At Davies Animal Medical Hospital, we take great pride in our Veterinarian Mentorship Program, which is thoughtfully designed to build confidence and nurture the growth of early-career veterinarians. This program goes far beyond the basics, offering personalized, hands-on guidance from seasoned veterinarians committed to helping new graduates enhance their clinical skills, decision-making abilities, and professional development. We cultivate a collaborative learning environment that extends beyond clinical training, placing a strong emphasis on communication, leadership, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. At Davies, we don’t just mentor veterinarians; we shape compassionate leaders who are ready to make a difference.
A key focus of our mentorship program is refining surgical skills. Our experienced mentors guide you through the surgeries commonly performed by general practitioners, such as spays, neuters, cryptorchid surgeries, C-sections, and more. From gastrointestinal procedures like gastrotomies and enterotomies to advanced techniques like cherry eye repairs and perineal urethrostomies, we provide hands-on training that builds both proficiency and confidence. The program is designed to ensure that you not only grow as a clinician but also thrive as a skilled, compassionate veterinarian prepared to tackle any challenge your career may present.
Structure of the Mentorship Program
The Mentorship Program typically lasts 6 months but can be extended to meet individual needs.
Month 1
- Shadow a mentor DVM during various wellness, problem, and emergency appointments.
- Spend two days per week in surgery, refining your skills under close supervision.
- Familiarize yourself with hospital protocols, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals.
- Begin CPR training.
Month 2
- Start seeing your own cases, primarily wellness and straightforward problem appointments. These will be scheduled as drop-offs to allow extra time for case workups.
- Continue with two surgery days per week, progressing to more complex procedures like mass removals and advanced laceration repairs. We will also aim to provide experience with more advanced surgeries like exploratory laparotomies and cystotomies.
Month 3
- Transition to 30-minute wellness and problem appointments, focusing on time management, client communication, and record-keeping.
- Continue refining surgical skills and working towards reducing anesthesia times for routine procedures like spays and neuters.
- Begin concentrating on internal medicine cases.
Month 4
- Continue managing 30-minute appointments with an emphasis on time management.
- Begin discussing and managing emergency cases and procedures.
- Continue to enhance surgical skills and take on new procedures with guidance.
Month 5
- Further hone your skills in 30-minute appointments and surgery.
- Focus on oncology patient management.
Month 6
- Complete your mentorship! Although you’ll be expected to handle most cases independently, our practice fosters a collaborative environment where we continue to support each other, whether it’s brainstorming challenging cases or tackling new surgeries.
- If time management with 30-minute appointments is going well, you’ll transition to 20-minute appointments.
