Disaster Business Continuity Certificate Program

Business continuity planning and preparedness are key to business survival. Just as we encourage clients to protect their animals in a disaster, and we plan for our own families and loved ones, we also need plans to protect our practices. AVMA’s Disaster Business Continuity Certificate Program is a self-paced learning curriculum that teaches participants how to create and implement a plan to prepare our businesses for — and minimize the impact of — emergencies and disasters.

The program is comprised of three modules that can be taken individually or completed together. Earn 1 CE credit for each module completed. It is highly recommended to take the modules in order: Module 1, 2, and then 3.

When all three modules are completed, participants will receive an AVMA Disaster Business Continuity certificate of completion and a digital badge to display on your website and social media platforms.

Modules include:
Disaster business continuity: Module 1
This module focuses on planning for business survival during a disaster.

Disaster business continuity: Module 2
This module focuses on how to develop a business continuity plan.

Disaster business continuity: Module 3
This module focuses on implementing your business continuity plan.

As an assistant director in AVMA’s Division of Animal and Public Health, and as AVMA’s disaster coordinator, Dr. Warren Hess provides technical and scientific expertise to several AVMA committees, including the Committee on Environmental Issues, the Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee, the Council on Veterinary Service, and the Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues. Dr. Hess earned his DVM from Colorado State University and worked in small animal practice with an emphasis on birds and other exotic animals. He then served as field veterinarian, assistant state veterinarian, and acting state veterinarian for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. He has led various state and national organizations, including serving as president of both the Utah Veterinary Medical Association (UVMA) and the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP). He received the NASAAEP Service Award in 2017andthe American Veterinary Medical Foundation Paws Up Award in 2018,and was named Veterinarian of the Year by the UVMA in 2014.