What is the most important factor in making a business decision: achieving profits or having a purpose? Despite what may seem like an easy choice (profits), it is becoming increasingly difficult to say that it is the only factor. For example, consider whether your practice should provide free or discounted veter­inary care to service animals. This offers societal benefits, but will it eat away at profits? Is it worthwhile to the business, or does it cause problems with workflow productivity?

Businesses have to decide whether to prioritize profits or purpose. The traditional view has long been that the primary goal of any business is to maximize profits. Although financial viability is undeniably critical for the survival and growth of the business, the paradigm is shifting toward a more nuanced approach—one that acknowledges the importance of purpose beyond the bottom line.

Profit-driven decision-making focuses on earning revenue that exceeds the costs of operation and other business activi­ties, which results in a positive financial outcome. On the other hand, purpose-driven decision-making involves considering the broader impact of business activities on society, the environ­ment, and all stakeholders involved. Lest you think it has to be one or the other, recognize that purpose and profits are not mutually exclusive; rather, they can complement each other.

For many, the proverbial chicken or egg question started with their career choice. Their sense of purpose to improve the health and welfare of animals spurred them to seek education, certifications, and licenses to honor their purpose while working a job or owning a business. Profits or return on investment served as life’s reality check. Did the sense of purpose die under the demand for profit? Can a veterinary practice include purpose-driven activities without harming profits?

To answer that question, the practice owner and team must clearly understand how to balance profits and purpose. The first step is to assess the practice’s business operations because, let’s face it, if it isn’t profitable, it won’t be able to implement programs for the benefit of others, let alone provide patient care or take care of the team.

Before acting on a purpose-driven initiative, ensure business operations are in order by examining 4 key areas, as follows:

Is the team efficient in performing daily tasks? How do you know? One metric to monitor efficiency is the total team hours worked per transaction. An efficient level is 1.33 total hours (including doctors and support team) per transaction.

 Identify where the team can make improvements in performing daily tasks.

One of the most significant improvements that will help with efficiency is ensuring everyone works at the top of their license. Additionally, continual on-the-job training is critical to creating and maintaining a high-performance team. It is not uncommon to see a doctor working 36 to 38 hours a week with a well-trained, highly leveraged team produce $1.5 million a year: Efficiency matters.

Having a pricing strategy that considers costs, client value, competitors' prices, and value proposition is key. Resources include the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's Value- Based Strategic Pricing Tools and Resources

from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA),

 which breaks down fee pricing data. Taking it to another level, AAHA Benchmarking+ is a fee reference dashboard that allows a practice to compare prices with live industry averages.

Besides dollars and cents, consider practical and ethical factors. The practical requires the practice to assess if the amount charged for a product or service covers costs (eg, product, equipment, training, and time involved). Ethical considerations are less straightforward: Are the owners and support team comfortable with the fees, and are they fair to the client and the business? Sometimes the ethical aspect can thwart a pricing strategy when there is a void in information communication or a perception of unfairness in the practice culture.

Use technology that helps your team provide excellent patient care and exceptional client service. Have a strategy, know the goals, and shop around. One technology type earning rave reviews is dictation/scribing apps. They save time in the exam room (allowing the doctor to focus on patient care instead of typing into a computer) and relieve the problem of after-hours medical record entries (a problem that can easily cause doctor stress and burnout, leading to turnover). Another emerging artificial intelligence tool is a virtual assistant to support the front office team. Other technologies allow for the creation of a remote/virtual team that works with the onsite team to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Of course, any new technology comes at a price, and it is important to balance the monthly cost of the technology versus the cost of not enabling a team member to perform at the top of their license, hiring another employee, or losing a valuable team member. Technology does not necessarily mean replacing patient care and client service.

A veterinary practice’s 2 most significant expenses, wages and inventory, should be monitored. According to the 2023 Veterinary Industry Benchmark Report by iVET360, in 2022, the total labor expense was 39.6% of total revenue, and the cost of goods was 24.1%.

 For any practice manager, knowing where the business stands in relation to industry benchmarks is a key starting point for implementing improvements.

