Mentoring in Veterinary Medicine Today
The IVMA Board of Directors continues to review the issues and opportunities facing veterinary medicine and its members in Indiana. Recent board meeting discussions have included the value of mentoring – providing mentoring to recent grads and recent hires in your practice and the value that mentoring can bring to an experienced veterinarian as well.
A mentor can be an invaluable asset throughout a veterinarian’s career, offering guidance and support in several key areas:
• Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Veterinary school equips graduates with a strong foundation, but the realities of daily practice can be different. A mentor can help navigate real-world scenarios, from complex procedures to client communication.
• Confidence Building: Especially for new graduates, starting out can be daunting. A mentor can provide encouragement, address imposter syndrome, and celebrate achievements, fostering a sense of self-belief.
• Clinical Skills Development: An experienced veterinarian can offer practical advice on performing procedures, interpreting test results, and effectively managing various cases.
• Communication Skills: A mentor can help refine communication with clients, especially during difficult situations like delivering bad news or explaining treatment options.
• Work-Life Balance and Well-being: Veterinary medicine can be stressful, and burnout is a concern. A mentor can model healthy work habits and offer guidance on maintaining a good work-life balance.
• Career Development: A mentor can provide insights into career paths within veterinary medicine, offer advice on pursuing specific areas of interest, and even help navigate job searches.
Mentorship is a two-way street. While the mentee benefits from the experience and guidance, the mentor can gain satisfaction from helping someone develop and grow in the profession.
Overall, a strong mentor-mentee relationship can significantly impact a veterinarian’s career trajectory, fostering success, improving well-being, and promoting longevity within the demanding field of veterinary medicine.
ACTION!
The Board connected with Dr. Addie Reinhard at its March board meeting to learn more about MentorVet, a company she started to provide training and resources for mentors and mentees. The American Veterinary Medical Association has partnered with MentorVet to offer AVMA members with less than 10 years of professional experience to receive free mentoring for the program.
IVMA Members – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER!
Less than a year after it welcomed its first mentees from the class of 2023, MentorVet Connect has been expanded for the second time. Now, any AVMA member can receive free mentoring anytime within their first 10 years after graduating from veterinary school.
Connecting and growing through mentorship
MentorVet Connect pairs trained mentor veterinarians with early-career AVMA members, creating connections that can be transformational for mentees. Mentors can provide both professional and emotional support to steer early-career colleagues on a path toward success and fulfillment.
• Both mentor and mentee get training in advance—helping to ensure the mentoring will be productive.
• The formal mentoring relationship lasts six months. After that, mentor and mentee can decide together if they want to continue.
• Mentoring takes place remotely, so geography isn’t an issue.
Become a mentor!
MentorVet Connect is also looking for experienced veterinarians who want to become mentors. Volunteering as a mentor is a rewarding and practical way to give back to the profession we love, and the mentoring relationship can transform both participants.
Any AVMA member who is licensed and has at least one year of experience can apply to become a mentor. Mentors complete a five-hour orientation, eligible for RACE-approved CE, before being paired with potential mentees.