A Winning Beginning!
Are you a veterinary student with a passion for equine medicine? Have you dreamed of being a "horse doc" but aren't sure how to navigate the waters to success? Are you searching for a group of peers who can offer support and encouragement?
Well, you've found your herd!
Starting Gate is a program designed to ensure that aspiring equine practitioners thrive. Starting Gate presents equine-specific business content to students and interns while building connections and a community that will carry members through both their education and career.
Equine practice business management knowledge is integral for success as both an associate and a practice owner. Topics will include but are not limited to:
- Career path planning
- Choosing externships and internships
- Negotiating employment agreements and non-compete clauses
- Understanding cash flow
- Practice revenue and expenses
- Managing student loan debt
- Communications- difficult conversations, negotiation
- Stress management
- Impact of veterinary medicine as a career
Each Starting Gate group is comprised of students of the same class year from various veterinary schools across the country.
Groups are facilitated by a diverse group of equine practitioners who have completed the Decade One program. The curriculum is presented by a variety of experienced equine veterinarians. Business content will be presented eight times per academic year via video conference. Zoom meetings to connect, share updates and pose questions will be held as desired by each group, led by the group’s facilitator.
JOIN A GROUP
The cost to you to be a member annually is $50 and we are excited that The AAEP has voted to continue providing scholarship funding for Starting Gate members in 2025. In order to receive this scholarship you must apply at AAEP Starting Gate Member Scholarship Application. Members who do NOT apply for the scholarship will be sent an invoice.
Register:
To join a Starting Gate group, students and interns are asked to provide a paragraph (200-word limit) briefly describing why they would like to join a group.