Additional inventory metrics include the percentages of total revenue for specific profit centers and income-to-expense ratios. Using income-to-expense ratios can help management identify strengths and weaknesses in pricing strategy and purchasing. To improve labor metrics, look at efficiency metrics and explore the use of technology—both can positively impact labor metrics. Although raising prices may make the labor percentage and inventory metrics appear better, there is a point where clients become sensitive to price.

Now that the financial side has been assessed and firmed up, consider purpose-driven initiatives. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, offers some advice on this issue. He said in a 2012 interview with NPR’s Marketplace, “I think if the people who work for a business are proud of the business they work for, they’ll work that much harder, and therefore, I think turning your business into a real force for good is good business sense as well.”

What can a veterinary practice do to encourage the team to be proud of the business they work for? Is it enough to do good medicine, or are there other things that promote a sense of purpose for the greater good of others or the community? Determining a business’s purpose involves a thoughtful and intro­spective process that considers the organization’s values and vision. A well-de­fined purpose can contribute to the practice’s long-term success and positive impact on the team and society.

Can being purpose-driven benefit the business? According to Deloitte, consumers make decisions based on how a company or brand treats their employees and the environment and how a company supports the local commu­nity.

 Creating a workplace that instills a sense of purpose in the team ultimately leads to increased morale, productivity, and job satisfaction. It can also increase client loyalty and improve the practice’s reputation in the community.

Balancing purpose and profitability requires a thoughtful and strategic approach to ensure that the purpose-driven program enhances the overall sustainability and success of the business. To succeed, a purpose-driven program should align with the company’s overall strategic goals, avoid negatively affecting workplace efficiency, comply with laws and regulations, and be monitored to ensure its success and impact on the business.

If systems are in place to support the success of the business, then purpose-driven programs can also benefit from those systems, and finding balance will be easier. Make purpose a pillar of your veterinary business and enjoy the rewards of balancing profits and purpose.

About the author: Louise Dunn is the owner of Snowgoose Veterinary Management Consulting in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a former practice owner. She has taught practice management workshops at 10 veterinary schools and publishes and speaks nationally. She is a founding member of VetPartners and a member of other professional organizations.

What is thoughtput time? (with benefits and formula). Indeed Career Guide. February 3, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2024. 

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-throughput-time

Value-based strategic pricing tools and resources. Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Accessed February 13, 2024. 

https://www.vhma.org/resources/value-basedstrategicpricing

. American Animal Hospital Association Press; 2021. 

https://test.aaha.org/aaha-publications/aaha-press/

AAHA benchmarking: veterinary metrics that make sense. American Animal Hospital Association. September 13, 2022. Accessed February 13, 2024. https://www.aaha.org/about-aaha/media-room/press-release-list/american-animal-hospital-association-and-petabyte-technology-unveil-aaha-benchmarking/

2023 Veterinary Industry Benchmark Report

https://ivet360.com/vibr/?utm_source=reportdownload&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=reports#download

Hobson J. Sir Richard Branson: the full interview. Marketplace. April 27, 2012. Accessed February 12, 2024. https://www.marketplace.org/2012/04/27/sir-richard-branson-full-interview/

O’Brien D, Main A, Kounkel S, Stephan AR. Purpose is everything. Deloitte Insights. October 15, 2019. Accessed February 9, 2024. 

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/marketing-and-sales-operations/global-marketing-trends/2020/purpose-driven-companies.html

Articles

Use technology to become more efficient while having a positive impact on the community

Striking a balance between profit and purpose

Journey For Teams is an online video learning program managed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to offer veterinary professionals courses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Each training video is 15-minutes long and includes a discussion guide to allow veterinary teams a deliberation with each other at the end and share thoughts and feelings.

 The Journey For Teams program also offers resources for how to facilitate a meeting that is intended to discuss a DEI video with best approaches and advice on keeping all participates included in the discussion.

The Journey For Teams video program can also be eligible for continuing education credits using the AVMA Axon account. Materials are free to access for AVMA members but is also available to non-members for a small fee.

