Congratulations to UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine on the opening of its new Small Animal Hospital in November last year. The UF Small Animal Hospital has more specialists under one roof than other veterinary hospital in Florida. In addition to offering 24/7 emergency care, the new Small Animal Hospital partners with local veterinarians to provide the best health care available for pets in the local community. The new facility includes 22 new examination rooms and 12 surgical suites.
Sarah Carey, PR director for the college, spearheaded a major marketing and public relations effort to open the hospital. PRO iNK assisted with:
- communications research,
- development of a marketing and communications plan for the hospital,
- message development,
- creation of identity and brand for the hospital,
- design of VIP party invitations, an airport exhibit and a banner announcing the opening.
PRO iNK also met with committees throughout the hospital planning process to offer public relations and marketing advice and counsel.
“When we embarked upon the planning process for opening our new Small Animal Hospital, we had less than a year to identify our objectives, develop a plan and implement our marketing strategies for maximum exposure,” Carey said. “PRO iNK’s involvement gave us a framework for doing this, and perhaps most importantly, got all of us thinking about things we never had before, in terms not only of our messages and how our various publics see us, but also how we do business and ways we wanted to improve.”
Results? After just three months of operation, revenues are up and operations are running smoothly.
“This was a true team effort of everyone in the college,” said Terry Van Nortwick, PRO iNK president. “As huge animal lovers, we were thrilled to be able to participate in the opening of this world-class facility,” she said.
For more information about the UF Small Animal Hospital, go to www.vethospitals.ufl.edu. For appointments, call 352/392-2235.
