23 Sep PVMA Mentoring Program
The PVMA Board of Directors is introducing a new mentorship program to support OSU Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine students during their 3rd and 4th years.
Intention
The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for veterinary students to connect with veterinarians in the Portland metro area to gain insight and knowledge into the practice of veterinary medicine that is beyond the academic setting. This mentor relationship may also provide networking and added support for the student as they graduate and navigate the first years as a veterinarian. In turn, this is an opportunity for the mentoring veterinarian to share their journey with a student, including the challenges they have experienced and hopefully the highlights as well. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, the desire to connect is stronger than ever. Since we have quickly become more comfortable with video communications, we are hopeful that the structure and timing of this program will work well for all those involved!
AAHA article about mentoring: https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/mentoring/mentoring-guidelines.pdf
Structure
To ensure that a strong relationship is established and the program is as beneficial as possible to all those involved, please find our recommendations below. Please note that these are a minimum
- 1 year commitment (3rd or 4th year students)
- 30-60 minute Initial video call
- 15-30 minute monthly calls (video or voice)
- Email/other communication as agreed upon between student and mentor
- In person lunch/coffee meeting (once deemed appropriate re: COVID), can be scheduled when student is completing their 3-week rotation at Oregon Humane Society
- Students often attend PVMA meetings/CE events when on rotation at Oregon Humane Society, this is another opportunity for the mentor to host them, introduce them to others, and connect to the community.
Conversation Starters
Share your story. Veterinary medicine is very much a journey, not a destination. To help discover commonalities, both the mentor and mentee should share their story to get to know one another.
- To start- What led you to veterinary medicine?
- What do you want to gain from this program?
- How do you want to communicate between meetings?
- What helps you manage the stress of vet med?
- What do you do to take care of yourself?
Potential topics to discuss:
- Opportunities in veterinary medicine
- Client communication
- Time management
- Mental health and well-being, balance
- Conflict management
- Leading a team/delegation skills
- Job Selection
- Interviewing
- Understanding contracts/negotiations
- Selecting the right practice
To become a mentor, please complete a brief form here. If you have any questions, please email pvma@portlandvma.org