The new module added to AVMA’s course is focused on neurodiversity and different brain functions. According to an AVMA news release, the course highlights the benefits and strengths these brain variations can have on our profession and overall community. As stated by the AVMA, “Neurodiversity: Foster an Extraordinary Workplace encourages us to ‘lead with curiosity’ when we meet people who are different from us, rather than view differences as disabilities. It also breaks down some common misconceptions about specific types of neurodivergence.”

The neurodiversity video, presented by Jen Brandt, PhD, explains how individuals diagnosed with dyslexia often exhibit exceptional visual and spatial skills, which can be a valuable asset in fields such as surgery. Likewise, people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) possess strengths in creativity and innovative problem-solving. The AVMA aims to demonstrate how these cognitive functions can offer a new perspective into the veterinary field and allow for a thriving, diversified team.

Additionally, the module provides suggestions on how to revise intake forms, tailor job descriptions, and adjust lighting, sounds, and equipment settings for a more sensory-friendly environment.

The other DEI videos featured in the Journey For Teams program alongside “Neurodiversity: Foster an Extraordinary Workplace” includes the following:

Pathway Development in Veterinary Medicine

Cultural Responsiveness in Veterinary Medicine

Embracing Gender Diversity: Exploring Gender Identity

Each video offers a chance for viewers to reflect and respect different viewpoints and experiences to allow members of the team to exercise considerate conversations with each other, clients, and the entire community.

Our shared path to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.journeyforteams.org/educational-modules/

Curiosity can lead to discovery: Embracing neurodiversity. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 6, 2024. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.avma.org/blog/curiosity-can-lead-discovery-embracing-neurodiversity?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-blog

Journey For Teams by the American Veterinary Medical Association adds a new module to its diversity learning program

Learning module for neurodiversity inclusion in the workplace

 readers! In celebration of International Women’s Day, we want to say thank you to all the courageous women who have paved the way for other professionals in the past and for those who continue to uplift women and continue to pave the way in the present. Throughout March, we will be highlighting women in veterinary medicine through articles, Instagram takeovers, podcast episodes, and more.

Here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

 that was the first to show the gender imbalance in veterinary leadership roles in most veterinary schools across the globe and highlights economic factors linked to gender equality in these settings.

Mella Pet Care, a Chicago startup company, 

 the news that after their appearance on the ABC show 

on March 1, 2024, the company has received an investment offer from Mark Cuban.

, Ryane E. Englar, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) joins host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss the difference between being empathic and sympathetic with clients as well as how understanding the clients relationship to their pet can help teams comfort them in a time of need.

A hyaluronate sodium therapy (NexHA Injectable Solution; Vetoquinol) for treating equine joint dysfunction associated with osteoarthritis officially received a 

 and has returned to the veterinary market.

, JB Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, discussed his excitement for the upcoming Fetch Charlotte conference next weekend and what he is looking forward to most, including hearing Temple Grandin, PhD, MS, give her keynote address.

PetPace, a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of AI-driven wearable pet technology, 

 its new product PetPace 2,0, an AI powered dog collar that displays continuous and real time medical insights that can give insights to early detection, treatment, monitoring, and GPS tracking.

Wrap up: Study discovers shortage of women holding leadership positions, and other veterinary news

Specialty care

Welcome back, everyone. So, we're gonna delve into a specific case that Dr. Wolfe has. And now that we chatted about the use of our current diagnostics, would you mind sharing us a little bit of a case story?

