Skip to main content
Building Future Veterinary Leaders: Highlights from the 2025 CVMA Student Leadership Workshop
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, students, residents, and faculty members at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) took part in the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) Student Leadership Workshop (SLW), sponsored by Hill’s, Humm, Scotiabank and Zoetis. The workshop was part of the CVMA’s ongoing effort to promote leadership development among veterinary students across Canada.
The CVMA brought in Rob Marr, professional coach and featured speaker from the CVMA’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), to lead the full-day session. Rob has extensive experience working within the veterinary industry and guided participants through interactive discussions and group activities focused on leadership development and self-awareness.
The workshop emphasized that anyone can be a leader and that leadership is about developing skills rather than having a perfect set of personality traits. Students explored how effective leadership involves being willing to change, avoiding the traps of poor decision-making, and supporting an environment where people feel they belong. Another key theme throughout the day was the importance of respectful conversations and workplace communication, along with practical strategies to achieve this in professional settings.
Participants included students from all four years of the DVM program, as well as residents and faculty members, who all joined in to share their experiences and perspectives. This diverse mix led to dynamic conversations, allowing participants to learn from one another while building connections across different stages of training and professional experience.
As one of the attendees, I found the workshop both engaging and inspiring. Rob created an open environment that encouraged discussion, participation, and self-reflection. The energy in the room remained high throughout the day, and everyone left with insights into how they can lead with empathy, purpose, and confidence, both now as students and later as veterinarians.
A special thank you goes to Dr. Sandy Belle El Khoury from Hill’s, Zyad Alhusaini from Scotiabank and Christie Buckles and Dr. Liane Nelson from Zoetis for attending, contributing to discussions, and supporting the event, as well as to Humm for their sponsorship. Additional thanks to the CVMA for their continued support of veterinary students across the country, to Rob Marr for leading an insightful and thought-provoking day, and to all the AVC students, residents, and faculty who helped make this workshop such a success.
- Katelyn Visser, SCVMA Senior Representative, AVC Class of 2027
Student Testimonials:
“The CVMA Student Leadership Workshop was an excellent opportunity for all attendees. The CVMA did a great job selecting a speaker who could connect with all the students from all different backgrounds. The workshop was incredibly interactive, allowing all participants to engage and learn from the experience. The leadership skills discussed not only apply to working in a veterinary clinic but also extend to all aspects of life. I highly recommend that all students attend the CVMA Student Leadership Workshop in the future. It is a unique opportunity to work on essential skills that are often not taught in vet school.” - Shreyas Satya, DVM Class of 2029
“The leadership workshop gave me valuable insight into what effective leadership really means. It was an eye-opening experience that helped me better understand my strengths and personality traits in the workplace. I completed the leadership workshop feeling more self-aware and motivated to take on leadership roles in the future. I highly recommend it to any vet students!” - Megan Guptil, DVM Class of 2028
Future workshop dates:
2026 – Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)
2027 - Faculté de médecine vétérinaire (FMV)
2028 - Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
2029 – University of Calgary – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM)
