Veterinary medicine has long been associated with individual practitioners providing comprehensive care. However, the growing complexity of veterinary practice and the expanding scope of services necessitate a paradigm shift. Team-based medicine, an approach emphasizing collaboration among diverse veterinary professionals, is emerging as the future of veterinary care.

The role of veterinary technicians is integral to modern veterinary practice. Yet, across many clinics, their potential is underutilized. According to the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) 2023 Veterinary Technician Utilization Guidelines, optimizing technician roles can significantly enhance patient care, increase team morale, and improve operational efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore eight actionable ways to empower veterinary technicians, all grounded in these AAHA guidelines, for a more collaborative and effective veterinary team.

Veterinary technicians are the backbone of any successful veterinary practice. Their role is diverse, their knowledge is extensive, and their contributions are invaluable. Yet, as the profession evolves, there’s increasing recognition that veterinary technicians often face unique challenges in the workplace. These challenges, if not addressed, can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and a high turnover rate within the profession.

Our MentorVet Connect program is designed to support young veterinarians and veterinary technicians by pairing them with exceptional mentors. One of the best examples of this is the mentor/mentee relationship that Dr. Gary Marshall (mentor) and Dr. Edris Grate (mentee) have! We are close to 800 mentors and mentees using our Connect platform and we couldn’t be more excited to foster a community of people who desire to make our profession more sustainable.

Do you remember a great mentor you had as a blossoming veterinary technician? Do you wish you had a veterinary mentor as you moved through your career? Having a mentor within the veterinary profession has been shown to provide many benefits to both the mentor and mentee. A strong mentoring relationship can enhance job satisfaction, boost confidence, and improve clinical skills, ultimately leading to better patient care and a more cohesive team. Do you think you have what it takes to be a GREAT mentor?

Mentoring relationships hold immense potential for professional and personal growth, especially in veterinary medicine. However, for these relationships to thrive, a critical element must be present: psychological safety. This concept, initially popularized by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, is fundamental in creating an environment where mentees feel safe to express themselves, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of judgment or retribution.

As a veterinary professional, continual learning is essential to stay current with the latest medical technology, treatment options, emerging disease processes, or nursing skill tips. However, adult learning differs from high school, tech school, or undergrad educational environments. This blog explores the unique aspects of adult learning, why it differs from high school or college, and provides practical tips to enhance your educational journey within our busy lives today.

In every veterinary practice, conflicts often arise amidst the hustle and bustle of patient care, client interactions, and disagreements between coworkers. Conflict has been shown to be a key stressor for veterinary professionals, and in some cases, may contribute to veterinary burnout. Conflicts can stem from a variety of reasons, including differences in opinion regarding treatment plans, miscommunications between team members, or clashes over clinic protocols. However, what distinguishes successful veterinary professionals is not the absence of conflicts, but rather their ability to navigate and resolve them effectively.

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and MentorVet have partnered to deliver a new mentorship program: MentorVet Lead for New Diplomates. The program is sponsored by Chewy Health, the dedicated healthcare arm of Chewy, which funded the development of this exciting new program and plans to provide scholarships to participants on an ongoing basis. Designed for ACVIM Diplomates who have become Board-certified in the past five years, MentorVet Lead will deliver the peer support, coaching, and mentorship needed by new ACVIM specialists to thrive.

MentorVet has incredible research happening constantly, and I was able to jump right into researching their new program, MentorVet Connect. This program focused on the value of paired mentorship relationships in the veterinary profession, and my job was to help evaluate the experiences of the mentors and mentees involved.

MentorVet strives to help vets and tech pursue healthy boundaries, develop professional skills, and create purpose in all they do! Dr. Sophia Leone, one of our past mentees in the MentorVet Leap program, recently shared with us how she stays passionate in her career and life.

Dr. Beth Neuman as she shares her “why” for veterinary medicine. Showing the vet community how to thrive in their journey and finding life-long passion in their work, is one way MentorVet wants to give back to our community!

Our new “Share Why” campaign is meant to highlight some of the personal experiences that have strongly shaped those in our community and the veterinary field. Read about Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, Director of MentorVet Tech and why she continues her career in vet med and how she stays passionate!

For anyone interested in learning more about the field of veterinary social work (VSW), we interviewed Sarina Manifold, MSSW, LCSW, the Founder and Owner of Authentic Healing Counseling, located in North Carolina. She also is on the MentorVet team as one of our Mental Health coaches! When asked how veterinary social workers can be used to support the veterinary profession, Ms. Manifold responded, “Veterinary Social Workers are taught a unique set of skills that can help animal care providers with several issues that are unique to the profession,”

The Founder and Director of the Veterinary Social Work program at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Elizabeth Strand, Ph.D., defines Veterinary Social Work as “an area of social work practice that attends to the human needs that arise in the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice.” Veterinary Social Work encompasses four distinct categories beyond using animals as a therapeutic intervention. Read more here…

Burnout in veterinary medicine is an increasingly common and significant issue for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. A 2020 study found that fifty-eight percent of veterinary technicians report symptoms of burnout (Kogan et al), and a 2017 study found that forty-nine percent of veterinarians report “moderate-to-substantial” burnout (Kipperman et al).

Burnout can cause decreased job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and most importantly it leads to decreased well-being overall. Read more about strategies to combat burnout.

The mission of MentorVet “leveraging evidence-based approaches to empower veterinary professionals, transforming veterinary medicine into a healthy profession for individuals and communities”.  As part of fulfilling its mission MentorVet has a staff that includes mental health and financial coaches as well as mentors.  The mentors are practicing veterinarians who serve as coaches to help early-career veterinarians learn to cope with the stressors of practice.

Compassion fatigue is another risk-factor in the veterinary profession for job dissatisfaction, burnout, moral distress, and attrition.  Ethical dilemmas such as animal cruelty, a client’s inability to afford treatment and euthanasia can contribute to compassion fatigue.

The term, Imposter Syndrome or what is also referred to as Imposter Phenomenon was first reported in 1978 by Clance and Imes who were studying “high achieving women” who, despite their professional and academic accomplishments did not see themselves as successful. Read more about this concept and how to cope here

There are many definitions of wellbeing as it’s a subjective measure that is defined by self-report.  One of the earliest definitions by the World Health Organization in 1948 offers a robust definition that includes not only the person but their working and living environment: “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence disease or infirmity.”

This article will highlight wellbeing in veterinary medicine and offer suggestions to improve or incorporate wellbeing practices into your life.