VCA Inc., the largest family of animal care providers nationwide, was presented with the Western University of Health Sciences Corporate Excellence Award in Health Care at the school’s annual gala fundraiser, “A Tribute to Caring.” Held earlier this month in Anaheim, California, the event attracted nearly 700 guests and raised more than $400,000 to benefit university scholarships.
WesternU honored longtime friend and partner, VCA, with the award, which was accepted by
VCA co-founders Robert Antin and his brother, Chief Operating Officer, Arthur J. Antin.
The Antin brothers and Neil Tauber, who is now senior vice president, started VCA around the time WesternU Founding President Philip Pumerantz, PhD was exploring the possibility of opening of a veterinary college.
VCA supported Dr. Pumerantz as he opened the College of Veterinary Medicine, and contributed to the One Health concept, which is the integrative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment.
“The role of veterinarians in public health, as well as medicine, has gained in significance, going beyond the diseases that affect both animals and man,” said WesternU Senior Vice President Thomas G. Fox, PhD. “The concept of One Health and its public health significance contributes to and mandates a healthy environment, healthy animals and healthy people. Robert has always had VCA in the forefront of efforts to improve the understanding of the importance of One Health.”
“We are deeply honored to receive this award and have shared a lot of memories and many experiences together – like how hard it is to start something and build an incredible culture at the same time,” Robert Antin said. “It’s not the buildings we remember. It’s the people. It’s the careers. It’s the opportunity that people have, and even though it’s tough to build something, we feel very proud of our accomplishments and our lives will continue to be intertwined.”
WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) alumna Jaimie Siegel, DVM ’07, grew up with Antin as a neighbor. She babysat his children and, when he found out she wanted to become a veterinarian, he helped her get a job at age 16 as a kennel assistant at a VCA hospital. That early experience helped her gain a realistic view of her future profession.
Siegel continued to work for VCA while attending WesternU and completed an emergency critical care and surgery internship at VCA after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She worked at VCA for nine years before starting her own concierge practice in Hermosa Beach.
“VCA is very accepting of who you are as a person. They think about the individual more than a lot of other companies,” Siegel said. “I’m a supporter of the company – the work they do, their mission statement. VCA is about individualism. It’s about the individual client and the individual animal.”
Every CVM student takes the Diagnostic, Laboratory and Pathology course at VCA’s Antech Diagnostics Laboratory in Orange County, and many VCA practices provide training opportunities to CVM students.
VCA is one of the many clinical partners in the community that supports WesternU by providing students the opportunity to work extensively with animals alongside veterinarians in the local area. After completing the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, students are well prepared to enter a rewarding career caring for animals as veterinarians.
About Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences (www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biomedical sciences, dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to the Patient Care Center, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered. The Chronicle of Higher Education named WesternU a Great College to Work For in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Western University of Health Sciences (www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biomedical sciences, dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to the Patient Care Center, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered. The Chronicle of Higher Education named WesternU a Great College to Work For in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
