- VHMA will support The Bridge Club’s 2027 ICON Award honoring a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM).
- Nominations opened June 23, 2026, and will remain open through August 3, 2026.
- CVPMs may be nominated by others or submit their own nominations.
- The recipient will be recognized during The Bridge Club’s annual ICON event at VMX in Orlando on January 16, 2027.
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) is partnering with The Bridge Club to support the 2027 ICON Award, which will, for the first time, recognize a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) for excellence in veterinary practice leadership.
Each year, The Bridge Club’s ICON Award highlights a different area of impact within veterinary medicine. The 2027 award will celebrate a veterinary professional whose career reflects exceptional leadership in building successful practices, developing high-performing teams, and advancing the business of veterinary medicine.
Nominations Open Through August
Nominations opened on June 23, 2026, and will close on August 3, 2026. Eligible CVPMs may be nominated by colleagues or submit self-nominations. The nomination process requests information about professional accomplishments, leadership impact, and long-term contributions to the profession, with supporting documentation encouraged.
The peer-reviewed selection process brings together previous ICON recipients and program sponsors to identify a leader whose work has made a meaningful and lasting impact on veterinary medicine. Evaluation includes achievements in practice leadership, team development, workplace culture, client experience, mentorship, and professional advocacy.
Elevating Veterinary Practice Leadership
“For too long, the leadership of veterinary hospital managers has often been overlooked, despite the essential role they play in every successful practice,” said Christine Shupe, CAE, Executive Director of VHMA. “We’re proud to support The Bridge Club’s ICON Award because it helps make the profession of veterinary hospital management more visible, more valued, and impossible to overlook. Recognizing these exceptional leaders benefits not only the individuals honored but also the practices and profession they strengthen every day.”
“Veterinary practices don’t thrive by accident,” said Theresa Cosper-Roberts, MA, RVT, CVPM, ACVE(DE), Chief Veterinary Technician for The Bridge Club. “Behind every healthy culture, engaged team, and exceptional client experience is someone doing the often-unseen work of leadership.”
Award Presentation at VMX 2027
The 2027 ICON Award recipient will be honored during The Bridge Club’s annual ICON event, held in conjunction with VMX in Orlando on Saturday, January 16, 2027.
Since its introduction in 2018, the ICON Award has recognized influential leaders across veterinary medicine. The 2027 honoree will join a distinguished group of professionals recognized for advancing the veterinary profession through leadership and service.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
