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Each year at VPP’s annual “Homecoming” meeting, we end our event with a community party centered around food, fellowship, and FUN! This year was certainly no exception. From our live band to our wacky photo booth to our amazing food and drink, our Homecoming 2023 “Block Party” was epic 🎇 Philadelphia, PA is VPP's hometown, and we honored the city of brotherly love with cheesesteaks, sports gear, Tastykake, and our very own LOVE sign 💖 Nights like this form treasured memories that strengthen our bonds and relationships while inspiring us as we work toward our vision of setting the standard for what veterinary medicine should be and preserving the heart in what we do. Today and every day, we are so proud of the strength, resilience, and compassion of our community and we CELEBRATE every person who is on this unique and wonderful journey with us. 🐾✨ #VPPCommunity #VPPHomecoming #VPP #VPPCommunityMatters #vpp #vpphomecoming2023 #vetpartners #vetmed #partnership
Last week, our VPP community had the privilege of coming together in Philadelphia for our annual “Homecoming” meeting, and the experience was nothing short of amazing! Every laugh, hug, and handshake this past weekend serves as a wonderful reminder of the strength of our community and the importance of the culture we’re building together at Veterinary Practice Partners. We opened our Homecoming meeting with a conversation on VPP’s legacy and how our unique partnership model is a vital piece of our past history, our current state, and our bright future. As VPP grows and evolves, our core values of “We care,” “We serve,” “We collaborate,” “We do what we say,” and “We do the right thing” guide us in our pursuit of keeping veterinary medicine in the hands of veterinary professionals and finding fulfillment in one another’s success. We couldn't be prouder of the camaraderie, passion, and dedication our VPP community displayed throughout Homecoming. The energy during the weekend was electric and contagious, which is a true testament to our incredible people who work each day to further our mission of sparking joy in the human-animal bond. We are truly doing something special together 💖 Stay tuned for exciting updates, developments, and projects that will emerge from the collaborative spirit of Homecoming 2023. Cheers to our bright future ahead!
We recently asked Dr. Michelle Vitulli, original founder of Caring Hands Animal Hospital and VPP partner, “What advice would you give to veterinarians seeking pathways to practice ownership?” She responded, “Whether you are a student seeking professional support, an associate looking for a path to ownership, a hungry veterinarian ready to build your own dream practice, or a seasoned doctor nearing retirement, I encourage you to consider a partnership or employment opportunities at VPP. From onboarding to continuing education and leadership academies, VPP is shaping the future of veterinary medicine and veterinary ownership. They know that their ongoing success comes from developing and celebrating the next generation of clinical professionals.”
🎉 Homecoming Success at VPP! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that during our recent Homecoming event, the Veterinary Practice Partners community in partnership with Zoetis, came together to raise over $40,000 for the Employee Assistance Fund! This fund has been instrumental in providing crucial support to our colleagues and their families during their times of need. Every dollar contributed speaks volumes of the compassion, unity, and dedication that thrives within our Veterinary Practice Partners community. Here's what one of the beneficiaries of the Employee Assistance Fund had to say: "This is just a kind gesture and just one example of how wonderful this company is by taking care of its employees. I am so happy to be a part of it. I cannot THANK YOU enough." We are beyond grateful for the unwavering support and love our community has shown. Together, we not only uplift our employees, but also fortify the very foundation of VPP's culture of care. 💙 To all who have donated and continue to donate, THANK YOU! #VPPCommunity #VPPEmployeeAssistanceFund #VPP #VPPCommunityMatters #VPPCares
"As a long-standing student ambassador, as well as an extern at Pure Paws and Levittown Animal Hospitals, I was able to experience the exceptional co-ownership model that VPP has to offer. The doctors, support staff, and incredible atmosphere of each location confirmed that VPP runs the type of practice I have always dreamed of working in. As an ambassador, I have tabled career fairs and hosted “lunch-and-learns” for students to learn more about the company. This has given me the opportunity to connect with my classmates and network with doctors from various hospitals. Being a VPP ambassador made me a reliable and organized leader; I hope to take these skills forward with me throughout the rest of my career.” - Apurva Gangakhedkar, 3rd-year Long Island University student, VPP Ambassador and hospital extern
When asked how we can address the lingering gender gap in veterinary leadership, Dr. Vitulli said: “Women comprise more than 50% of veterinarians. I would love to see the number of female-owned hospitals more closely reflect this percentage. Most VBMA students are female, however, female practice ownership, although growing, is far from prevalent in our profession. When I was looking for a partnership that aligned with the Caring Hands mission and values, I came across VPP. As an organization, 58% of VPP’s doctor partners are female. VPP was able to provide us with the resources to empower our entire team of associate veterinarians and offer them ownership opportunities.”
When asked how VPP’s support has helped to balance clinical duties with practice management, she responded: “Partnering with VPP provides an extra level of security in preserving the quality of care in our hospitals. As a community with dozens of clinics and hundreds of doctors, VPP is able to drive profitability by procuring better pricing for drugs and supplies than independently owned hospitals. VPP is also able to provide efficiencies in staffing, recruiting, HR, and operations by promoting best practices in business. All of this allows veterinarians at Caring Hands the time to focus on clinical responsibilities – their most important responsibility! – because they know VPP is assisting us in managing the business aspects of our practices.”
Our Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Doug Aspros, speaks to the University of Missouri CVM about the importance of understanding your practice’s financial health. It was great meeting some former and future VPP externs! If you would like to learn more about externships, lease email Ross Powell at rpowell@vetpartners.com.
We’re excited to share that @Veterinary Practice Partners has grown by more than 50% this past year, with more than 140 locations across 27 states today! Our tremendous growth is made possible by our community’s enthusiasm for our unique co-ownership model, which allows veterinarians to co-own practices with VPP and take advantage of the development and mentorship opportunities we offer. We’re proud to support doctor partners in our community so that they can focus on providing exceptional care for pets across the country. Thank you to all the veterinarians and partners in our community for making this possible! Read the full announcement linked below!
When asked what attracted her to a partnership with VPP, Dr. Vitulli said: “My animal hospital, Caring Hands, grew from a company of five staff and one location to more than 250 staff, eight locations, and seven partners. Over time, achieving our vision of creating ownership opportunities for veterinarians became more difficult as Caring Hands grew more complex and struggled operationally. So, we started looking for a company that shared our vision and mission – one that could help us specifically with HR, recruiting, organizational challenges, and continued growth. We were fortunate that we became partners with VPP in April 2023. VPP offered us a true partnership model, where we retain clinical autonomy, brand integrity, our culture, while gaining operational support to secure our long-term legacy."
