UF recently announced a veterinary senior won the national Bayer Excellence in Communication Award, becoming the first UF student to win the award.
Dr. Brittany Martabano won the award in April for her excellent skills in communications and her commendable bedside manner with clients, according to a press release.
Dr. Martabano, who graduated Saturday, said one of her favorite things about veterinary medicine is communication.
Making sure the client is comfortable and completely aware of what’s going on with their pet is essential to maintaining client relationships, she said.
“It’s really important when you’re working in veterinary medicine to have a good bedside manner and have clients feel comfortable with you,” Dr. Martabano said.
Two judges reviewed a video of Dr. Martabano conversing with a client about their pet, just as she does on a regular basis. Dr. Martabano said she recorded the video at PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support group) clinic, which helps clients with disabilities who may not be able to afford vet care.
Bayer, a German multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company, awarded Martabano $2,500 in scholarship money for winning the college competition, and it awarded another $2,500 for winning at a national level, according to the release.
Each year, Bayer awards a total of $70,000 in scholarships, according to the release.
As a recent graduate, Dr. Martabano said she now plans on moving for a year-long internship at North Carolina State University, where she will work in a small-animal hospital. She then plans to apply for an ophthalmology residency, which is a specialization in eye problems and surgery.
The college has only hosted the competition for three years, said Dr. Amy Stone, a clinical assistant professor for the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Stone served as a college-level judge, deciding who would advance to the national competition.
“It’s really important when you’re working in veterinary medicine to have a good bedside manner and have clients feel comfortable with you.”
Judges on the national level then reviewed Dr. Martabano’s 20-minute video and submissions from 27 other colleges, Dr. Stone said.
She said judges typically look for signs of empathy, eye contact and personal connection in the videos.
“Brittany just has a way of giving her entire focus and connecting,” she said. “That is not really something you can teach. She’s perfected it.”
Dr. Martabano’s communication skills are apparent from the moment she opens the door, according to a press release from Bayer, which hosts the competition every year.
Bayer believes the skill to passionately talk to clients and explain the health issues facing their pets in a caring way is one of the most important skills a veterinarian can master, according to the release.
“She’s a remarkable young lady and really wears her empathy on her sleeve,” Dr. Stone said.
