Business Schedule
Rethinking Innovation: How Shared Decision Making Transforms Care
Dr. Dani Rabwin, DVM; Founder and CEO, Ready, Vet, Go
Innovation in veterinary medicine is often framed through the lens of technology—new diagnostics, tools, and systems. Yet some of the most powerful innovations are relational. In this talk, we will reframe Shared Decision-Making (SDM) as a fundamentally human innovation that strengthens connection, trust, and care.
Shared Decision-Making is a collaborative process that actively engages clients as partners in their pets’ healthcare. By centering empathy, transparency, and curiosity, SDM transforms the veterinarian–client relationship from transactional to relational. This session will explore practical strategies for building strong client alliances through SDM, navigating uncertainty together, and aligning medical recommendations with client values, capacity, and context.
Drawing on published research and real-world clinical experience, we will examine how SDM improves client understanding and follow-through, supports better patient outcomes, and reduces moral distress for veterinarians. Attendees will also explore how practicing SDM can restore meaning, increase job satisfaction, and serve as a protective factor against burnout.
Building a Supportive Veterinary Team: Fostering Psychological Safety and Wellbeing
Dr. Dani Rabwin, DVM; Founder and CEO, Ready, Vet, Go
This lecture highlights the critical importance of psychological safety within the veterinary team, focusing on how to create a supportive and trusting environment for all team members. By fostering psychological safety, team leaders and members alike encourage open communication, reduce fear of judgment, and promote collaboration. The session explores practical strategies such as regular wellbeing check-ins, adopting a coach-like approach in conversations, and providing positive reinforcement to build confidence. Ultimately, creating a psychologically safe space enhances growth, resilience, and authentic communication, leading to a stronger, more effective veterinary team.
Attracting and Retaining Early-Career Veterinarians: Building a Mentorship-Driven Practice
Dr. Dani Rabwin, DVM; Founder and CEO, Ready, Vet, Go
With competitive pay and bonuses now standard, early-career veterinarians are looking beyond compensation—they want well rounded support that fosters confidence, growth and long-term success. A robust mentorship program can be a key differentiator. Early-career veterinarians seek environments where they can learn, grow, and feel supported as they transition into practice.
By establishing a structured mentorship program, practices not only help new hires develop their clinical skills but also create a culture that prioritizes professional development and team cohesion. In this session, we'll explore how to design and implement a mentorship program that is both attractive to new graduates and beneficial to your practice. We'll discuss how mentorship impacts job satisfaction, improves retention rates, and enhances the overall clinic culture. Learn how to position your mentorship program as a valuable recruiting tool, helping your clinic stand out as a place where early-career veterinarians can thrive.
2026 DVM Graduate Expectations for Salaries and Contracts
Dr. James Roush, DVM, MS, DACVS; Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Success, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
This seminar will present graduating student expectations regarding salary and other benefits based on the 20265 AVMA National and from our internal survey of 2026 Kansas State graduates. Dr. Roush will also discuss Kansas applicant numbers and admissions in light of national numbers. K-State ranks very high in the percent of in-state students admitted annually compared to all states with veterinary colleges, yet the CVM is funded at the 2nd lowest state and tuition level of all public veterinary colleges. Fewer Kansas residents go to out-of-state veterinary colleges than most other states with a veterinary college.