Merck Animal Health, VBMA partner for inaugural business simulation challenge

Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) students are invited to compete in Merck Animal Health's inaugural Veterinary Simulation Business Challenge, a scholarship program aimed at equipping the next generation of veterinarians for entrepreneurship.

"Veterinary schools do a good job of clinically preparing students for the profession, but business education is what allows them to be successful personally, professionally, and financially, and what shapes the future of veterinary leaders," said Dr. Taylor Tillery, veterinary academic and industry liaison lead at Merck, in an interview with AVMA News.

The inaugural competition, which Merck has committed to funding annually for three years, comes as research has shown that finance and debt are directly linked to veterinarians’ and team members’ wellbeing.

According to the Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study IV, more than 60.8% of veterinarian respondents with no educational debt are flourishing while only 37.7% of those with $300,000 or more of educational debt reported the same.

The new competition seeks to provide hands-on learning and equip veterinary students to become successful, flourishing practitioners through simulated exercises.

Teams of three from VBMA chapters nationwide will have a chance to participate in real-world simulations of a hypothetical veterinary clinic and compete for a $30,000 scholarship.

Through simulations, created by experiential-learning provider Advantexe, teams will run and operate the startup clinic as general manager and owner, responsible for real-world decisions business owners face every day, from purchasing equipment and planning budgets to determining services and prices, and building client relations.

VBMA President Bella Raux called the challenge “a unique opportunity,” saying: “This experience will not only build their confidence, but also provide them with a competitive edge as they move forward in their careers, equipping them with skills that will be highly valuable whether they pursue practice ownership or other leadership roles in the veterinary field.”

The contest launched on January 19 at the 2025 VBMA National Meeting in Dallas and the response has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Raux said.

In addition to the $30,000 grand prize, the winning trio will be presented a championship trophy at an awards ceremony during the 2025 AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum in October.

“As a business nerd, I’m so excited about this competition,” said Dr. Paula Parker, AVMA's chief partnerships and strategic initiatives officer. “It presents a unique opportunity for students to step into the decision maker’s shoes and balance the challenges veterinary practice leaders face every day.