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MSU veterinary student wins communication award
Mississippi State, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine student has won an award for her communication skills.
Hillary May of West Virginia has been selected as the 2014 Bayer Excellence in Communication Award winner for MSU.
Communication in veterinary medicine is crucial as it helps clinicians establish good client relationships, helps pet owners understand how to administer medications and comply with treatment plans, and demonstrates the true value of veterinary care visits.
May, who will graduate with her doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 2015, demonstrated competence in all of these areas to win the 2014 award.
“Bayer’s viewpoint that effective communication is a key to success in the veterinary profession is a sentiment shared by the faculty of MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Dr. Kent Hoblet, dean of the college. “Hillary’s submission proved how instrumental good communication is to a veterinary practice. We believe Hillary will continue to develop this skill, ultimately benefiting both her clients and practice.”
The competition challenged students to submit a filmed interview between the veterinary student and a client in a clinical setting. Twenty-seven veterinary schools participated in the 2014 competition, which awarded a total of $70,000 in scholarships.
A panel of faculty judges at each veterinary school evaluated entries and selected one winner using a scorecard developed by nationally-renowned veterinary faculty who specialize in communication. The winners each received a $2,500 scholarship.
“Bayer commends Hillary for her commitment to becoming a skilled communicator within the veterinary profession,” said Ian Spinks, president and general manager of Bayer HealthCare Animal Health, North America. “Hillary’s ability to communicate effectively with clients will help build and maintain critical client relationships, as well as help ensure that animals are receiving high quality care.”
Sponsored by Bayer HealthCare LLC Animal Health for the second consecutive year, the award program was established to recognize effective communication in the veterinary profession and to reward veterinary students who are mastering this critical core skill.
The Bayer Excellence in Communication Award is one facet of a larger initiative aimed at advancing the communication skills of the next generation of veterinarians. In 2002, Bayer HealthCare Animal Health partnered with the Institute for Healthcare Communication to establish the Bayer Communication Project.
The partnership offers communication skills training modules to colleges of veterinary medicine for incorporation into their curriculum. Selected faculty from all U.S. veterinary colleges have been trained in the Bayer Communication Project “Train the Trainer” program.
Contact: Karen Templeton, 662-325-1100
