WHAT IS THE PACKS Early-Career Veterinary Mentorship Program?

PACKS is our Personalized, Autonomous Career + Knowledge Support training and mentorship program, empowering early-career veterinarians with technical, clinical, and surgical skills, leadership skills and business acumen while providing career guidance and wellbeing resources. 

Designed by veterinarians, PACKS is not a one-size-fits-all virtual mentorship program or six-week bootcamp.
You and your mentor-doctor will partner to co-create a mentorship plan tailored to your needs, goals, and interests.
If you're graduating veterinary school soon, or have recently graduated, we'd love to talk to you about PACKS! 

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR-DOCTOR?

Vetco Total Care PACKS mentor-doctors bring deep clinical, surgical and leadership experience and complete a six-month training program to be the very best mentors they can be. This is a voluntary role, and each mentor-doctor is fully committed to your success and wellbeing. 


WITH PACKS YOU GET: 
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Ready to learn more about PACKS Early Career Veterinary Mentorship? 
We'd love to get to know you and tell you more about the PACKS early-career veterinarian mentorship program. Email us at talent@petco.com. 

Meet our Mentors

These are just a few of our amazing PACKS mentor-doctors. One of them could be your next mentor!
Dr. Hannah Mitchell
I want to mentor new graduates because:
I started working for Petco right after graduating vet school – I was excited and terrified. I was given an amazing mentor and had a wonderful support system that helped me grow as a doctor and develop my career.

I love to teach, encourage, and support others going through what I went through. I know being a new veterinarian is scary, any change is scary- but it is a necessity for growth.

I would be honored to help develop new veterinarians and pass on the skills and knowledge my mentors gave to me!


The best advice a mentor gave me:
One of my first medical directors told me "Mistakes are the world's most brutal teacher." This could not be truer. We are all human, but it is important how we handle these mistakes. Being able to learn and grow from a mistake is vital.


If you get me talking about MY DOG I may never stop!
 Dr. Abigail Pagel
I want to mentor new graduates because:
I love veterinary medicine, and I love teaching. Vet medicine is a wonderful way to change the world, and I want to be a part of that. I have always had a great support system that has helped me become the vet I am and continues to help me grow, and I want to pass that on.

I know I can affect the future of the veterinary field by helping new veterinarians grow into the best vets they can be. And the people I mentor help me to grow, too!

The best advice a mentor gave me:
You can't ever know everything in veterinary medicine. The best thing to do is know where to look in order to find out what the next step is. Your job is to get the best history you can, do the best exam you can, and recommend the best diagnostics and treatment you can. That has definitely helped my work-life balance.

If you get me talking about PARASITES, OR CHARLIE BROWN I may never stop!
Dr. Zaya McSky, DABVP (Feline Practice)
I want to mentor new graduates because:
I love being a veterinarian and having the opportunity to witness the human animal bond. Having the opportunity to share my passion with new veterinarians always feels special. I love to teach and share my knowledge, but I often find new grads have a lot to teach me as well!

Mentoring new graduates is always a great way to make connections. Plus, being ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners) boarded in feline medicine provides me with a unique skill set to share.

The best advice a mentor gave me:
It's okay not to know the answers!
Part of learning to be a veterinarian is learning how to find the answer (or possible answers) in unfamiliar cases/situations. I still use this tidbit often!

If you get me talking about CORGIS, AND NOSE WORK (the sport) I may never stop!

AS A VETCO TOTAL CARE VET, YOU CAN EXPECT:

  • NO noncompetes, no on-call, no negative accrual and no sales quotas 
  • Work-life balance with generous paid and open-time off, hour lunch breaks and regular closing times
  • Medical autonomy; you're empowered to make the right medical decisions for your patients
  • Connections with a nationwide network of your peers
  • Live apprentice events to connect with other doctors
  • Training with veterinary-industry leaders such as Zoetis, Merck, Butterfly, Idexx and more
  • Monthly virtual medical rounds to review cases
Still a vet school student? We offer externships, too!