Sure. So as far as a 10 year old, spayed, female Basenji, she was seen at doctor Clary’s clinic for evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes. And the veterinarian performed a fine needle aspirate, and within a couple of hours was able to receive those results via the Imagyst with a confirmation of lymphoma. And so they went ahead and set up an appointment with me the following week to consider consultation for chemotherapy. So in the week between when she was seen in when she came over, her lymph nodes had even enlarged more significantly. And so, Lisa and I had talked about doing some more extensive testing, but we had decided to go ahead and elect to make a decision based upon the Imagyst diagnosis of lymphoma. And so we talked through different protocols, we elected to do the most aggressive protocol CHOP, and we went ahead and began it that day and our first week of vincristine and our second Cytoxan and our third of vincristine went very smoothly. But our third week after she received doxorubicin, within a few days, she started to have pretty significant abdominal discomfort and drooling and severe diarrhea...so severe that she presented in towards the weekend, hypoglycemic hypoproteinemic decreased temperature very, very ill, and so admitted her for supportive care, but also began two-week process in which he was in the hospital. And we performed daily in house diagnostics on her and at one point we're having to work between if she had unknown liver disease, and maybe if her liver had failed, or if this diarrhea, it's acute diarrhea it was so severe, it was causing a protein losing enteropathy. So that helped provide us in house diagnosis. Diagnostic specifically, the bile acids have access to the liver panel and the bile acids made me feel confident that this was due to her severe GI disease. And so we got her well, but we weren't ready to stop with her. We were really ready to continue on with chemotherapy. And so we then utilize the consultation service, presented them all the exam findings, the Imagyst to what had gone on and via very quick lesson to our email response was able to decide that the best plan for her moving forward would be COP, and they provided me access to different protocols. We talked through those, elected on one, and she currently is on COP and has been on that for four months now. She's been in remission since about April.

Wow, that's fantastic. I just think it's wonderful that you're able to utilize the consultation services that were available.

Yeah, it was. it really helped me. Whereas, you know, I could have gone and looked in other resources there and done my own research, but they're also for me. We're a very busy practice. And oftentimes, when I'm doing those things, I'm doing them after hours. And that's interfering with time spent with my family and such. And so I was able to provide to them the consultation via email and receive a response back within a couple of hours, and not have to do that research myself. And they are current. Sometimes when I look in other places for care, I might find data from you know, 99 or 2005, or 2012 or 2020. And this data from them is 2023 data there. So it was I was able to receive it in a couple of hours. And it's probably more extensive than what my research myself could have been.

That's fantastic. Well, we're very looking forward to chatting with Zahara's mom Lisa and Zahara is going to be joining us on the next episode. To get a different perspective and a unique one, Dr. Penn, this is a fantastic example of how we can deliver precise results to our clients quickly for the greater good of our patients…consultations, specialist ordering tests, etc. And we can utilize the consultation services at any time?

Yeah, anytime. And it's all part of our virtual laboratory to really allow us to as veterinary professionals look deeper into our patients. So, we think about the virtual laboratory as encompassing our point of care diagnostics, including the VetScan Imagyst with the artificial intelligence as well as access to clinical pathologist we think about ZoetisDx, which allows us to trend those results in a value way kind of that trending information for that patient. It also encompasses our reference laboratories, let us reference labs, as well as those complimentary consultations to say, "Hey, I've got this information. Okay, that's one part of the puzzle. Now, I would like to build out an individualized treatment plan and next steps for this particular patient to be able to communicate to that pet owner, so it really is crisp." And I really think of the Zoetis virtual laboratory as that security blanket that allows any practitioner anywhere access to expert level results and specialists to really help drive that care up and provide that the best care that we can for that pet and for that pet owner.

That's fantastic. Wonderful. Thank you so much.

Videos

Learn about a real-life case of a 10-year-old Basenji with lymphoma who was diagnosed and treated with the help of the Zoetis Virtual Laboratory

A case study of Zoetis Virtual Laboratory and lymphoma treatment

Yeah, think about that. Think of all the learning that is happening from all these great cases. I also think of, you know, it's inspiring and educating new graduates too. And I understand I know, you're very big into mentorship as well. What is that experience like when you're having these students that are coming through your practice and teaching them and coaching them along the way?

They're blown away. They're like, wow, because at school, they're not taught that this is out there yet. You know, another thing I like about it is...I'm not doing this. I've got a staff member that's setting it all up. It's not like me doing it. I'm like, I need this. It's easy to do. It's convenient for them to do. And they just give me results, and saying I need a specialist to talk to you tomorrow; set me up a time. The office manager gets it done. I'm not on the phone. I'm not in email doing it. I'm seeing rooms. I grew up with a veterinarian. He practiced 50 years. He had a microscope in his brain; that was it. He would be blown away by the stuff we can do, you know, just blown away. It's all about providing better service for that pet, making those owners given the options of what...it's quick, it's fast, and it's so accurate. It's just been blowing me away. And like my young students, when they come in, they're like, this is cool, you know, because they feel like they're still in vet school, though they still have access to those people. They're very intelligent people, the Dr. Hanns of the world.

