December 2022 MentorVet Mentor of the Month: Anna Simpson Evans, DVM

Get to know Dr. Anna Simpson Evans, DVM as our December Mentor of the Month!

Anna Simpson Evans, DVM

MentorVet Mentor

Dr. Evans is a wonderful mentor! We are so honored to have her volunteer for our MentorVet Program, and we are excited to announce that she is our December Mentor of the Month.

Anna has a calming demeanor
and her own vulnerability about her challenges in vet med makes you feel comfortable sharing your own challenges and struggles.

Her Spring 2022 mentee, Elizabeth Pettit shared, "My mentor is so relatable and helpful. Outside of providing advice related to the program, she is always there to answer any case-related questions that I have and her perspective has been very beneficial to me."

Dr. Anna is the Co-Medical Director and ICU Veterinarian at the New England Veterinary Center and Cancer Care in Windsor, CT. Read more below about her approach and thoughts behind mentoring!

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

After I finished vet school I did a small animal rotating internship. My internship was honestly a struggle because I was not prepared to deal with the “politics” of it all. After my internship, I spent 6 months backpacking in Europe because I was already at risk of burnout. When I returned to vet med, I went back to ER which allowed me to do a little bit of everything, and I have found that teaching and mentoring staff (techs and DVMs) are the most fulfilling parts of my career.

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

We have talked about finding work-life balance, and gaining the confidence to address these issues before they become overwhelming.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of being a vet mentor?

I love watching my mentees gain confidence in communicating with their team while finding ways to become leaders and team players.

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

I have learned that many of our struggles are the same. The details and situations differ, but the core struggles are similar. Knowing this, listening to each other and keeping conversations moving forward are the best ways to keep those in our profession healthy and invested.

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?

It’s not advice per se, but a saying that has always stuck with me and touched my heart is to T.H.I.N.K. before you speak:

Is it True?

Is it Helpful?

Is it Inspiring?

Is it Necessary?

Is it Kind?

I wish I could say that I always live up to this, but I do try. If we could all speak to each other and with these things in mind, the world would be a much kinder and supportive place.

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

I absolutely recommend it. We need to break down barriers in our profession including traditional taboos. Things like wage discussions, work life balance, setting boundaries. This can only happen by empowering those in our profession to be a part of the conversation and supporting each other! It is incredible rewarding to watch young veterinarians develop these skills and improve their own work-life balance as well as benefiting veterinary medicine as a larger entity.

What is your favorite self-care activity?

Getting a massage, spending time outside, gardening veggies and flowers.

Thank you, Dr. Evans!

Check out some next steps here fill out our application if you are interested in being a mentor, too!