AVMA and MentorVet partner to launch innovative veterinary mentorship program
Written by the Michael San Filippo of the American Veterinary Medical Association at https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-and-mentorvet-partner-launch-innovative-veterinary-mentorship-program
SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (May 3, 2023)—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has joined MentorVet to launch MentorVet Connect, a structured mentorship program that connects early-career veterinarians with trained mentors who can offer invaluable support and guidance, providing new veterinarians with free access to an established and proven mentoring platform.
The MentorVet Connect program is designed to complement in-clinic mentorship when available, offering broader connections that span geographic and practice boundaries. In addition, the program offers access to a community of veterinarians at all career stages who have the desire to create a healthier profession through mentorship. Initially open to 2023 veterinary graduates as mentees, the AVMA expects to expand the program over time. Any licensed veterinarian with at least one-year of experience can sign up to serve as a mentor. MentorVet Connect will begin pairing mentors and mentees beginning July 1, 2023.
"We are thrilled to partner with MentorVet to offer this valuable resource to 2023 veterinary graduates,” said Dr. Lori Teller, president of the AVMA. “We believe that a strong mentorship program like this will play a key role in helping new veterinarians build healthy and successful careers, while ultimately strengthening the veterinary profession as a whole. MentorVet Connect brought to you by AVMA is an excellent example of AVMA's commitment to addressing the needs of our members at all stages of their careers."
Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS of MentorVet and Scott Mackenzie of AMVA
"Mentorship is vital at every career stage for all veterinary professionals and seems to be particularly important at career transition points," said Dr. Addie Reinhard, founder and CEO of MentorVet, a rapidly growing entity that leverages evidence-based approaches to empower individuals to thrive within veterinary medicine. "Our research suggests that positive mentoring has the potential to reduce burnout and improve overall mental health and wellbeing, so we are so excited to be partnering with the AVMA to expand availability of our evidence-based paired mentorship services to more individuals within the profession."
MentorVet Connect is designed to create one-on-one connections between veterinarians, offering support to early-career veterinarians by pairing them with trained mentors in a similar practice type. Together, the mentor and mentee create a customized mentoring plan that best suits the mentee's needs.
A positive mentor relationship can provide emotional and career support that makes a real difference in the success, satisfaction, and wellbeing of new veterinarians. MentorVet does extensive research on their mentorship programming, and their existing programming may help protect participants against burnout: In a study measuring burnout levels among recent veterinary graduates, MentorVet program participants showed lower exhaustion and cynicism levels over time, while non-participants saw significant increases.
To sign up as a mentee or mentor, visit MentorVet.net/Connect.
Interested mentees begin by completing an application and a 1–2-hour training program on the platform. Once granted access, mentees can search for mentors in various locations and practice types, and send connection requests. Upon connecting, mentees and mentors establish a 6-month communication plan with at least one 1-hour virtual call to discuss goals and expectations. To further enhance their professional development, mentees can participate in optional monthly networking and community events.
Becoming a MentorVet Connect mentor offers seasoned veterinarians the opportunity to give back to the industry and support the next generation of veterinary professionals.
MentorVet Connect volunteers must be licensed veterinarians with at least one year of experience, willing to commit a minimum of 5 hours for initial mentor training and 1 hour per month for mentoring. The program seeks dedicated professionals eager to contribute to the development and success of new veterinarians. To further refine their mentoring skills, mentors have the option to attend monthly network events and mentor training events.
Prospective mentors start by completing a volunteer screening application, followed by a 2-hour live virtual orientation that includes suicide prevention training and an introduction to the community. After creating a mentor profile and finishing a 3-hour self-paced training, mentors receive five hours of CE credit and can indicate their desired number of mentees, up to four.
Upon completion of the six-month mentorship period, both mentees and mentors can choose to continue the relationship or pair with new mentees or mentors, allowing for continuous growth and development within the veterinary community.
The MentorVet Connect program is free for participants, made possible through support from the AVMA and educational funders Merck Animal Health and Royal Canin.
To learn more about MentorVet Connect brought to you by the AVMA, visit avma.org/Mentor.
For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell/text) or msanfilippo@avma.org.
About the AVMA
Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.
About MentorVet
MentorVet is a rapidly growing entity that creates programs leveraging evidenced-based approaches to empower veterinary professionals, transforming veterinary medicine into a healthy profession for individuals and communities. MentorVet’s flagship program, MentorVet Leap, is a mentorship and professional development program that promotes early career wellbeing by providing a centralized location for resources and support through online professional skills training, peer and paired mentorship, and mental health and financial coaching. MentorVet collaborates with a growing number of practice groups, veterinary medical associations, and corporations to make their programming possible. To read more about the early success of MentorVet, you can read their impact report in full by visiting, www.mentorvet.net/impactreport. For more information visit www.mentorvet.net or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.