FALL 2015
Great things are happening at VetSOAP and
we are excited to share all the latest news.
Judith Gass, MBA
Executive Director Hired
 
We are thrilled to announce the hiring of Judith Gass, MBA, as Executive Director of VetSOAP.

Judith has had a successful career in veterinary and healthcare marketing for many years (nearly two decades if you must know). Her expertise ranges from marketing in human healthcare with Allergan, to leading the path of third-party financing in veterinary health for CareCredit. Most recently she "retired" from her professional corporate marketing career with VPI/Nationwide pet insurance as the Marketing Director for veterinary health, to create a better "work-life" balance for herself and family. Now, as Executive Director for VetSOAP, Judith will bring her veterinary strategic marketing and communications skills, her long-term industry relationships, and deep passion for access to veterinary care for all pet owners, to the VetSOAP organization. In addition to leading marketing efforts for two of the veterinary professions key contributors, CareCredit and VPI, Judith has served on several non-profit boards including the National Commission for Veterinary Economics and Issues (NCVEI) and the Partners for Healthy Pets. Judith holds a BA in Business Administration from Long Beach State University, and an MBA from University of California, Irvine.  She and her husband of twelve years, Daryl Bogard, have four beautiful children and live in Irvine, California. Smoochie, the family pug, holds everyone's heart strings but the family is also diehard Chicago Cubs fans, avid UC-Irvine men's basketball "Anteater" followers and University High School sports enthusiasts .

Research Update

Our Spring 2015 e-newsletter introduced the 3-phase research project we are undertaking.

Phase 1 - Referral dynamics - a first-of-its-kind comprehensive literature review and white paper including perspectives from all veterinary industry stake-holders with input from the human and dental field. This is intended to help identify key gaps in collaborative patient care data and then direct subsequent outreach efforts.

Now complete, a white paper will be published in early 2016 with an executive summary to appear in Clinician's Brief.

We are now embarking on phase 2 and look forward to presenting the results in mid-2016.

Phase 2 - Qualitative analysis - statistically explore the economic and medical benefits such collaboration provides to: veterinary clients, general practitioners and specialists.
Sponsor Acknowledgement
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We would like to thank our Founding Sponsors:

Platinum

Diamond

Founding sponsorship opportunities are only available until December 31, 2015. For information on becoming a Founding Sponsor, please contact Julie Smith, DVM, DACVS at [email protected]. Ongoing sponsorships are welcome at any time. Please visit  vetsoap.org Partner's Page. Thank you.

Board Member News!

Sandy Willis, DVM, DACVIM
> Named Veterinarian of the Year by the Washington State VMA
 
Julie Smith, DVM, DACVS
> A ppointed to Treasurer of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA 
> Elected to the AVMA Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee
> Honored with the CVMA Distinguished Lifetime Member Award
> Published - The E-Myth Veterinarian
VetSOAP's Purpose:
To achieve optimal health care for animals, advance the veterinary profession, and evolve the relationship between primary care veterinarians and specialists.
 
VetSOAP's Mission:
To create awareness in animal owners and the animal care community of the benefits of collaboration among primary care veterinarians and specialists.

Join Us:
If you would like to participate in this important initiative,  click here  to learn how you can get involved.

Click here  to see a list of the board of directors.

Veterinary Specialists Outreach & Awareness Project  |  vetsoap.org