Clinical Development

investing in our team

Clinical Development programs focused on helping our teams thrive

At Blue River PetCare, we strongly believe in fostering the development of our veterinarians and clinical team members by offering a wide variety of RACE-approved clinical and professional development programs throughout the year. Our Clinical Development team is comprised of experienced veterinarians and technicians who are dedicated to ensuring our clinical team members across the country have the courses and tools they need to continue to further their education and expand their careers.

In addition to frequent continuing education events, our Clinical Development team offers in-depth professional development programs for Practice Managers, Medical Directors, Veterinarians, and Veterinary Technicians across the Blue River PetCare family.

Practice Leadership Program

BRP Practice Leadership Workshop

This program is designed to build and enhance the leadership skills necessary to effectively manage a clinical team, optimize clinic operations, and ensure high-quality medicine within the practice. Participants will set individual practice goals and learn how to meet them through a series of topics surrounding communication, change management, quality improvement, and more. This program also includes a discussion-based element designed to share best practices, and create a community among Practice Managers and Medical Directors.

Veterinarian Programs

Associate Veterinarian Development

This program focuses on delivering highly-relevant medical and non-medical education to Associate Veterinarians to enhance their knowledge of various topics commonly seen in practice. Medical subjects rotate with each session, focusing on topics such as dentistry and ultrasound. Non-medical programming is aimed at managing personal well-being, communication, efficiency, and professional development in the practice.

Power Into Practice

An exclusive hands-on CE opportunity offered to early career veterinarians within the Blue River PetCare family, this multi-day program is led by board-certified specialists and consists of labs in anesthesiology, surgery, dentistry, and dermatology, as well as a clinical soft skills session.

Veterinarian Mentorship Program

This program is designed to support the mentor/mentee relationship by offering guidance to mentors on how to effectively mentor a new graduate veterinarian. During this program, mentors focus on the fundamentals and process of mentoring, develop mentorship plans, and learn how to encourage new graduates, with the ultimate goal of easy integration into the practice.

Maximizing the Mentoring Experience

This program focuses on assisting early career veterinarians in defining their mentorship program goals, ensuring they get the most out of their mentorship experience within the practice. Participants learn how to customize their unique mentoring plan with the Medical Director or other mentor in the practice, focusing on essentials such as setting goals, scheduling, creating timelines, and providing an exceptional patient and client care experience.

Introduction to Clinical Practice

This program is designed to introduce interpersonal and communication skills, with a focus on leadership and best practices, to new graduates entering the real-world clinical environment. Additionally, this foundational program offers guidance and support for all-around personal and professional well-being.

Veterinarian Continuing Education Series

Through this series, veterinarians across the Blue River PetCare family have access to monthly RACE-approved continuing education programs presented virtually by key industry leaders and board-certified specialists.

Veterinary Technician Programs

Veterinary Technician Education & Scholarship Program

As part of our partnership with Penn Foster College, through this program, full-time veterinary technicians within the Blue River PetCare family who are interested in pursuing an online degree and licensure in their state will have the opportunity to earn a full scholarship for the Penn Foster Associate Degree program. A discounted self-pay tuition program is also available.

Veterinary Technician & Veterinary Assistant Continuing Education Series

Through this series, veterinary technicians and assistants across the Blue River PetCare family have access to monthly RACE-approved continuing education programs presented virtually by key industry leaders, credentialed technicians, and experienced veterinarians.

Meet Our Clinical Development Team

Nina Duflo, DVM, CCRT

Clinical Development Manager

Nina Duflo, DVM, CCRT is a Clinical Development Manager at Blue River PetCare. Nina originally joined Blue River in 2017 as the Medical Director of a small animal practice in Michigan and has since joined the Clinical Development team where she supports the development and well-being of veterinarians across the organization through her years of clinical experience and passion for furthering the veterinary industry.

In her role as a Clinical Development Manager, Nina focuses on helping veterinarians develop and enhance their leadership and communication skills, providing guidance on improving workflow efficiency, and mentoring new medical directors.

