Founder & CEO

Dr. Addie Reinhard is a veterinary well-being researcher. Her research focuses on developing innovative wellbeing interventions to support mental health and wellbeing within the veterinary profession. She is on the research team for the next phase of the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Well-being Study and is currently collaborating with Merck Animal Health to grow and expand MentorVet. She completed a master’s degree in Community and Leadership Development and a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Learning from the University of Kentucky in Spring 2021, was a 2019-2020 KVMA Power of Ten Leadership Program participant, and holds a certificate in Veterinary Human Support from the University of Tennessee. She is also a certified QPR instructor.

Director of MentorVet Tech

For Alyssa, mentorship is not something that should be optional, it should be an integral part of the educational process for ALL members of the veterinary profession. Being a credentialed veterinary technician, she is particularly passionate about providing this support to this cohort. She is thrilled to join the MentorVet team as the Director of MentorVetTech to ensure that every veterinary technician receives the guidance, direction & life-skills that they deserve. Alyssa is also the Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of EVT (Empowering Veterinary Teams) where she oversees the content development, clinical skills training, and overall vision of the company.

Director of MentorVet Connect

Dr. Danielle Alleman is a 2017 graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has been passionate about well-being since her time as a vet student and was part of the group of students that helped create the Student Wellness Initiative that exists currently today. Dr. Alleman enjoys empowering other early-career veterinarians to find balance and sustainability in their careers. Her core values are authenticity, curiosity, and empathy, and she is passionate about workplace culture, mentorship, career diversification, and leadership development. She is currently working on her MS in Psychology with a focus on Organizational Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University, as well as the Veterinary Human Support Certificate through the University of Tennessee. When she is not involved in Vet Med, she enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing – or basically any activity that gets her outside in the PNW mountains!

Director of Partnerships and Outreach

Ellen Turner, originally from Kentucky, now calls Huntsville, Alabama home. Her schooling and professional background consists of design and marketing for a real estate company, customer relations for a large food distribution center, and architecture marketing. With experience as an executive assistant for various companies, Ellen has developed a passion for merging the marketing/creative side of her work with developing well-run systems. Ellen is passionate about supporting MentorVet’s mission through establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with other organizations as well as engaging with the MentorVet Community.

Director of Learning and Development

Mariel is a 2010 Purdue Veterinary Technology bachelor’s degree graduate that quickly found her niche in anesthesia and surgical assisting in soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurological surgeries in small animal specialty. For the next decade, Mariel established herself as a strong leader within her surgical team, and continued her leadership duties on the Indiana Veterinary Technology Association board for 3 years. After moving into a technician development role with Noah's Animal Hospitals, she was also elected onto the NAVTA Executive Board in 2021 and the Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Board in 2023. Guided by mentors both locally and nationally, she has also started her master’s degree through Lincoln Memorial University, focusing on veterinary education. In 2023, Mariel accepted a full-time position with MentorVet as the Director of Learning and Development. In her free time, she volunteers for her county’s 4-H as she loves focusing on the future of veterinary medicine both publicly and professionally.

Financial Coach

Grace Kim, DVM is a financial coach and educator for veterinarians and other professionals who want to stress less and find more joy with their money without feeling overwhelmed in the process. Her own journey from six-figure student loan debt to becoming more financially literate and purposeful with money led to the founding of Richer Life DVM as a platform to educate and encourage others along their own financial journeys.

Program Director

Since graduating from Ross University in 2011 and completing his clinical year at Virginia-Maryland Reginal College of Vet Med, James has been advancing his medical knowledge though a multitude of general, urgent care and emergency/specialty veterinary hospitals across the United States. James was certified in canine sports medicine (CCRP) from the University of Tennessee in 2013 and is currently working on his MBA through Louisiana State University. He prides himself on promoting an environment for both personal and professional well-being.

Multi-Media Designer

Jacob Oswald is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, holding a Bachelor's of Science in Visual Effects. With 4 years of experience, he specializes in videography, photography, editing, and graphic design. Jacob has collaborated with companies such as Marta and Kimberly-Clark, bringing creativity and expertise to each project. Jacob is passionate about creating professional content for all of MentorVet's media needs.

Mental Health Coach

Sarina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in TN and NC, and Adjunct Professor with the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. Sarina previously worked at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for 10 years as one of the clinical social workers who provided grief support and crisis intervention to veterinary clients and members of the community, provided counseling to veterinary students and House Officers, and was responsible for overseeing the communication training for veterinary medical students. She has moved to North Carolina with her family and now owns a private practice where she continues to provide Veterinary Social Work services.

Mental Health Coach

Daniel Stillwell is a therapist, coach, supervisor, academic, and presenter. He completed his Ph.D. in Family Therapy from Saint Louis University, School of Medicine. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in North Carolina. Dr. Stillwell has been an MFT graduate-level professor and is currently an active clinician and coach in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Stillwell has been actively involved in supporting early career professionals in the veterinary community for over three years and has presented on suicide prevention for the veterinary community.

Group Facilitator

Dr. Stacey Cordivano, a 2008 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, is the founder of Clay Creek Equine Veterinary Services in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The aspects of ambulatory practice that she enjoys most include emergency medicine and chiropractic care. Based on her experiences in equine practice over the past 13 years, Stacey is passionate about personal development and financial education topics. In May of 2020, she started production of The Whole Veterinarian Podcast as a way to share these topics with her veterinary colleagues. Stacey is a co-founder of The Sustainability in Equine Practice Seminar series and is also excited to bring her knowledge to the AAEP Wellness Committee for the 2022-2025 term.

