In this episode of So You’re a Vet, Now What?, Dr. Moriah McCauley welcomes back Dr. Christine Staten—veterinarian, longtime practice owner, and founder of Veterinary MBA—to share the evolution of her mentorship model at Adobe Veterinary Center in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Staten opens up about the hard lessons she learned after losing five new grads in a row, and how that wake-up call from her clients sparked a complete overhaul of their onboarding and mentorship approach. From SOP binders to salary safety nets, Dr. Staten lays out the nuts and bolts of how they now set up every new graduate for long-term success—both clinically and financially.

This episode is a must-listen for private practice owners feeling behind on the “mentorship buzz,” as well as new grads trying to figure out what mentorship actually looks like (and what questions to ask to get it).

Episode Outline

[00:00] – The Case for Private Practice and Mentorship

[00:05] – Mentorship Missteps and the Client Wake-Up Call

[00:07] – Turning One-Year Stints into Long-Term Careers

[00:09] – Letting Techs Lead the Hiring Process

[00:11] – Redefining Job Ads and Setting Expectations

[00:13] – Creating a Culture of Teaching and Growth

[00:15] – From Mindset Shift to Written Mentorship Plan

[00:17] – Weekly Check-ins, Smart Goals, and Flexibility

[00:20] – Salary Safety Nets, Production Pay, and ROI

[00:23] – What New Grads Need to Ask (but Don’t Know Yet)

[00:25] – The Trap of Rigid Mentorship Plans

[00:28] – Final Advice to Practice Owners and New Grads

Episode Links

• Learn more about Adobe Veterinary Center: https://adobevetcenter.com
• Explore Veterinary MBA: https://www.veterinary-mba.com/
• Follow Dr. Christine Staten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-staten-030bb168/
• See more from Dr. Moriah McCauley: https://www.instagram.com/dr.moriah.mccauley
• Connect with Dr. Moriah McCauley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moriah-mccauley

Enjoyed the episode?

Leave us a review on whatever platform you’re listening on—it helps more vets find this community and keeps the conversation going.

Mentioned in this episode:

So You're a Vet, Now What? - The Course

Are you a new or recent veterinary graduate? If so, Dr. Dave’s course, ‘So You’re a Vet… Now What?’ has been put together specifically for you. The course focuses on non-clinical skills. This is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, almost every career problem that people face is due to not having well-developed, non-clinical skills.

These are skills like client communication, so you have great relationships with clients. Emotional intelligence, so you've got great relationships with your teammates. Effective negotiation skills, so you can get paid what you are worth. Management of imposter syndrome, so you can have confidence in your abilities. And, how to build formidable resilience, so you can handle everything that comes your way.

These are not just skills. They are prerequisites vital for success and financial and emotional wellbeing.

This course serves as an essential stepping stone to your success. Dr. Dave will be your mentor as you go through 12-modules, helping you transition from being a student to a fully rounded veterinary professional.

Visit www.drdavenicol.com/syav-class to learn more.