicate susceptibility,” wrote the authors of the 2014 guidelines. “Regardless of the fact that most (or all) MRSP [methicillin-resistant 

] are susceptible, the use of these three [antimicrobial drugs] is strongly discouraged. These drugs can be considered ‘reserved for the treatment of serious MRSA infections in humans,’” they continued.

“Realistically, the way I look at for these 3 down here, if you have a superficial pyoderma, you’d never need these,” said Pieper of the drugs in the third tier.

“You can treat it topically and get rid of it otherwise.”

According to Pieper, new updates to the 2014 guidelines, based on a meeting in July 2024, are in the process of being written. The updated document has not been finalized yet.

However, based on what was presented in the July 2024 meeting, the first tier will only involve cephalexin, clindamycin, and clavamox. The second tier will consist of third generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and sulfas.

The next group is being called a “Reserved” group, and will comprise rifampin, aminoglycoside, and chloramphenicol. “The important aspect of this though is you [have] to discuss the adverse effects with the owners, prognosis, and implement a plan to address the underlying disease, because the biggest concern is that this infection comes back again and again. If they were only susceptible to this previously, there's a potential it could be resistant to these now, and you're really going to be in trouble, you know, down the line for that,” emphasized Pieper.

“So again, still based off of empirical for first tier; second tier is culture, and then third is culture if you have no other options, more or less, kind of going down those lines,” he continued. “So that's kind of how it's currently broken down, is going to be written and going out soon.”

Following a recheck—which is a crucial step—if the infection is not responsive to empirical systemic treatment, the next step would be to perform a bacterial culture and susceptibility, according to Pieper. This step involves identifying the organism the patient has and finding the appropriate antibiotic to treat it. A culture should be done when

There is less than a 50% reduction in lesions within 2 weeks of appropriate systemic antimicrobial therapy.

New lesions appear 2 weeks or more after beginning the appropriate antimicrobial drug therapy.

There is a presence of residual superficial pyoderma lesions after 6 weeks of antimicrobial therapy along with the presence of cocci on cytology.

Intracellular rod-shaped bacteria are found on cytology. “The reason why we actually state this though here…is because the rods, we can't predict the susceptibility as easily as we can with staph. Staph is pretty repeatable, we kind of have a good idea. And that's why the first tier is what the first tier is, because historically, it's been shown to be relatively effective in a large majority of staph organisms,” said Pieper.

The canine patient or a pet from the same household as the affected patient has a history of multi-drug resistance infection. “These dogs can actually be be positive carriers for this resistant organism up to a year afterwards,” explained Pieper. “And actually, even dogs that were not even affected, you know, household dogs, they have actually been shown to be positive for carriers afterwards, too, in two-thirds of the dogs”

When topical treatments for pyoderma fail, empirical systemic therapy should follow. If the infection continues to be unresponsive to empirical systemic therapy, bacterial culture and susceptibility testing should be performed to identify the specific pathogen and guide the choice of antibiotics.

Pieper JB. Updates in pyoderma: Diagnosis and treatment. Presented at: Veterinary Meeting & Expo; Orlando, FL. January 25-29, 2025.

Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). 

In a lecture at VMX, Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, outlined the next steps in the treatment of pyoderma in dogs when the infection is non-responsive to topical therapy

When topical treatment for pyoderma fails

blendVET's Believe and Belong in Veterinary Medicine at VMX 2025

Dozens of middle and high school students joined industry professionals in a day-long workshop at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX), presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), in Orlando, Florida. The event, “Believe and Belong in Veterinary Medicine,” was created by blendVET to encourage underrepresented students to pursue careers in veterinary medicine and provide support to get them started.

For the third year, the blendVET event was presented in partnership with NAVC as a hands-on experience to introduce pre-college students to the veterinary profession. "At NAVC, we are committed to creating pathways for young people from all backgrounds to discover and thrive in the field of veterinary medicine," Gene O'Neill, CEO of NAVC, said in a release. "Our partnership with blendVET enables us to provide students with hands-on learning experiences and mentorship in an industry that they may have never considered otherwise. Together, we are actively working to shape a more open and inclusive veterinary profession, and we're thrilled to offer these opportunities for the third year in a row at VMX, where we connect students directly with mentors and hands-on learning experiences."

Niccole Bruno, DVM, founder and CEO of blendVET, said she was thrilled to collaborate at VMX for a third year. "This year, we are proud to expand our offerings, providing tailored experiences for both new participants and returning blendVET students. It's particularly rewarding to see some of our scholars who have been with us throughout all 4 of our Florida events excitedly return to deepen their knowledge of the profession and strengthen their skills," Bruno said in a release.

In one room at VMX, first-time program participants received lessons in veterinary care as they rotated through stations. “It’s a baseline introduction into veterinary medicine,” Genine Ervin, DVM, chief operating officer of blendVET, said in a 

General practice, emergency medicine, zoological medicine, nutrition, dentistry, and surgery were among the covered topics. Activities included nail trimming, wound wrapping, and suturing. They students also got experience putting on personal protection equipment.

Returning student Catalina traveled from Puerto Rico to participate in this year’s event. She said her science teacher first informed her about the event, knowing that she was interested in becoming a veterinarian. Each of the few events she has attended offered different content, she noted. “It’s really fun, and I get to socialize and also learn new things,” Catalina said in a 

This year, a second room offered lessons in ophthalmology, clinical pathology, large animal medicine and forensic veterinary medicine to students returning to the program. At a more advanced level than the activities for first-time students, this experience provided various simulations including heartworm testing, cytology, rectal exams, phlebotomy, and bone identification.

The ophthalmology station also offered students an opportunity to view live eyes under a microscope, according to Ervin. “Through the use of the ophthalmoscope, they’re actually able to look at the lens and determine where the retina is and see what the defects are in the cornea or the iris,” Ervin added.

With the creation of a second track for more in-depth exploration of veterinary medicine, Ervin said BlendVET is working to keep middle and high school students interested in the profession. “The goal is to expose them to what we do on the veterinary side, diversify the profession as a whole, and keep them engaged along the way by also providing mentorship. Students are asking questions and developing relationships that help to make those local connections and potentially visit hospitals within their surrounding area,” Ervin said.

Bruno said it was inspiring to see young students' personal and professional growth as they began their veterinary medicine journey. "Our commitment to nurturing the next generation of veterinary professionals remains unwavering. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this vital mission and look forward to another successful year of empowering aspiring veterinarians," she added.

The blendVET program is supported by sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, and VCA Animal Hospitals. Veterinarians and other industry professionals also lent support to the program by volunteering their time to instruct students and provide mentorship.

Local students scrub in as veterinarians for a day, gaining hands-on experience and immersive training at the world’s largest veterinary conference. News release. North American Veterinary Community. December 17, 2024. Accessed January 29, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-students-scrub-in-as-veterinarians-for-a-day-gaining-hands-on-experience-and-immersive-training-at-the-worlds-largest-veterinary-conference-302334015.html

blendVET presented the hands-on workshop to nearly 70 middle and high school students during the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo.





