The Business Skills Every Veterinary Student Should Consider

As a veterinary student, you’re probably focused on developing your clinical skills and knowledge to help you provide top-notch care to your future patients. In addition to the clinical aspect, it’s important to remember that veterinary medicine is also a business and understanding the fundamentals of business can be incredibly valuable to your future career.

Here are just a few reasons why a business education can be so valuable to aspiring veterinarians:

1. Understanding finances and budgeting: As a veterinarian, you’ll likely be responsible for managing budgets, setting prices for services, and ensuring your practice remains profitable. A solid understanding of basic financial concepts such as cash flow, profit and loss, and budgeting can help you make informed decisions that keep your practice financially healthy. Managing $ does not have to be scary.
2. Effective communication: Communication is essential in any field, and it’s especially important in veterinary medicine, where practically every animal you treat is attached to a human on the other end of the leash. A business education can help you develop strong communication skills, including how to effectively communicate with clients, negotiate with suppliers, and collaborate with colleagues.
3. Leadership and management skills: As a veterinarian, you may one day find yourself in a leadership or management role, whether it’s leading a team of veterinary technicians or managing an entire practice. A business education can help you develop the leadership and management skills necessary to effectively manage people and resources, set goals, and make strategic decisions.
4. Marketing and branding: To be competitive in today’s dynamic market for veterinary products and services, it’s important to have a strong brand and marketing strategy to attract, retain, and grow your client base. A business education can help you understand the basics of marketing and branding, including how to develop a brand identity, create effective marketing campaigns, and measure the success of your efforts.
5. Entrepreneurship: While not every veterinarian dreams of starting their own practice, many do. A business education can provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to begin and build your own business, including how to develop a business plan, secure financing, and navigate legal and regulatory requirements.

Of course, not every veterinary student will have the time or resources to pursue a formal business education. However, there are many ways to supplement your veterinary education with business knowledge. For example, you might consider participating in one of Harbor’s externship programs, such as SHIP (i.e., the Student Hospital Immersion Program.) If you’re a graduating vet student, you’ll love the Harbor GO program. Both programs provide exposure to business-related aspects of veterinary medicine while helping you develop your clinical skills at the same time.

You can also look for opportunities to get involved with the business side of veterinary medicine at your college. For example, you might consider joining your local VBMA chapter or volunteer to help with the finances or marketing efforts of a local animal shelter or veterinary clinic.

In conclusion, developing a strong foundation in business can help you achieve your goals as a veterinarian, regardless of your gender. Whether you’re interested in starting your own practice or simply want to be a more effective communicator and leader, a business education can be incredibly valuable to your future career in veterinary medicine.