Improving the Veterinary Profession through Business Education
The Simmons Educational Fund (SEF) is a nonprofit committed to improving veterinary business education to meet the needs of tomorrow’s practicing veterinarian. Since 2003, we have donated more than $4 million toward:
- Supporting organizations that work for the benefit of the veterinary profession.
- Investing in the next generation of veterinarians.
- Advancing the veterinary profession through business education.
- Collaborating with other industry leaders to boost our impact and reach.
What We Do
Since its founding, SEF has reached thousands of veterinarians through its sponsorship of speaking engagements, CE sessions, and veterinary organizations, such as VBMA, VLE, and others with similar goals. Dedicated to the next generation of veterinarians, SEF’s flagship project, the Business Aptitude Award Program, has awarded veterinary students with more than $1.8 million to date.
Current Business Aptitude Award Winner
Maxine Zaretsky, a third-year student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the 2025 SEF Business Aptitude Award. The award this year was $30,000, one of the highest awards in the industry. Zaretsky was selected based on the exemplary case study she submitted, as well as on the strength of her educational and professional resume. “I would 100% encourage other veterinary students to apply to the SEF awards in the future," Zaretsky says. "The experience allowed me to gain insight into the complexities of practice ownership. I think the knowledge is valuable for anyone considering buying their own clinic, as well as to generally better understand the business factors that influence practice decisions behind the scenes. I want to be honest that it is a very time-intensive project, but the effort is super rewarding when the case comes together in the end!”
FAQs
Since 2003, Simmons & Associates has donated veterinary practice sale referral fees to fund the SEF.
If you are interested in helping to advance the business of veterinary medicine through the SEF, please contact David King.
If you or your organization is invested in educating veterinary professionals and would like to seek support, please reach out to David King.
Eligible students may apply for the Business Aptitude Award, which provides nearly $70,000 per year to veterinary students demonstrating a keen aptitude for business. The SEF is also a proud sponsor of the student-led Veterinary Business Management Association, which provides business-focused educational opportunities to veterinary students and alumni.
Case study prompts are typically announced in the spring, with a submission deadline of September 30, each year.
The SEF award committee, consisting of four industry judges, evaluates submissions based on applicants’ ability to diagnose potential problems and provide solutions to a real-life business case study, in addition to their professional resumés.
Our Sponsors
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about the programs through which you can get involved with SEF and the business of veterinary medicine? Contact our team.
