AAHA creates leadership acadamy

DENVER— The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and Pfizer teamed up to create a Veterinary Leadership Academy.

The idea is to help practices take its culture and success to the next level.

"A robust practice culture, improved profitability and your practice's overall success all rely on effective leadership," reports Daniel S. Aja, DVM, and American Animal Hospital Association president. "AAHA and Pfizer Animal Health developed The Veterinary Leadership Academy is veterinary-specific leadership training featuring expert faculty, certified in their content areas, from the forerunners of professional leadership education: The Ken Blanchard Companies (One Minute Manager), Ninth House, 2logical and the Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness (CMOE).

AAHA reports, the program will help managers and leaders understand how leadership is tied to their bottom line and why effective leaders actually make more money. The faculty will teach valuable skills to help professionals successfully direct change in their practices, AAHA reports, develop positive practice cultures and more effectively interact with practice team members to enhance productivity.

The academy encompasses three courses, three days each, over the course of approximately one year. The courses are designed to build on each other, and attendees will leave each program with practical skills that can be immediately implemented in practice. Attendees can also build a strong network with fellow colleagues as they move through each course with the same cohort."

The academy is slated for Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first course, Intrinsic Leadership, will be offered May 18-20, 2006. Extrinsic Leadership will be offered Oct. 5-7, 2006, and the capstone course, Experiential Leadership is set for May 20-22, 2007. For more information call (800) 833-6301 or visit www.aahanet.org.