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.

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.

Group Facilitator

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. Dr. Olson’s full-time role currently is Veterinary Wellness Educator for the BluePearl Health & Well-being Team and Founder of Heartstorming Wellness - both roles support veterinary associates more globally through podcasts, writing, speaking, & creatively collaborating with other like-minded souls in the creation of workshops and other initiatives.

Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council

Veterinarian
Bonita Veterinary Hospital

Vice President, Pet Health and Chief Veterinary Officer Nationwide Pet

Co-Founder
Flourish Veterinary Consulting

Co-Founder | CVO
Empowering Veterinary Teams

Owner
PAW Consulting

Clinician Health & Well-being Trainer
BluePearl Veterinary Partners

Founder | CEO
Flourishing Phoenix Veterinary Consultants

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Initiatives | American Veterinary Medical Association

CEO | Digital Empathy