Business Management

The College of Veterinary Medicine offers a Veterinary Business Management Certificate to further the education of veterinary students with regards to business and personal finance, practice ownership, business and employee management and career path preparation.

Certificate Goal

Students who complete the requirements of this certificate during their pursuit of a DVM degree will acquire business acumen and skills needed to own and operate a veterinary practice.

General Information

Certificate Program Director: Dr. Martha Mallicote
Email: mallicotem@ufl.edu
Office Phone: 352-392-2229

Certificate Program Coordinator: Kalie Weiland
Email: kweiland@ufl.edu
Office Phone: 352-294-4598

Certificate Description

This certificate is designed to prepare veterinary students to become business owners. Through courses and clinical experiences students will obtain significant understanding of accounting, finances, human resources, operation management, marketing and communication skills.

Certificate Learning Outcomes: Veterinary students who complete the requirements for the Veterinary Business Management Certificate will:

  1. Identify and interpret veterinary medicine industry trends, career opportunities and develop an action plan for a career path.
  2. Describe, implement and assess the components of veterinary practice management that include finance, practice operations, human resources and marketing.
  3. Demonstrate essential business skills to manage a profitable and successful veterinary practice.

Certificate Requirements

Students must complete 10 required credit hours by successfully completing the following courses, externship and clerkship with a passing grade (S) or receiving a grade of 80 or higher during their 3rd and 4th years at the UF-College of Veterinary Medicine. Complete details can be found in the student handbook.

Courses

Course#, Title, Credits, When Offered, Short Description

VEM 5894, Veterinary Practice Management Clerkship, 2 credits, Summer
Course Coordinator: Dr. Martha Mallicote. Course will evaluate successful business behaviors and successful business disciplines. Students will build their observational and diagnostic skills by reviewing business practices and financials.  This externship is generally offered during the senior summer semester and is open to seniors only.

VEM 5730/5846, Practice Based Equine Clerkship/Small Animal Practice Based Clerkship, 2 credits, Variable.
Course Coordinators: Drs. Amanda House/Wendy Mandese.
The purpose of these courses is to provide students with primary care experience in physical examinations, diagnosis, treatment, herd health, routine surgery and practice management.  This clerkship is offered to juniors in their summer or fall semesters and seniors in the first rotation of their summer semester and throughout their spring semester.

VEM 5032, Veterinary Business and Professional Development, 1 credit, Spring
Course Coordinator: Dr. Martha Mallicote. The goals of this course are to explore how personal financial obligations relate to career path planning and preparation, identify communication skills for managing clients successfully and review the components of veterinary business finance. You will take this course during the spring of your junior year.

VEM 5030, Entrepreneurship for Veterinarians, 2 credits, Spring – offered ONLINE
Course Coordinator: Dr. Martha Mallicote. The goal of the course is to teach veterinary students the critical aspects of finance, operations, marketing and human resource management to prepare them for successful practice ownership.  You will take this course during the spring of your junior year.

VEM 5035, Veterinary Business Management, 1 credit, Fall
Course Coordinator: Dr. Martha Mallicote. The goals of this course are to review employment contracts and interview strategies; identify communication skills for managing conflict, discussing medical errors and guiding clients through difficult decisions; review basic veterinary laws as they relate to the veterinary client patient relationship; describe marketing and social media for successful practice management; analyze the components of purchasing a practice.  You will take this course during the fall of your senior year.

VEM 5992, Special Projects, 2 credits, Fall – offered ONLINE
Course Coordinators: Dr. Martha Mallicote. This course will explore case studies in business management. You will take this course during the fall of your senior year.

TOTAL = 10 credits  View Sample Timeline / Checklist

Assessments

Admission and retention in the certificate program requires good academic standing as defined by the College of Veterinary Medicine Academic Advancement Committee. Courses employ a variety of assessments to evaluate academic progress. Requirements include passing courses, externship and clerkship with an “S” satisfactory mark or by receiving a grade of 80 or better by attending lectures and completing assigned papers and projects.

Extracurricular Activities

Students must be a member in good standing with the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA). Find more VBMA information.