VBMA and Elephant in the Room

The VBMA has been involved for the past two years with the Elephant in the Room Discussions on the national level. For those unfamiliar with these discussions, they are a series of meetings where veterinary practitioners, industry representatives, students, and business consultants come together and discuss the mounting problem of veterinary student debt. These interactive, collaborative events help educate attendees on the nature of the problem, as well as empower individuals to help solve the problem.

Elephant discussions have taken place on a national level at the 2008 and 2009 NAVC meetings, as well as the 2008 National AAHA meeting. Another is scheduled for the 2009 National AAHA meeting. Several VBMA chapters have also put on local Elephant in the Room Discussions including the University of Missouri, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania VMA.

At the national events at NAVC, the VBMA provides students who facilitate table discussions throughout the event and record the table’s discussions and solutions.

More information on the Elephant in the Room discussions can be found on at the following websites:

VetPartners - http://www.avpmca.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=87

AAHA - http://student.aahanet.org/eweb/dynamicpage.aspx?site=student&webcode=el...

The VBMA is also beginning a forum on Elephant in the Room issues which can be a forum for students to discuss what they are doing at their schools to move these discussions into action.

That forum can be found here: http://www.vbma.biz/forum/elephant-in-the-room-keeping-the-discussion-going

The VBMA is committed to helping students meet their personal and professional goals. Through our involvement with the Elephant in the Room discussions, we hope to help make a better financial future for all veterinarians.