Leadership Conference Kicks Off a New Year!

Friends, Associates, Colleagues and Team Members,

Welcome to 2010 and Happy New Year to all.  I am personally anticipating a great 2010 and hopeful that all business in the veterinary space picks up to previous levels.  With that said, we are blessed that people are caring for their pets and supporting our business better than other businesses.  Our consolidated year at Pet Partners was an amazing success in all areas.  We consider ourselves blessed!

This past week we assembled all of our Medical Directors and Practice Managers for a leadership conference at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.  Weather cooperated with travel last week and even the teams from the Chicago area got in and out without difficulty.  This was our sixth year assembling the leadership teams and it was by all measurements the best meeting we have had.  It was a general kickoff for 2010 and the attendance demonstrated how much our teams enjoy this activity.  This meeting was created at the response and desires of our leaders from last year’s meeting.

We had a great assemblage of medical CE with credits that were dedicated to our mantra of top class veterinary medicine.  Lectures on Thoracic Radiography and Pulmonary Pattern Recognition, multiple disorders in the same patient along with discussions regarding canine pancreatitis and then more on internal and external parasites satiated our doctor leaders and stimulated a lot of passionate discussion.  Dr. Tom Butera did a fantastic job of providing a comprehensive program of medical CE. I do need to salute our strategic partners at IDEXX, Purina Veterinary Diets and Pfizer for their support in this very important conference.

While our doctor leaders were absorbing the latest thoughts from speakers such as Dr. Chris Kunze, Dr. Jennifer McClellan and Dr. Melissa Beall, the practice managers were meeting next door in an open forum of activities that allowed them to assemble to gain more confidence in their styles, knowledge and expertise as managers.  It serves to remind everyone that the Pet Partners affiliated hospitals are all individual and are led by individuals who understand the cultural makeup of their unique staff, clientele and community.  This session for the practice managers allowed them to gain comfort in their efforts and dealt with topics such as conflict among employees, hiring and interview approaches and basics of business.  The dinner at Cinghiale on the first night provided a great opportunity for all leaders to match notes and gain better respect for the effort the Company was making to facilitate their great medical outcomes.  They are an amazing group!!

On the second day we focused on the client.  This is something I believe is not considered enough.  Dr. Amanda Donnelly spoke on valuing our services and client service and Dr. Judy Martin spoke to “Frank”.  We won’t go into “Frank” in this communication but if you would like to know more contact Dr. Tom Butera at 508-450-7323 and he will introduce you to the world of “Frank” and all that goes with it.  It is an incredible program created by Pfizer Animal Health and one every veterinarian should acquaint with.  It is powerful.

But the best came from within.  Dr. Robert Pierce, our medical director at North Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Madison, Ohio, combined a general history of veterinary medicine from prehistoric times to today along with the incentive programs he has developed and used in Ohio to bring his staff into the business and to align them with performing at top levels.  Bob is a great leader but I never dreamed he was a comedian.  He sure proved me wrong.

Lance Sprinkle (related) provided seat edge information on the metrics that serve as a frame of reference for aligning the practice of medicine with the business of medicine.  Doctors and managers combined to direct questions that demonstrated the level of business acumen that pervades this Company.  For me it was a warm and positive alert.  We have come a long way in a short time.  Cudos to the entire team at all levels.

I could go on at length about my feelings in regard to this meeting.  In short it was nothing but positive and emulates the changes that are occurring in our profession.  Keep in touch and if you know of any top class veterinary practices that are in need of new ownership – we are interested.  I am most interested.

Best regards in 2010,

Ted A Sprinkle, Jr. DVM
Chief Executive Officer