As a new veterinarian post-graduation in 2012, Dr. Amanda Ensor had bright expectations and big goals for her career. Unfortunately, her experience was met with a toxic vet culture that crushed her dreams. Dr. Ensor did not let that stop her as she persevered through the next 10 years of her career. Today she shares her journey of how she overcame her own lack of mentorship to become a full-time mentor to new veterinarians.

As she worked through clinics as a small animal general practitioner Dr. Ensor experiences true burnout. She talks about physical illness, lack of sleep, panic attacks, inability to find joy, and a negative effect on her patient care. These are all hallmarks of burnout and an unhealthy work lifestyle. Dr. Ensor left that behind to become a relief vet where she finally got to see and work in healthy, loving clinics and meet her “vet family” as she calls it.

Throughout her time working in veterinary clinics, Dr. Ensor worked with another vet to create a mentorship program for women in their community that spanned across careers. The joy and fulfillment she felt in this led to where she is now as a full-time mentor. Dr. Ensor works as a mentor for NVA with a group of mentors across the company where they can provide mentorship and support to any new vet in an NVA hospital for their first 11 months.

Dr. Ensor’s mentorship style promotes success, and personal agency, and builds confidence by being available to provide encouragement and resources. For her, this stage in her career is about manifesting the mentorship she herself needed but did not receive. If you’re interested in contacting her she has graciously provided her email for my listeners!