Royal Canin and Merck Animal Health Support MentorVet by Awarding 20 Scholarships to Veterinarians in the Pawsibilities Vet Med Community
Lexington, KY, January 31, 2022 – Royal Canin USA, a global leader in pet nutrition, and Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a leading global veterinary biopharmaceutical and technology company with a long-standing commitment to the veterinary profession, have joined forces to award 20 full veterinary scholarships as part of the Spring 2022 MentorVet program. The scholarships will directly benefit early-career veterinarians in Pawsibilities Vet Med, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mentoring platform that aims to proactively increase all forms of diversity within the veterinary profession.
MentorVet is a five-month, entirely virtual, evidence-based mentorship and professional development program that promotes wellbeing in the transition into veterinary practice. The program supports veterinarians through a combination of professional skills training, financial and mental health coaching, and individualized mentorship.
Valerie Marcano, DVM, PhD, Co-founder & CEO of Pawsibilities Vet Med
Mentees in the MentorVet program engage in a self-paced online curriculum then meet monthly with their peer cohort to discuss module content, compare in-practice experiences, and deepen their understanding of how to apply lessons learned. Mentees are offered financial and mental health coaching and have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor from a similar practice type to provide additional one-on-one support.
“Pawsibilities Vet Med is thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with MentorVet. We are so thankful to our partner and sponsor organizations and look forward to continuing collaborations in the future” said Valerie Marcano, DVM, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of Pawsibilities Vet Med.
“I am so excited about this new collaboration because diversity, equity, and inclusion are extremely important to us at MentorVet,” stated Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS, Founder and CEO of MentorVet. “Going forward, I wanted to ensure that this program was being offered equitably, and I am incredibly grateful that Royal Canin and Merck Animal Health have stepped up to sponsor these scholarships for veterinarians in the Pawsibilities Vet Med community.”
As the founding sponsor of MentorVet, Merck Animal Health continues to provide ongoing support to help the mentorship and professional development program grow, while expanding its impact on the future of the veterinary community. In the fall of 2021, more than 75 veterinarians participated in the MentorVet program, and 38 of those veterinarians were fully sponsored by Merck Animal Health.
Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS, Founder & CEO of MentorVet
“Merck Animal Health has an unconditional respect for the veterinary profession, and we are proud to extend our partnership and reach with MentorVet and the Pawsibilities Vet Med community to continue the development of our future animal health leaders,” said Judson Vasconcelos, DVM, Director of Veterinary and Consumer Affairs at Merck Animal Health. “We know that having healthy habits to manage stress and promote wellbeing are crucial for both established and up-and-coming veterinary professionals to be successful. We will continue to partner with like-minded companies that share our commitment to this rewarding profession, so that emerging and passionate young veterinarians have the resources and funding they need in order to thrive and promote the health of animals well into the future.”
According to Laura Pletz, DVM, Scientific Services Manager at Royal Canin, “At Royal Canin, the cats and dogs we serve are at the core of everything we do. And we recognize that veterinarians are some of the most critical relationships pet parents can maintain to help ensure the wellbeing of their pets. We are proud to continue to support the future of the industry through these scholarships and are so pleased to work alongside Merck and MentorVet to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive profession for years to come.”
If you are an early-career veterinarian interested in joining the Pawsibilities Vet Med community, there is still time to apply for these scholarships. For more information on how to apply for a scholarship, contact info@mentorvet.net
About Merck Animal Health
For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Royal Canin USA
Royal Canin USA is a leader in science-based cat and dog health nutrition. Founded by a veterinarian in 1968, Royal Canin has more than 50 years of experience in delivering individualized nutritional solutions. In collaboration with an expert team of nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world, Royal Canin places cats and dogs at the central point of the innovation process. The Royal Canin product line offers a range of diets based on size, age, breed, lifestyle and therapeutic requirements. Royal Canin diets are available at veterinary hospitals and pet specialty stores nationwide. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. To learn more about Royal Canin, visit www.royalcanin.com and “LIKE” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalcanin.us.
About MentorVet
MentorVet is an evidenced-based mentorship and professional development program for recent veterinary graduates that aims to promote early career well-being. Recognizing the high levels of stress and low levels of wellbeing among young veterinarians, Founder Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS, created MentorVet to provide a centralized location for resources and support through mentorship, mental health and financial coaching, and online professional skills training. For more information visit www.mentorvet.net or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Pawsibilities Vet Med
Pawsibilities Vet Med is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to improve the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups into the veterinary profession. Pawsibilities is a free mentoring and professional development online platform that aims to connect individuals from underrepresented backgrounds with interest in the veterinary profession to mentors within the field. Since launching September 21, 2020, Pawsibilities has grown to over 200 users. Of these, 74% are willing and able to help other users. Pawsibilities also has a wide geographic reach, with users from 40 states and 9 countries. To learn more about Pawsibilities, visit www.pawsibilitiesvetmed.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
