For veterinary students, developing clinical expertise is only part of the journey. Many graduates will also be called upon to lead teams, navigate financial decisions and help shape the future of veterinary practice.

To help prepare students for those responsibilities, Merck Animal Health created the VetSim Student Business Challenge, an immersive learning experience designed to strengthen business acumen, financial literacy and leadership skills before students enter professional practice.

Developed in collaboration with the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Advantexe Learning Solutions, the program provides students with a realistic environment to experience the challenges of managing and growing a veterinary practice.

The initiative builds on findings from the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Studies, which highlight the impact that financial stress and business-related challenges can have on veterinary professionals. By helping students develop confidence in business management and financial decision-making before entering practice, VetSim supports Merck Animal Health’s broader commitment to advancing veterinary wellbeing and professional success.

“Veterinary medicine continues to evolve, and today’s graduates need more than clinical expertise to succeed,” said Dr. Taylor Tillery, veterinary academic & industry liaison lead, Merck Animal Health. “Future veterinarians will be asked to lead teams, interpret financial data and make decisions that influence the long-term success of a practice. VetSim helps students build confidence in those areas before they begin their careers.”

Learning Through Experience

During the 2026 challenge, 60 students representing 20 veterinary schools participated in a five-week business simulation in which teams managed a fictional veterinary practice through its first five years of operation.

Students were responsible for making decisions related to revenue, profitability, cash flow, employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction while adapting to changing business conditions. The highest-performing teams advanced to a final Board of Directors round, where they presented their business strategies and results to a panel of veterinary industry leaders.

The experience provided students with a unique opportunity to apply business concepts in a hands-on environment while working collaboratively to solve real-world challenges facing veterinary practices today.

Measuring Impact

To better understand the program’s effectiveness, participants completed blinded pre- and post-challenge assessments measuring confidence across key business competencies.

The results demonstrated meaningful improvement across every area evaluated, with average confidence gains ranging from 27% to 36%¹. Students reported increased confidence in interpreting financial statements, managing cash flow, developing pricing strategies, budgeting for operations and making staffing-related decisions. All reported improvements were statistically significant.

Participant feedback further reinforced the value of the experience. Many students noted that the simulation helped them better understand the relationship between business decisions, financial performance and team success. Others highlighted the final Board of Directors presentation as an opportunity to strengthen communication and leadership skills.

Recognizing Future Leaders

The 2026 VetSim Student Business Challenge culminated with a team from Michigan State University earning top honors.

Represented by Emily Newborn, John Lidle and Selena Gomez, the team demonstrated exceptional performance in veterinary business strategy, financial decision-making and executive communication throughout the competition. The students received the competition’s $30,000 scholarship and were recognized during the AVMA Convention.

Their achievement reflects the broader goal of the program: helping veterinary students build the confidence and skills needed to succeed as future leaders in the profession.

Looking Ahead

As veterinary medicine continues to evolve, the profession will increasingly rely on leaders who can combine clinical expertise with business knowledge, financial literacy and effective communication.

Through partnerships with organizations including VBMA, AVMA and Advantexe, Merck Animal Health is helping students develop those capabilities before graduation. The company is also exploring opportunities to expand the VetSim model to additional areas of veterinary medicine, including educational experiences tailored to students pursuing careers in dairy, beef, poultry and equine practices.

By combining business management, teamwork, financial decision-making and executive communication in a single immersive experience, VetSim is helping prepare the next generation of veterinary professionals to lead thriving practices and support the future of animal health.

“Our hope is that VetSim inspires students to see themselves not only as clinicians, but as future leaders within veterinary medicine,” said Tillery. “The enthusiasm, creativity and strategic thinking demonstrated by this year’s participants gives us tremendous optimism for the future of the profession.”

¹ Internal Merck Animal Health Analysis