Ep 239: When Your Mentorship Fails, with Dr. Lindsey Hedges - Part 1

The 'So You're A Vet... Now What?' Podcast

In this episode of "So You're a Vet, Now What?", host Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Lindsey Hedges, Senior Director of Veterinary Mentorship at Mission Veterinary Partners.

Following a recent survey on veterinary mentorship, many new grad vets revealed they didn’t get the mentorship they were promised when they entered the industry. Breaking down this alarming feedback, Dr. Moriah and Dr. Lindsey explore how mentorship is not just about providing answers; it's about fostering an environment where new graduates can learn, grow, and develop their own professional identities. Ultimately, it is about lighting a fire within both mentors and mentees, ensuring that the cycle of learning and support continues for future generations of veterinarians. Together, they dive into these unmet mentorship expectations, the current state of mentorship, and explore what mentors and mentees can both do to fix it.

Dr. Lindsey Hedges is the Senior Director of Veterinary Mentorship at Mission Veterinary Partners. A 2011 graduate of Purdue University CVM, she worked as an associate veterinarian for three years before opening her own denovo small animal clinic. In creating her practice, she was guided by her passions for fostering leadership in all employees, promoting Fear Free practices, and forming strong bonds in the community.

She has facilitated the Indiana VMA Power of 10 Leadership program since 2015 and currently sits on the IVMA Executive Board. Lindsey is an avid board game geek and hosts monthly Dungeons and Dragons sessions with her friends. She lives in Lebanon, IN with her husband, two cats, and two dogs.

Episode Outline

[00:01:32] Mentorship in veterinary medicine.

[00:04:11] Mentorship challenges for new grads.

[00:08:29] Mentorship expectations in practice.

[00:14:25] SMART goals for veterinary surgery.

[00:18:00] Mentorship and professional development.

[00:20:43] Feedback and mentor relationships.

[00:23:58] Emotional intelligence in communication.

Episode Links

Connect with Dr. Lindsey Hedges:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlindseyhedges/

Mentioned in this episode:

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