GUELPH, Ontario, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- From
LifeLearn's beginnings in 1994 providing continuing education
programs to veterinarians across North
America using leading-edge technology, LifeLearn celebrates
25 years of continuing innovation and excellence providing
education and communication products and services to the veterinary
profession, animal health organizations, and pet service
businesses.
"I'm thrilled to be part of such a dynamic company as it
celebrates 25 years in business," says Randy Valpy, President and CEO of LifeLearn.
"LifeLearn started out as a company by listening to what the
veterinary and animal health industry wants, and by responding to
that with leading-edge digital solutions. Today, LifeLearn
continues to listen and respond, and this unwavering focus and core
commitment poises LifeLearn for future growth."
LifeLearn Began as an Idea on a Napkin
"When we first started LifeLearn," recalls Charles (Chas) Povey, PhD, co-founder of
LifeLearn and Chairman of the Board, "Jim
Stowe was already running a continuing education program at
the Ontario Veterinary College" (OVC). Jim
Stowe, DVM, led the OVC's veterinary continuing education
programs at the University of Guelph
beginning in 1988 as Head of Veterinary Continuing Education, and
in 1994 became LifeLearn's co-founder.
In the early 1990's, despite a successful continuing education
department, OVC needed a solution to overcome government budget
cuts. Setting up a standalone business to meet the demand for
quality CE and support lifelong learning (the origin of the
LifeLearn name) under the direction of Dr. Povey and Dr. Stowe was
the answer!
"As a practitioner," says Dr. Stowe, "I was using computers in
practice before most other veterinarians." Seeing the potential to
adapt technology to overcome the problems of transferring
information and skills beyond a traditional classroom setting, Dr.
Povey and Dr. Stowe agreed that technology was the way to go to
create a distance education program for veterinarians
everywhere.
"So, Chas and I sat down one night and created the proverbial
business plan on a napkin," says Dr. Stowe, "and then we created a
more formal business plan." With financing from the OVC and the
private sector (which included veterinarians), Dr. Povey and Dr.
Stowe were provided office space by the OVC in the University of Guelph's historic MacNabb House. In
1994, LifeLearn opened its doors to help animal health
professionals "realize the value of knowledge"—a precept that
remains foundational to everything that LifeLearn does for clients,
communities and the animal health industry worldwide.
The Challenge
At LifeLearn's launch in 1994, "We were faced with the fact that
many veterinarians did not have computers," says Dr. Povey. "At
that time," adds Dr. Stowe, "the media being used was analogue
audio visual." So LifeLearn's first products used CDi (compact disc
interactive) to offer veterinary "learning adventures"—case-based
self-study modules for practical certification on veterinary
subjects like veterinary dentistry, cardiology and more. In 1995,
LifeLearn won the Gold Award for Best Use of CDi Technology in an
Education Title at the CDi Association's fourth annual awards.
And from there, as computers became more ubiquitous, LifeLearn
moved to CD-ROM, then online development and continued to grow and
expand its educational scope and services to veterinarians across
North America, the UK,
Australia, and New Zealand.
Where LifeLearn Is Today
"LifeLearn's proven expertise in veterinary content and digital
technology has delivered a comprehensive suite of solutions to help
veterinarians optimize their practices," says Dr. Mark Stephenson, DVM and Chief Veterinary
Officer for LifeLearn.
LifeLearn's practice solutions now include:
- WebDVM – custom veterinary websites with complementary
communications and online marketing tools
- ClientEd – a digital pet owner education portal with over 2,000
pet health articles written and reviewed by animal health experts
to improve compliance and patient outcomes
- Sofie – the advanced veterinary medical search tool powered by
IBM Watson® that won an Everyday Health – Health Innovation Award
in 2015 at a special ceremony at the International Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and
won Gold for Best New Products (Workplace Resources) at the 2016
Edison Awards.
"And for the past 20 years," adds Dr. Stephenson, "LifeLearn's
Industry Solutions have served animal health companies with
veterinary-focused education, marketing services and meetings
agency services."
What Does the Future Hold for LifeLearn?
"Going forward, we're primed for explosive growth, "says Valpy.
"We have a number of new products that we're launching in 2019, new
partnerships that we've recently announced and others that are
about to come."
In November of 2018, LifeLearn announced its first entry into
the pet services industry through a new partnership with Gingr, the
leading online appointment and customer management solution for dog
daycare, boarding, training, and grooming businesses. And in
January 2019, LifeLearn announced its
50% purchase of VetFolio from the North American Veterinary
Community and partnership with the NAVC to deliver an all-new
VetFolio—one-stop access to hundreds of online veterinary medical
education and resources for veterinarians, veterinary students,
veterinary nurses/technicians, practice managers and practice
staff.
Also new for LifeLearn in 2019:
- Two additional editions of WebDVM – Essential &
Exclusive
- The latest pet health articles and updates with ClientEd
- Two new veterinary reference books added to Sofie and the
ability to purchase Sofie online
- Stratus – a Sales Presentation & Empowerment Solution for
animal heath companies
- ALLYDVM NPS (Net Promoter Score) for WebDVM websites
- PetNurse – after-hours telehealth support for clinics and their
clients
- AdLift – custom digital media marketing for veterinarians
- SEO Extreme – search engine optimization (SEO) for veterinary
websites
- VetScribe – custom content for digital communication
channels
"As we look at our strategic plan," says Valpy, "we've got some
exciting plans that are going to result in the explosive growth
that I think LifeLearn will experience in the coming years."
About LifeLearn Animal Health
Celebrating 25 years of continuing innovation and excellence,
LifeLearn, Inc. provides education and communications products and
services to the veterinary profession, animal health organizations,
and pet service businesses. LifeLearn's award-winning competencies
in digital media, combined with longstanding veterinary content
expertise, have delivered sophisticated offerings to veterinarians
to optimize their practices, including: WebDVM, custom veterinary
websites; ClientEd; client education resource; and Sofie, the
advanced veterinary medical search tool. For 20 years, animal
health corporations have relied on LifeLearn to provide
veterinary-focused education, digital marketing, and meetings
agency services to optimize their businesses. LifeLearn was named
one of Canada's fastest-growing
companies from 2015 to 2017 by PROFIT 500 and GROWTH 500 in
2018.
SOURCE LifeLearn