A turn that I've seen that Dr. Clary and I've seen in our 18 years, together now is that new graduates come out. And if you don't mentor them into areas of practice, then they won't enter those areas of practice. And so, they've come out and they don't have access to specialists. And so they're scared to elect to do surgeries, or work in endoscopy, or advanced internal medicine cases or chemotherapy. And so, this has helped us mentor them, but also let them know, they can do this, especially in our in our geographical region where this is what we have to offer. Clients usually aren't going to travel five and a half hours. And so, we serve as a core clinic, as a teaching facility for the Texas Tech, University School of Veterinary Medicine. And so we have new graduates, we also have fourth year veterinary students are will starting in May of 2025, in our practice, you know, 12 months out of the year. And so, the veterinary consultation service and the in-house diagnostics have helped us mentor them and provide them the confidence that they need to practice high quality veterinary medicine.

Beyond that, I mean, it's great that you guys have a situation where you can provide that mentorship, but there are a lot of practices out there where that's not available for new graduates. And so we do get a lot of calls or consultations through our service with new grads that are feeling overwhelmed in practice, because they don't have as much support as they need. So, we can provide that support if they don't have it in clinic. So, you know, I can teach you how to read cultures or interpret culture results and make best choices. I can walk you through the best approach to anemia. So I am providing a teaching experience sometimes to these new graduates and also a little difference with our consultation services there, you can consistently request the same consultant if you're scheduling a consult, and if you've previously consulted on a case that can be flagged and so we can provide follow up for the same case if the veterinarian chooses to send in another request. So that one for mentorship purposes, they can develop a relationship with a consultant that they feel comfortable with. So that can be a level of mentorship moving forward, but also that continuity of care if the veterinarian, the general practitioner needs further help later on in the process of working up a case or if there's a problem with treatment, what do you do instead? So, we can provide that continuity and with a better support system.

I love that like really putting the "yes you can" mentality all together.

Understand how the Zoetis Virtual Laboratory board-certified specialists help veterinarians teach students, mentor new graduates, and offer continuity of care

Virtual Laboratory for mentorship and in-clinic specialty care

Alison Koons, a pre-veterinary major from Jonesboro, Arkansas, is an undergraduate research student in the Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab at Lyon College. (

Animal care education is growing in Arkansas. Lyon College in Batesville unveiled a new minor course of study for undergraduate students this week, and recently announced a key appointment for its developing School of Veterinary Medicine. The new animal behavior minor will be offered starting fall 2024, while the veterinary school aims to enroll its inaugural class in fall 2025.

The animal behavior minor’s course of study would be beneficial to students pursuing careers in animal-related professions, including veterinary medicine, according to a news release. "One of the advantages of this minor is its emphasis on interdisciplinary study, providing students with extensive and comprehensive training in animal behavior. After completing our courses, students will have the skills needed to pursue careers as animal trainers, wildlife rehabilitators, zoo technicians and more," Britt Florkiewicz, PhD, a psychology professor who contributed to the development the new minor, said in the release.

Although there are multiple animal science programs in Arkansas, there are no animal behavior programs in the state and only a handful in the country, according to Lyon officials. Furthermore, animal science programs emphasize husbandry procedures such as nutrition, milk and meat productions, and breeding and management, rather than behavior. "At Lyon College, we aim to offer a distinct but complementary perspective on animal-related professions," Florkiewicz said, in the release.

 "Our new minor offers a comprehensive program where students can learn about various topics in animal behavior, cognition and ecology. Students will receive theoretical and practical training.”

According to Florkiewicz, courses required to earn credit for the animal behavior minor will include Principles of Biology I and II, and Animal Behavior I and II. Electives offered for the program will allow students to specialize in certain topics or species that focus on biology and psychology such as evolution, zoology, parasitology, and comparative physiology, for example.

