About MentorVet Leap
We really are committed to making the veterinary field a better place to work and it all starts with giving you the tools to prevent and cope with the stress, frustration and burnout that is so common in our field so that you can support yourself and others in the profession.
Never forget why you started in the first place.
When I first started practice, I noticed that many early-career veterinarians, including myself, were struggling to cope with the stressors of practice. When I experienced feelings of burnout, I had trouble finding evidence-based resources. This is why set out to develop a national mentorship program — a centralized location for trusted resources for recent veterinary graduates.
Digging into the research, I quickly found that there was a lot of research on the mental health status of veterinarians, but there was very little research on interventions. I spent 2 years researching, developing, and evaluating MentorVet Leap (formerly the MentorVet Program), an evidence-based national mentorship and professional development program to support recent veterinary graduates.
Since I founded MentorVet in 2021, we have now had around 500 early-career vets participate in our flagship program, and we collaborate with over 30 different partners and sponsors, including founding sponsor Merck Animal Health, to provide support to veterinary professionals.
I hope you will join me on this journey in helping all early-career veterinary professionals thrive within veterinary medicine.
Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS
Founder & CEO
MentorVet
MentorVet Leap
a centralized location for trusted resources for early-career veterinarians
Online Learning
Participate in five modules of professional skills training to build and grow your professional wellbeing toolkit
Financial Coaching
Gain confidence in your financial literacy and create goals for long-term success with the help of our expert financial coaches
Social Connections
Attend monthly virtual peer group meetings to discuss module content and practice experiences
Vet Mentor Partnership
Get access to the MentorVet Connect platform for ongoing individual support with one of our highly qualified and trained mentors
10 CE Credits
This program has been approved for 10 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.*
*MentorVet program has been RACE approved and is also approved in New York State.
Share Resources
Gain access to our community group platform and find additional resources to help you on your career journey
Mental Health Coaching
Get the mental health support you need from our mental health professionals to learn coping strategies to stay healthy within the profession
“I started this program most of the way through my first year of practice and it was a good place to learn more about how to handle some aspects of the field that we do not learn in school.”
Nicole Insko, DVM
“I really enjoyed the MentorVet program. I have learned so much!”
Aisha Ellis, DVM
“Early in my career I felt the isolation of the day to day job and this community not only helps to lessen that isolation but helps to equip you to handle the stress and anxiety of the job.”
Edris Grate, DVM
“The guidance she and her program has given me was instrumental in keeping me in vet med.”
FAQs
How long is this veterinary mentorship program?
The program duration from start to finish is around 6 months.
How much time will this vet mentor program take?
On average, MentorVet Leap participants spend 2 to 3 hours per month engaging in the required content.
Where is this veterinary mentorship program located?
The program is fully virtual so all content, mentoring, and coaching will be done online.
When do the monthly virtual meetings occur?
The monthly virtual meetings are typically held on the weekends, evenings, and on days off. Prior to the start of the program, you will be asked about your scheduling availability. You will be placed in a cohort that meets on the same day and at the same time once per month for an hour (e.g. the third Sunday of the month at 7 pm ET). You will receive all of the dates and times for those meetings at the start of the program so you can plan accordingly. We are VERY flexible with scheduling these meetings, and also offer make-up sessions if you have something come up last minute.
What type of veterinarian is this vet mentor program for?
This program is designed to be helpful to any practicing veterinarian. The case examples and content are companion animal, food animal, and equine focused, but the professional skills learned could be applicable to any veterinarian. Equine vets, small animal private practice vets, small animal rotating interns, residents, and veterinary researchers have all participated in the program.
What professional skills does the program cover?
We cover many different professional skills over the five months including, but not limited to, self-care, leadership, conflict management, ethical decision-making, and how to provide care given limited client finances.
Who are you?
MentorVet Leap was designed by a recent veterinary graduate and a team of professionals from social work, marriage and family therapy, community development, leadership, instructional technology, and extension. Learn more about the MentorVet team at the Our Team tab.
What are your qualifications?
Our team of veterinarians and mental health professionals is highly qualified to support new and recent veterinary graduates. To learn more about our team, visit the Our Team tab.
How much does this vet mentor program cost and how do I sign up?
Visit the pricing page for more information on how to sign up.
Who are the vet mentors?
The vet mentors are volunteers with a strong desire to help support our early career veterinary professionals. The mentors come from a wide range of practice types including small animal general practice, emergency, equine, food animal, academia, and industry. We will make every effort to pair you with a mentor in a similar practice type.
How are the vet mentors trained?
Each volunteer mentor receives five hours of training on how to best support recent veterinary graduates.
Can I learn more before joining this veterinary mentorship program?
Absolutely! We would love to set up a meeting to chat and answer any questions you may have before deciding to join the program.