Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
12/11/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Donald D. Draper, College of Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-4415, ddraper@iastate.edu
Nolan Hartwig, College of Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-0711, nhartwig@iastate.edu
Catherine Hunt, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-1030, cathi@iastate.edu
Paul D. Pion, Veterinary Information Network, Inc., (530) 756-4881, Paul@vin.com
Veterinarians Learn Business Management Skills through New Online Course from Iowa State and Veterinary Information Network
AMES, Iowa and Davis, California - Practicing veterinarians and veterinary students have a new way to learn business management skills. Iowa State University's Web-based entrepreneurial training program, wVET, will help them improve their practices with better organization, strategic marketing plans, and information and personnel management systems.
According to Dr. Donald Draper, DVM with ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine, wVET is available entirely over the World Wide Web. The course combines several Web learning techniques including e-mail, threaded discussion tools, on-line testing and lectures delivered through PowerPoint, and audio and word processed documents.
The course can be taken for university credit or noncredit, and participants can take the entire course or just specific topics. After completing the program, participants will be able to write a business plan, develop and implement a strategic plan to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability; create a leadership management strategy; develop and implement a marketing plan, prepare a comprehensive financial strategy and budget, and develop a personnel management system.
wVET is offered in partnership with Veterinary Information Network (VIN), Draper continued. VIN is an online community for veterinary professionals. Founded in 1991, VIN reaches more than 10,000 veterinarians, hospitals, support staff, students and industry partners, providing access to medical, product and practice management information.
Draper noted that Dr. Paul D. Pion, president and founding partner of VIN, was able to anticipate the need for online continuing education for veterinarians, and set a precedent by working to establish the first organization (VIN) in veterinary medicine to offer continuing education opportunities on the Internet."
Draper added, "We're pleased to offer the wVET program through this exemplary online community."
For more information about the wVET program including costs and registration details, visit www.vetmed.iastate.edu/departments/bms/academics/wvet.asp, or http://www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/courses/sp02/vetmed.htm.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.