At this year’s Veterinary Business Medical Association (VBMA) National Conference, MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine VBMA chapter was awarded for planning the “Most Innovative Event” of all chapters in the country.

“We are honored to receive this award for an event that took much dreaming, planning, and coordinating,” says Shauna Behling, DVM class of 2020 and MSU VBMA president.

Titled “Lady Boss,” the team’s event featured several female speakers who traveled to MSU to talk about women’s issues. “We felt that it was time to learn practical skills to combat what we hear in the media daily,” says Behling. “Women have concerns about being paid less for equal work, being sexually assaulted or harassed, and feeling guilty for their own success. We held the event to empower women to change these issues through education and skill building to educate all future veterinary leaders.”

The VBMA is the largest student-run organization in veterinary medicine. As a business certificate program, students complete 16–32 credits in addition to earning their DVM. VBMA provides veterinary medical students with additional networking opportunities and prepares them for a productive career in veterinary medicine as a successful associate or business owner. 

“I am especially grateful that the national VBMA leaders see our effort to bring a different kind of business education to MSU, and that Spartans are not afraid to tackle the big issues.”

Every year, the VBMA National Board hosts the VBMA National Conference for the executive board members of each chapter to attend. The goals of the conference are for the chapter leaders to collaborate with and inspire one another while acquiring the skills to be successful leaders of their individual chapters.

Behling became a member of VBMA before she began her first year of veterinary medical school. “As soon as I discovered there is an organization for students who want to learn more about business, I was hooked,” says Behling. “One of the main reasons that I chose veterinary medical school was the autonomy that veterinary medicine offers people who want to own their own business, and I soon realized that VBMA could teach me how to get there.” As a new member, Behling enjoyed the program so much, she joined the board as vice president as a first-year student, and is currently president as a second-year student. 

For Behling, being a member of VBMA has revealed that the veterinary medical community is small and that networking is not just a buzzword, but a way to meet people who can make a big difference in one’s future. “I have learned a great deal from the speakers I have been able to meet through the VBMA and from our faculty advisor, Dr. Donna Harris,” says Behling. “The VBMA speakers and Harris advise us on finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship, and they have been the most influential part of veterinary medical school to date.” 

The “Lady Boss” event was sponsored by The College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the American Veterinary Medical Association Life, the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment, the Pet Loss Support Hotline, and the Student American Veterinary Medical Association.

MSU’s VBMA is presently composed of 179 veterinary medical students across all four DVM classes—2018 through 2021—and more students are joining each year. “VBMA can serve every student because it is not just for those who want to own their own business, but those who want to get their dream job, in their dream specialty, in their dream field of veterinary medicine,” says Behling. For more information on VBMA membership, please visit the VBMA website.