Group Facilitator

Dr. Sam Romano is a 1983 graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) at Colorado State University. From 1992-2014 he worked as a co-founder, clinician, and owner of the Emergency and Critical Care Service at The Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. Dr. Romano is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified coach and currently works as a veterinary communications coach, mentor, and instructor in the professional DVM program at CSU. He also served as president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association in 2017. As a student in the Veterinary Human Support Certification Program at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Romano is passionate about the intersections of veterinary wellbeing, social work, and mental health. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering and enjoying the Colorado outdoors with his family.

Group Facilitator

Dr. Luca Giori hold a DVM and a PhD from the University of Milan (Italy). He joined the University of Tennessee as faculty in 2014 and he is currently Assistant Director of the UTCVM Diagnostic Endocrinology Service. His professional interests include not only all the aspects of laboratory medicine with a specific interest in endocrine and metabolic diseases but also teaching and mentoring his students and newly graduated colleagues. Being passionate about personal development, mental health and well-being, Luca started in 2021 the Veterinary Human Support Certification through the Department of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, with the idea of becoming an ally of Veterinary Social Workers in better supporting students, house officers, young faculty and early career professionals. His goal is to create a safe environment where to discuss the current issues faced by young veterinarians and hopefully insure the ongoing well-being of veterinary professionals. In his spare time, he enjoys road-biking, hiking and walking with his dog, Scarlet, and spend good time with friends.

Dr. Sonja Olson grew up in Maryland, USA. She graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on exotic animal and conservation medicine. Her professional path led to over 25 years of practicing clinical small animal and exotic emergency medicine. Her professional journey included formal teaching and mentorship of other veterinary professionals. Currently based out of Vancouver, WA, Dr. Olson’s full-time role currently is Veterinary Wellness Educator for her own business, Heartstorming Wellness LLC. This role supports veterinary associates’ flourishing and healthy culture creation for veterinary practice environments. Through podcasts, writing, speaking, coaching, & collaborating with other like-minded, veterinary well-being allies in problem-solving and strategy development, she is powerfully advocating and contributing to holistic wellness for veterinary caregivers globally.

Dr. Melissa Marshall is a practicing critical care specialist and founder of Helios Veterinary Solutions, which provides organization development and leadership consulting services as well as professional coaching. She is a graduate of Tufts University and completed her residency at Angell Animal Medical Center. With over two decades in small animal private practice, she has mentored individuals in different clinical roles. She is passionate about enlightening individuals and teams within the industry to the impact of leadership and organizational culture on employees’ well-being and organizational outcomes. Her goal is to increase awareness, provide strategies and skills to equip individuals to be better leaders, and create workflows that center on the principles of employee engagement. Her hope is this will begin to elevate the work environments of the industry and improve individuals’ happiness at work. She is excited to join the MentorVet team as a resource and guide for others on their journey to creating happy fulfilled lives.

Christine Mundy, CVT, has over 20 years of experience in veterinary care, with a focus on specialty medicine. She currently works in the Cardiology department at a veterinary hospital near Philadelphia, where she provides specialized care to animals with heart conditions. Her extensive background in emergency and specialty veterinary medicine has made her a valuable asset to her team and her clients. In addition to her clinical work, Christine has been a dedicated mentor with MentorVet in the past, helping guide and support others in the veterinary field. Christine is excited to join the MentorVet team, where she looks forward to supporting others on their path to achieving balanced, rewarding lives.

Jennifer Serling has been a credentialed veterinary technician since 1992.  Her specialty is in large animal nursing however her vast experience encompasses all facets of veterinary medicine. She has been a veterinary technician educator since 2007. Jennifer has a bachelor’s in veterinary science from the University of Arizona and an associate of science from Penn Foster College’s Veterinary Technician Program. She holds a Master in Veterinary Education from Lincoln Memorial University. She was the program director for a veterinary technician school in Tucson Arizona for 11 years prior to joining the Appalachian State University Veterinary Technology program as it’s Assistant Director and was promoted to Director in 2024. Jennifer has written two veterinary technician textbooks for Bluedoor Publishing on pharmacology and large animal medicine and nursing and contributed to several others. In addition to teaching and writing, she is a firm believer in giving back to the community and serves on the board of directors for three animal welfare and rescue groups as well as donating her time to several veterinary charity events, and veterinary committees throughout the year.

Tami Lind is  the current Intermediate Care Supervisor at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She has previously been the ICU and ER supervisor for 15 years. Tami went to veterinary technology school at Purdue and graduated in 2010 with her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Tami started as a veterinary technician in the ICU and has been a supervisor at Purdue since 2012. She received her VTS in ECC in 2016. She enjoys teaching new veterinary technicians and veterinary students to prepare them for their career ahead. In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her German Shorthaired Pointers, mixed up mutt, cat, her 30 chickens, 4 ducks, 5 goats, and her two legged husband.

Rebecca has dedicated the past decade to enhancing the wellbeing of veterinary technician students, faculty, and staff. A registered veterinary technician in both Colorado and North Carolina, she merges her passions for people, animals, and mental health as the first full-time academic wellbeing professional in a veterinary technology program. With a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Rutgers University, Rebecca’s journey has evolved from experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue to fostering growth, gratitude, and service. She is a past-president of the Colorado Association for Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, and the current president elect of the Association for Veterinary Technician Educators. Additionally, she volunteers weekly with peers facing mental health challenges. Rebecca draws motivation and inspiration from her mentors, the recovery community, positive psychology, and the spirituality she finds in nature. For her own wellbeing, Rebecca reads, gets outdoors, and relaxes with her husband and 20+ well-loved animals on their hobby farm outside of Denver.

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