The American Veterinary Medical Association and the professional development organization MentorVet have created a digital platform designed to help recent veterinary graduates bond with mentors.
“MentorVet Connect was established to create meaningful connections between veterinary professionals,” said Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS, the founder and CEO of MentorVet. “The mentoring relationship has the potential to lead to positive impacts for the mentor and the mentee.
AVMA President Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP, CVJ, said the program will play a key role in “helping new veterinarians build healthy and successful careers while ultimately strengthening the veterinary profession as a whole.”
According to the 2022 AVMA Senior Survey, graduates said a mentoring relationship was the top reason they chose a particular job from among multiple offers.
New graduates can benefit from a veterinary mentor in these areas:
- Gaining confidence in medical skills.
- Improving client communication and conflict management skills.
- Combating imposter syndrome.
- Preventing burnout and compassion fatigue.
- Making ethical decisions.
Any licensed AVMA member who has at least one year of professional experience can apply to become a mentor. If accepted, they must complete a five-hour orientation.
Recent graduates must complete an application and participate in a short training session. They can then search for an available mentor and request a connection.
Once paired, the mentor and mentee commit to at least one hourlong call to discuss expectations and establish a six-month communication plan.
MentorVet Connect will begin pairing mentors and mentees in July. The free service, which is supported by the AVMA, Merck Animal Health, Royal Canin and educational institutions, is initially open only to 2023 veterinary graduates.
Details are at mentorvet.net/connect.