Nina’s passion for animal care began at a young age when she would spend time helping on her family’s large agricultural farm. Her passion eventually turned into a career in veterinary medicine, beginning with her education at Michigan State University where she completed both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Nina’s clinical interests include soft tissue surgery, dentistry, and pain management, as well as canine rehabilitation, which led her to earn a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist certification in 2018. In her free time, you can find Nina reading a good book or spending time outdoors!

Jennifer Hiebner, DVM, CVA, CVCH

Clinical Development Manager

Jennifer Hiebner, DVM, CVA, CVCH is a Clinical Development Manager at Blue River PetCare. Jen originally joined Blue River team as the Medical Director of Pitts Veterinary Hospital in Nebraska in 2017 and continues to serve in that role today.

Bringing over 19 years of veterinary experience to the Clinical Development team, Jen maintains a particular interest in soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, ultrasound, and alternative medicine. In her role as Clinical Development Manager, she assists in the development and implementation of educational programs for veterinary professionals across the Blue River network, frequently lecturing on practice leadership and mentorship topics.

In addition to her professional experience, Jen received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, followed by her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University. She also attended Chi University in Reddick, FL to become a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Veterinary Chinese Herbalist.

Suvi Irvine, PhD

Clinical Development Manager – Support Staff

Suvi Irvine, PhD, is a Clinical Development Manager at Blue River PetCare. Originally joining the Blue River family in 2018 as a Practice Manager of a small animal practice in Napa, California, Suvi’s commitment to all aspects of clinic wellness and operational excellence led her to her next role on the BRP Operations team, first as a Regional Operations Specialist, followed then by a role as a Senior Regional Operations Manager. Now a member of the BRP Clinical Development team, Suvi focuses her wealth of knowledge and experience on support staff training and leadership development programs surrounding professional and personal growth and wellbeing.

Before beginning her career in the veterinary field, Suvi attended the University of California-Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, graduating with Honors. She then went on to obtain her Doctor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, with a focus on Political Theory and minor in American Politics. When not traveling to support Blue River clinics, Suvi can be found spending time outdoors hiking, or enjoying her favorite wellness activity, teaching and practicing yoga. She is of course an avid animal lover, sharing her home with two dogs, Emerson and Larry David, and two cats, Atreyu and Aiko.

Melissa J. Supernor, LVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM), CCFP, CVBP, CFVP

Clinical Development Manager – Support Staff

Melissa J. Supernor, LVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM), CCFP, CVBP, CFVP is a Clinical Development Manager at Blue River PetCare. Mel joined the Blue River team in 2021 to further expand the educational programs and professional development opportunities offered to the veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and support team members across the organization.

Drawing on her passion for promoting education, Mel supports the education and growth of clinical team members through the development of programs such as the Veterinary Technician Education & Scholarship Program, which aims to provide scholarship and degree opportunities for Veterinary Technicians wishing to further their education in the field.

In addition to her passion for helping others achieve their education goals, Mel has accomplished many academic achievements of her own since becoming part of the veterinary field. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician, Licensed Veterinary Technician, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Worcester State University, as well as an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology from Becker College. Additionally, Mel earned her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Small Animal Internal Medicine before going on to earn her CCFP, CVBP, CFVP, and AIHR certifications.

Anna Chanslor, RVT

Clinical Development Specialist

Bio coming soon

IN MEMORY OF OUR
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND

Jordan Vendramin, DVM, MS

Director of Clinical Development
Founder, BRP Clinical Development Department

Join the Blue River PetCare Family

If you’re looking for options to secure the future of your practice or opportunities to further your career in veterinary medicine, we’d love to hear from you.

SELL YOUR PRACTICEEXPLORE CAREERS

Join the Blue River PetCare Family

If you’re looking for options to secure the future of your practice or opportunities to further your career in veterinary medicine, we’d love to hear from you.

SELL YOUR PRACTICEEXPLORE CAREERS