Y4 Week 3: Business, Mock Negotiation, and Churro's Gotcha Day Celebration!

All of this week revolved around a business course. Dr. Jim Clark led us through multiple case studies, and we were able to deconstruct some of the mysteries behind the veterinary business, contracts, and student debt. I had little knowledge of these topics prior to this week’s material, and I am extremely grateful we are exposed to this content.

Monday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro, followed by some strength training at the rec center. We then had our first case discussion, which highlighted the importance of insurance, including disability insurance. After spending about an hour and a half in our small groups, we met as a full class and discussed the case in depth, exploring some of the options regarding insurance for veterinary practitioners. That afternoon, we had a session on negotiation to prepare for our upcoming contract negotiation lab. The next session focused on improving team communication in a veterinary setting. We had a panel of veterinary support staff and were provided with a plethora of wisdom for facilitating strong communication between team members. The last session of the day was focused on interviewing skills to help us prepare for our upcoming group interview lab.

Before leaving campus, I also had a chance to meet with one of our awesome nutrition residents and ask her about her experience during her internship, since I am also interested in the program she chose prior to entering residency. The rest of the afternoon included some time on the field with Churro.

Tuesday morning began with a quick run around the park, followed by a hot yoga session. We then had our second case study for our business course. This case highlighted some key aspects of working as an associate and bringing up the topic of change in a practice that is less progressive. During lunch, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Tan, who was interviewing for the role of Associate Dean of Professional Education. It was nice to sit down with her, along with some other class representatives, and hear what she believes she can bring to our program.

The rest of the afternoon was an intense student debt management session. We had some wonderful professionals from the VIN Foundation discuss the changes that are being made to the student loan situation, including the new repayment assistance plan (RAP) and how that will impact our financial state after graduation. That evening, Churro and I spent some time on the field enjoying the sunshine.

Wednesday morning began with a nice whirl around the neighborhood, followed by some strength training at the rec center. We then started our third business case of the week, and this one was focused on leadership from a management position. We discussed different leadership styles and how that impacts how a team is led. The main leadership styles we touched on are listed below.

Visionary – this form of leadership helps employees see the big picture and works on connecting day-to-day tasks with the overarching goals of the organization.

Coaching – This form of leadership helps employees improve job performance and keeps them goal oriented.

Affiliative – This form of leadership aims to encourage working as team or unit, improving communication and boosting morale.

Democratic – This form of leadership works to keep a group committed to the goals by seeking employee “buy in.”

Pacesetting – This form of leadership puts efficiency and quality at the forefront and has the ability to improve operational outcomes

Command – This form of leadership is comparable to what one may witness in a military setting. It is centered around leadership by authority and can be effective in the short run during critical situations but is relatively ineffective in non-critical longer-term situations.

I’m a fan of organizational leadership so this was a fun case to learn about as well as dive deeper into these leadership styles.

That afternoon we had some time to prepare for the upcoming negotiation and interview lab along with work on a spectrum of care course. This course highlighted the importance of being able to adapt our treatment plans to the needs of the client. I think this is an important topic to discuss, especially while we are being educated in a tertiary referral center. It is easy to get a false sense of reality when the clients are able to afford every recommended diagnostic and treatment plan. The rest of Wednesday included some quality time with Churro at the arboretum and Rebecca joined us for a walk.

Monarch Butterfly at the Arboretum

Thursday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro followed by an awesome hot yoga class. We then had our final business case, and this session involved some accounting and analysis of a practice’s value. We used EBITDA which stands for "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization" and is a way to evaluate and compare performance between similar practices.

That afternoon we had our mock negotiation phone call, and I had a wonderful pair of mentors acting as my future employers. One was from the AVMA, and the other was a practice owner in Arizona. This gave them a unique perspective and allowed me to receive valuable feedback to improve my negotiation tactics in the future. The rest of the afternoon included some time at the arboretum with Churro.

Friday morning began with a nice 3 miler with Churro followed by an awesome circuit strength training class with Madeline and Jen. It has been super fun, and humbling getting back into this type of training, and I am grateful for the opportunity to join in on their class! The rest of the morning included a recap session for our business course followed by the written final exam. I then had a quick meeting with Dr. Sykes to discuss some exciting plans for one of my clinical rotations where I will be working with her to help deliver content for the infectious disease portion of VET 433A.

Friday afternoon involved a mock interview session with a veterinary recruiter. We were put into groups of five and had the opportunity to watch each other interview and provide feedback. It was a unique opportunity and a fun way to learn from my classmates. I also learned some interesting things about them! Both the negotiation and interview labs were incredibly helpful, and I am grateful we had the opportunity to practice these skills and receive feedback. They are crucial life skills and being able to work on them in a safe and non-judgmental environment is awesome.

Friday evening ended with a nice walk with Churro followed by a Yin yoga class. This was my first time trying a Yin class and it was a relaxing experience.

Saturday morning began with a nice 6 miler with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. I then went to the farmer’s market to get some fresh produce and then did some additional grocery shopping for the upcoming week. The rest of the morning was spent getting a few things organized for my upcoming clinical rotation. That afternoon, Churro and I went for a nice walk at the arboretum and finished off the night with a pup-cup to celebrate his “Gotcha Day” weekend.

Spa day

Sunday morning began in a similar way with a nice 5 miler with Churro before heading to church. That afternoon I did an Ashtanga yoga class which was fun and similar to Vinyasa with the exception that the sequence in Ashtanga is fixes and is the same every class. The rest of the afternoon involved stopping by the local craft fair, some meal prepping, and time on the field with Churro followed by a little spa treatment. After his bath, Churro got a new toy and finished off his celebratory weekend with a patty from In-and-Out. Five years ago, the crazy boy walked into my world and I couldn’t imagine life without him!

The best boy ♡

Quote of the week: “Do you support diversity? Legally the answer is yes.” – Amanda during our interview prep workshop while talking about questions to ask a future employer