Veterinary Management Institute® (VMI)
Gain innovative tools and resources you can immediately apply to improve your practice at AAHA's Veterinary Management Institute (VMI), now a completely virtual five-month program.
VMI is an executive-level leadership program that will challenge, inspire, and equip you - an experienced practice manager or owner - to succeed.
“I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who's looking to further their career development and their professional learning,” said Courtney Hubrecht, hospital director at AAHA-accredited Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists in Loveland, Colorado, a recent graduate of the VMI. “The caliber of content and speakers was fantastic. The program structure allowed me to put the concepts I was learning into my daily practice at Four Seasons and share them with our team.” Read more from Hubrecht.
Program highlights:
- Virtual education sessions occur live one weekend per month for five months and include self-paced assignments and a capstone project
- The smaller, executive-level cohort format allows all participants to fully engage and participate, and helps you easily build a valuable peer network
- Industry-specific practice fundamentals cover finance and strategic HR, including team culture and building high-performing veterinary teams
- Thought-provoking sessions cover innovation, video marketing in veterinary practices, strenths-based leadership, effective communication, creative decision-making, and the human-animal bond
- Learning facilitators include the world-renowned Dr. Temple Grandin and experts from Colorado State University’s College of Business
- 38 RACE-approved and VHMA CVPM-Qualified CE hours
- Upon graduation, students will receive a certificate to display their accomplishment.
Stay tuned for next enrollment!
Stay tuned for next enrollment!
Exclusive payment plan available
A payment plan is available for this program.
Please contact AAHA at 800-252-2242 for details.
Additional Details
Monthly sessions are held over two days for three to four hours each. Instructions to join will be sent via email after you've registered to the address provided.
All sessions will be conducted from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Mountain Time on the noted dates.
VMI Content Covered
- Creative Decision Making, Innovation and Adapting to Change
- Building Effective Teams
- Veterinary Strategic Human Resource Management
- Effective Communication
- Veterinary Leadership Collaboration on Culture
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Connecting with Pet Owners Through Video
- Veterinary Financial Management
- Strategic Leadership and Strengths Based Leadership
- Veterinary Social Media Marketing
- Animal Behavior & Human Bond
- Work Life Balance, Setting Boundaries & Finding Joy
- Capstone Project
Class dates
Stay tuned for next enrollment!
Required books and supplies are included in the cost of registration. Upon graduation, students will receive a certificate to display their accomplishment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cost?
Pricing |
Early bird |
Standard |
| AAHA members | $5,850 | $6,350 |
| Nonmembers | $6,350 | $6,850 |
All required course books and supplies are included in the price of registration.
Program overview
- VMI is a 5-month-long online program that will require attention and time commitment on a monthly basis.
- It is designed for the experienced practice manager (CVPM) and/or practice owner that is seeking an advanced-level continuing education experience.
- AAHA and Colorado State University (CSU) has worked with each learning facilitator one-on-one to develop and implement the curriculum.
- Upcoming sessions will be completely virtual. Monthly virtual sessions are held the first Saturday and Sunday of each month for 4 hours via Zoom. You will receive information to join each Zoom call via email.
- Sessions will occur from 9 AM to 1 PM Mountain Time each Saturday and Sunday.
- Students will develop new skills each month that they will apply during the virtual sessions. They are expected to complete online assignments between sessions at whatever time that is most convenient for them. These assignments will help them prepare for their next virtual session.
- Students will be able to track their progress through CSU's Canvas platform.
- Upon graduation, students will receive a certificate to display their accomplishment.