Testimonials for VetComm Academy

I am a relatively new graduate, and I cannot believe that communication training is not part of our core curriculum. It is undeniably one of the most important aspects of the way we practice medicine, perhaps THE most important. I only realized the importance of this critical skill after learning the hard way that my communication skills were woefully underdeveloped.

Until you know HOW to communicate effectively and build trust you will never truly understand how important it is. My communication training has fundamentally changed the way I interact with my clients and allowed me to build the quintessential VCPR that is built on trust and empathy. It has allowed me to forge genuine relationships with the people whose pets I care for and even showed me how much happier I can be in my career. When clients express understanding and I have communicated the value of my advice, it changes the game.

Exam room management was most helpful for me. It helped break down the exam process into bite sized pieces that are easy to control. I really like the idea of changing the history taking process and letting the DVMs get the information they want rather than letting techs spend so much time getting information.

The Veterinary Communication & Coaching diagrams have improved my ability to communicate potential differential diagnosis and diagnostics to clients. Clients get a visual of the different causes and recommended diagnostics to help us make decisions. This has improved treatment of the patient and overall client satisfaction.

I love using the disease diagrams, this allows both me and the client to work through the various aspects of a condition and visualize the order of diagnostics and ultimately decide on a plan together. It also gives the client something to refer back to that is simple and easy to follow.

Learning to connect with clients and build trust has renewed my love of veterinary medicine. I am able to give better care to pets, and I see more repeat clients because they trust me and we have a rapport. It also makes the history and planning discussions productive and enjoyable.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to the VCC Academy curriculum when I started working at Intermountain Pet Hospital in 2022. I had been practicing for several years at that point and considered myself a relatively good communicator but often found myself in long, circular conversations that I often walked away wondering if the client understood my primary concerns. Since learning and implementing the techniques taught in the VCC curriculum I have found my client communication to be more direct and efficient which allows me to conduct a thorough appointment while still staying on time (which historically was a challenge for me). Specifically, I have found the use of visual aids and the concept of structuring the exam into discrete stages to be the most impactful.

Even though I received a lot of communications training in veterinary school, the exam room checklist has completely changed the way I talk to clients and my practice in general. I find that it is so much easier to go through exams in this way, and I really think it has made me a more effective doctor. I can't hardly imagine doing things any other way now that I've seen it done and used it myself.

Owning the exam room and the step-by-step process of what "ideal" communication looks like was extremely helpful. Additionally, the examples provided for each of these steps were very helpful.

I was a floundering veterinarian struggling to connect with clients and make our conversations stick. Through the Veterinary Communication and Coaching Academy, Dr. Brett Bingham coached me on the principles of communication — from introductions and history gathering to physical exam verbalization, summarizing findings, and developing a plan with the client.

That training revolutionized how I approach clients.

I have watched client complaints drop, client loyalty increase, client compliance improve, and my ability to practice the medicine I wanted grow substantially. There are always multiple factors that contribute to success in practice, but I strongly believe a major part of the success I have seen — both in individual doctors and across our hospitals — has been built on improvements in the exam room experience through the communication tools and framework Dr. Bingham teaches.

Dr. Bingham has developed and applied a system that works in real clinical practice, and he teaches it in a way that helps veterinarians improve patient care, client relationships, and professional satisfaction.

Seven years ago I immigrated to the USA from an Eastern European Country. Similar to others coming from the same culture, I was not the most diplomatic person and I was always in a rush. This was reflected also in the approach of my appointments…in one word: “unorganized”.

When I started working as a DVM in the USA, I was lucky to have found the clinic of my dreams. Everything was organized to perfection!

The onboarding process was mainly focused on communication training. I learn how to introduce myself, how to get the most info out of a history, how to show my clients the value of a physical exam, go over my findings in an organized manner, list the differentials using visual diagrams and make collaborative treatment plans along with the clients.

On a personal level the training made me kinder: I have learned not to be judgmental, to show empathy to the clients and to be compassionate towards the animals.

All of these notions were implemented by Dr. Bingham in the clinic that I work at, during many years of hard work.

The notions of his courses improved the quality of the medicine I practice today, and part of who I am as a person.

If I had the power to change anything in the veterinary field, I would make the VCC. Academy communication program a mandatory course in all the universities of the world.

Once exposed, I have seen the magic of it. I became a believer of this system of vetcomm academy and I am confident that it will make a big difference for the vets that are curious to adapt, even with baby steps.

I have noticed that I have consistency in the services provided and the owners know what to expect. This builds trust and long-term relationships.

Vetcomm Academy provided a framework, performing every appointment in a systematic manner and not being afraid of what is behind the exam room door.

I have been practicing for almost 30 years. I have struggled in the past with explaining or walking clients though more complicated case workups and have really adopted the flow chart style diagrams. Without the diagram, clients can easily get confused in the lists or diagnoses, tests, etc. that I review with them. They may not understand and/or get frustrated. I have even added several of my own charts to review for my exotics patients and they greatly help clients follow my thought path, understand better what their pet’s issues are, and better accept the recommendations I need to make since they have a visual mental path now.

The communication training courses have been an integral part of my success as a new grad. I have learned how to build stronger relationships with clients through meaningful connections and effective education. From easy-to-follow diagrams to scripts for those difficult situations - there are so many nuggets of gold within this training. I’m constantly learning new skills!

The communication training that is laid out in the VCC academy has helped me in every aspect of the examination process. Effective communication has given me the ability to gain trust and demonstrate the value in what we do as a profession. This has led to significant improvement in patient care both in practice and at home.

I serve as Associate Regional Operations Director for Mission Pet Health, where I support Veterinary Hospital leaders, including both Hospital Managers and Medical Leads, as well as the veterinarians across my region. Over the course of my entire career in veterinary medicine, I have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Bingham for more than a decade, including in my previous role as a Hospital Manager. This long-standing professional relationship has given me direct insight into his communication style and the tangible impact it has on both clinical teams and client experiences.

Dr. Bingham is an exceptional communicator. I have personally observed the success of his approach in exam rooms, where he builds trust with clients through clarity, empathy, and confidence, as well as within his teams, where he fosters collaboration, and a positive culture. His ability to teach these skills to others is equally impressive.

Dr. Bingham now leads VetComm Academy, a program dedicated to providing communication skills training for veterinary professionals. The value of this training cannot be overstated. Strong communication directly impacts patient care, client trust, team engagement, and overall hospital success. Dr. Bingham provides practical, actionable tools that help doctors and leaders elevate their performance in all of these areas.

I fully intend to have every clinic I oversee participate in this training, as I believe it is essential for building stronger teams, improving client relationships, and delivering the highest quality of care. I strongly believe every veterinary clinic would benefit from the opportunity to learn from Dr. Bingham and VetComm Academy.

I fully support his qualifications and highly recommend him.

As a practicing veterinarian since 2014, a practice owner since 2019, and former President of the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA), I would recommend Brett Bingham a s a credible and valuable resource for veterinarians communication skills.

Brett has spoken multiple times at the annual  IVA meeting, where he consistently delivers  practical, relatable strategies that resonate with  DVMs i n everyday practice. As the author of Own the Exam Room: Veterinary Communication Secrets from the Trenches, he offers insightful, experience-based guidance that supports veterinary teams in strengthening client communication and enhancing overall patient care.