Pets R Family Joins Forces with the Department of Defense Skillbridge Program
By: Dr. Erin Hatcher, Sr. Professional Services Veterinarian
Low Country Region (FL, GA, SC)
Brought to you by PrideVMC Gold Partner Merck Animal Health
One of the biggest issues facing the veterinary profession today is staff shortage. This was proven in Merck Animal Health’s third annual wellbeing study revealing that this shortage is not only regarding veterinarians, but also their entire administrative and medical support staff. No longer will placing job ads in veterinary journals or on their hospital websites attract, recruit, or retain employees. Veterinary hospital owners and managers are having to get creative and think outside of the box when it comes to finding good employees that will stay.
As I travel around and meet veterinarians, I observe very impressive and unique ways that veterinary hospitals are exploring new ways to solve their staff shortage concerns. Yes, certainly, signing bonuses and flexible working arrangements are attractive to potential employees, however this is no longer enough to recruit employees or retain them. The shortage is real, it is stressful, and it is long term. Not only does the profession need to address it now, but clinics need a 5 year or even a 10-year plan to get ahead of this ongoing challenge since the days of Covid-19.
I came across a practice in Northern Florida that is serious about getting ahead of this concern by implementing a one-of-a-kind program. Pets R Family is a small animal general practice in Saint John’s Florida and the first veterinary practice in the United States to take part in the Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program. For those unfamiliar with this amazing program, Skillbridge is an opportunity for industries and employers to tap into the expertise of military service members by sponsoring pre-apprenticeship opportunities. When military members are within 180 days of release from active duty, they may apply for Skillbridge and match with an employer for on-the-job training and work experience. The majority of service members will leave the military and pursue careers in the civilian workforce. What better way to expose our service members to careers in veterinary medicine than by taking advantage of this program!
The owners of this practice, Pets R Family, could not be more pleased with the military members who chose to spend the last 180 days of their military career working in their practice. I spent some time with this practice and spoke with the owners personally about their experience training these individuals. The practice owner and practice manager shared with me that the extensive experience, variety of skills, and unmatched work ethic that these service members brought to their practice was inspiring not only to them, but also their current employees. In fact, several of the military members have chosen to stay and take a permanent position within this practice. The skill bridge program is mutually beneficial! Not only does it bring in skilled and motivated individuals to work in your practice NOW, but it also provides clinics with the opportunity to fill your vacant positions permanently!
Merck Animal Health was honored to be asked to support the military members working in this practice by offering in house training. Through our Heroes 4 Healthy Pets program, we were able to train and certify this hospital and its team on the importance of infectious disease awareness, prevention, and control.
