Collaboration is often a key to success, and College of Veterinary Medicine DVM student Kat Velez exemplified that with her performance in the recent CLARION Local Interprofessional Case Competition. 

Velez and her teammate, Alex Petronio, a student at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry, took first place in the competition, earning a $3,000 team scholarship and advancing to the CLARION National Case Competition. 

Velez is a second-year student in the DVM program and is happy to be representing veterinary medicine in the competition, which tasks students this year with presenting their analysis and air quality strategic plans to develop resilient health systems for a changing climate. 

“As veterinarians, we play a vital role in the broader interprofessional healthcare community, and I think it's important for that to be recognized,” she says. “It's been a rewarding experience to contribute to discussions and work alongside other healthcare professionals, showcasing how our field can collaborate to improve overall patient care.”

Supported by the UMN Center for Health Interprofessional Programs, the local competition was held in person at the Health Sciences Education Center and included 10 teams with a total of 27 students representing various healthcare professions. 

Velez says the first case focused on a child developing asthma after flooding caused mold growth in her home, and the second case involved an elderly woman in northern Minnesota who struggled with the effects of forest fires on her health, limiting her ability to engage in outdoor activities she values.

“Our challenge was to create a three-year strategic plan for HealthPartners to address these issues,” she says. “We built on the initiatives they already have in place, proposing solutions that align with their goals. My partner and I are excited about moving on to nationals, and we’re grateful that our vision and efforts are being recognized as realistic and actionable.”

This is the first year Velez has participated in the CLARION case competition. CLARION (CLinician Administrator Relationship Improvement OrganizatioN) is a student organization focused on the professional development of health professional students and includes lessons in leadership, teamwork, communication, analytical reasoning, conflict-resolution, and business practices. 

“I joined CLARION to become more involved with the interprofessional community and to gain experience collaborating with students from different healthcare disciplines,” Velez says.

She and her teammate now turn their attention to preparing for the national competition, set to be held at UMN in April.