Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Mary Ergen, DVM

For our Mentor Spotlight this month, we are happy to introduce you to Dr. Mary Ergen, DVM. Dr. Ergen has made a significant impact by empowering her mentees to build confidence in their veterinary career. She understands the challenges that come with the profession, having navigated similar hurdles herself, and believes in the importance of having someone who truly understands how you feel. Her ability to empathize and guide with wisdom ensures that mentees never feel alone on their journey. We are incredibly grateful for all that she does! Read below about some of her own story and how she supports our community!

Dr. Mary Ergen, DVM

MentorVet Mentor

Mary, tell us a little bit about your career journey. What do you currently do in veterinary medicine and how did you end up here?

I graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and my first job was in a mixed practice near Nashville, TN. Most of our practice was equine medicine, with a little bit of bovine, swine, poultry, exotics, and small animal medicine. After about 5 years I left that practice and started my small animal practice. I practiced there for 35 years and retired from full-time practice in 2023. I currently do relief work in urgent care. Throughout my career, I have been interested in volunteer leadership, not just in veterinary medicine but also in other aspects of my life.

Why did you choose to be involved with MentorVet?

When I graduated, mentorship didn't have a name. My first boss was very kind and spent extra time teaching me about surgery and discussing cases. He not only told me what he thought, but he listened to what I had to say and built my confidence quickly. I needed his advice to convince our clients that although I was young and just out of school, he trusted me to do a good job, and they should too. That kind of faith should be instilled in every recent graduate. We all second guess ourselves and make mistakes but everyone should have someone that understands how you feel- probably because they made the same mistakes and survived.

Will you share an example of something you and your mentee have discussed?

One of my mentees was having a conflict with a team member in their large practice. We talked about the different roles and responsibilities of the vet team and she figured out a way to assert herself healthily. By doing this, she even helped other doctors in the practice do the same thing.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of being a mentor?

Honestly, talking about life in general with my mentees has been great. They are wonderful people!

What is one thing that you have learned through your time mentoring for MentorVet?

Talking to veterinarians at the start of their careers brings back memories of those same times in my career. Even though technology and new discoveries have advanced veterinary medicine, we all have similar experiences.

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received from a mentor or the best piece of advice that you have ever given?

You didn't become a veterinarian for the money.

What are your favorite self-care activities?

Gardening.

Would you recommend volunteering as a mentor for MentorVet to other veterinarians?

Of course, I would recommend becoming a mentor. I think I helped some younger vets, but I also learned from this experience and received a great deal of fulfillment.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Dr. Ergen!

We are onboarding new mentors all the time! — Check out some next steps to be a Mentor here!