How Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital Builds Bonds Beyond Medicine
I’ve worked at Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital for 15 years and served as Hospital Manager for the last two. In that time, I’ve seen our culture evolve and witnessed first-hand the positive impacts of a collaborative team. When we thrive together, our patients do too.
As a leader, I believe a strong team bond is essential to great medicine. So, I focus on creating a supportive environment where everyone feels heard, celebrated, and connected – and has a lot of fun.
Here are five ways Animal Kind builds bonds beyond medicine:
1. We foster open communication.
Enabling open communication and providing the platforms to do it is crucial to our bond. We have quarterly staff meetings, bi-monthly department meetings, and monthly doctor meetings where we share essential information and open the floor for feedback.
These consistent touchpoints help keep our team on the same page and allow them to respectfully voice their needs and concerns about new changes or ongoing challenges.
Additionally, our one-on-one meetings enable individuals to speak their minds. And our anonymous annual engagement survey allows them to be honest about their experience so we can help build a better workplace. Collectively, these efforts foster trust among the team and make us stronger.
2. We prioritize growth and development.
We strive to provide all our team members with mentorship, guidance, and continuing education. NVA GP Mentor Dr. Sara Goldstein has connected with our new DVMs to give them guidance and answer questions during appointments or procedures.
She also hosts spay/neuter clinics with other NVA hospitals in New York and invites them to get more experience. Staff training and workshops occur frequently, covering everything from new technology to medical developments.
Recently, we acquired a CardioPet ECG machine from IDEXX. All doctors and techs came together to learn about the device and platform.
Investing in our team's growth shows that we’re committed to their success.
3. We work through tough days together.
In vet med, difficult days come with the territory. So, I check in with each team member individually through one-on-one check-ins – just to see how they’re doing. If stress is running high, I encourage them to take a break with a 5-minute walk. If their mood is low, we run to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. (Snacks and coffee always elevate the mood!)
4. We create a sense of belonging.
Team building outside the workplace is as important as bonding inside. We want everyone to feel a part of something bigger. So, this year, our social calendar is booked! We’ll come together for an Easter egg hunt, Booze and Cruise, Mid-Evil Times excursion, Soft Ball in Prospect Park, Memorial Day Cookout, Halloween Pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving Potluck, and, of course, host Santa Paws at our clinic.
We also work together to give back to our community. We offer discounted services to rescue organizations and care for many animals in need. We organize client education sessions and invite local classrooms to tour our clinic with a doctor. In the warmer months, we’ll host a Pup Cup Soiree and give out canine-friendly ice cream for the neighborhood dogs to enjoy. Engaging with our community strengthens our bonds with pet owners and each other.
5. We celebrate achievements through recognition and rewards.
Our positivity board is always full! Team members use it to applaud each other for outstanding work. Each month, the top contributor can spin the wheel of rewards and win prizes like gift cards, scrubs, food, event tickets, and more.
6. We embrace the power of small gestures.
Showing one another we care doesn’t always require prizes or a big event. Sometimes, it’s just remembering important things with small gestures. We celebrate work milestones, achievements, anniversaries, and birthdays. (We even get a cake for everyone celebrating a birthday that month.)
We also recognize our team members not only as caregivers but as pet owners. We feature photos of our staff with their pets on our Team page or social media. Our staff loves to make short videos of their daily activities and favorite patients and then post them on TikTok.
Each of these initiatives aims to nurture a healthy team culture. When we’re bonded, we can rely on one another, deliver our best work, and live up to our shared purpose to improve the lives of animals and the people who love them.