The animal behavior minor will also offer valuable research opportunities for undergraduate students. "In courses such as Primate Perspectives on Behavior and the Brain, students conduct their own independent research projects," Florkiewicz said in the release.

 "Some students have even presented their work from this class at research conferences and submitted their final projects for publication in scientific, peer-reviewed journals. For those who wish to pursue graduate education, demonstrating research excellence will help them stand out as applicants."

Through the minor program, students have an opportunity to see how different fields complement each other, noted Maryline Jones, a biology professor who also was involved in developing the course of study, in the release. "For example, in Comparative Physiology, in which students design and conduct a research experiment during the course of the semester, combined knowledge from several courses like physiology, zoology, ecology, and animal behavior is necessary to be able to understand animal responses to environmental changes," Jones added.

Ashley Mounts, DVM, was named associate dean for clinical programs and outreach at Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine

In addition to announcing the animal behavior minor, Lyon College named Ashley Mounts, DVM, its’ first associate dean for clinical programs and outreach for the School of Veterinary Medicine, earlier this month. Mounts is a native of Arkansas who earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Science in zoology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and is working toward a Master of Veterinary Education degree through Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

"We are so pleased to welcome Dr Mounts to the professional team building the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine," said Melissa Taverner, PhD, MSc, Lyon College president, in a news release.

 "As associate dean for clinical programs and outreach, Dr Mounts will be in our communities, working with veterinarians in their practices to identify opportunities for clinical education, ensuring that students gain experiences that will make them practice-ready upon graduation. As a native Arkansan, Dr Mounts understands the profound impact that [this] veterinary program will have on students in our state, allowing them to train at home to serve at home if that is their goal."

The new School of Veterinary Medicine aims to provide an innovative model of workplace-based veterinary education that utilizes off-campus clinical sites rather than the traditional on-campus veterinary teaching hospital for all or a substantial part of the student’s clinical learning.

"Dr Mounts brings an exciting combination of energy and leadership skills to this position,” said 

Eleanor Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP, founding dean

 of the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine, in the release.

 “Her dedication to student success and to the Arkansas veterinary community combined with her focus on furthering the field of veterinary education will be a valuable asset to our development of the state’s first veterinary school.”

Mounts, a 15-year practitioner of small animal medicine, said she is “thrilled” to be part of Lyon College as it builds a veterinary program that creates opportunities for individuals in her home state. “I look forward to working with Dr Green to provide direction for the clinical curriculum and outreach to our Arkansas veterinarians and animal-owning communities,” she said in a release.

Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine is one of at least 6 new veterinary education programs poised to begin serving students in the US within the next few years. It is also 1 of 2 being developed in Arkansas, which currently does not have a veterinary school.

Since the start of 2024, at least 3 institutions of higher education have announced building new veterinary schools: 

Ana G. Méndez University-Gurabo (UAGM-Gurabo)

 in Indiana. They join previously announced veterinary doctorate programs coming to 

 in Logan, which sends DVM candidates to Washington State University in Pullman to complete the final 2 years of study, is expanding its program to allow students to attend USU for all 4 years of the program.

Leading the pack: Lyon College to offer new animal behavior minor. News release. Lyon College. March 7, 2024. [email]

Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine names associate dean for clinical programs and outreach. News release. February 5, 2024. Accessed March 7, 2024. 

https://www.lyon.edu/news/posts/lyon-college-school-of-veterinary-medicine-names-associate-dean-for-clinical-programs-and-outreach

Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine names founding dean. June 1, 2023. Accessed March 7, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/lyon-college-school-of-veterinary-medicine-names-founding-dean

Coppock K. University of Maryland Eastern Shore plans to admit first veterinary students in 2026. 

. February 26, 2024. Accessed March 7, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/university-of-maryland-eastern-shore-plans-to-admit-first-veterinary-students-in-2026

Lyon College will enroll the program's first students for fall 2024, while also naming a key leader to its developing school of veterinary medicine