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Applications Now Open
ELEVATEThe Veterinary Technician Leadership Academy
Leadership is a contact sport.
A selective leadership academy for early-career veterinary technicians. Twelve people, six months, one cohort that grows together. Start your application →Applications close Friday, November 13. You can save your progress and come back to it.
ELEVATE is a shared initiative of the veterinary medicine community, with active involvement from Mission Veterinary Partners and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), guided by a collaboration between the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
Why this existsEvery profession needs its next generation of leaders, and ours is no different. Early-career veterinary technicians step into the field full of instinct and drive, but almost no one is formally taught how to lead. Many have never seen healthy leadership modeled consistently. ELEVATE changes that. ELEVATE is a high-touch leadership experience, not a passive class. Over six months, a cohort of twelve builds the presence, communication, and confidence to lead, along with a real connection to the wider veterinary community. It is an investment in the people who will carry the profession forward. What you'll build
Format & timelineELEVATE runs for six months, and it is built around showing up. It begins with a two-day in-person kickoff at the Veterinary Leadership Conference in January, where the cohort forms and the foundation is set. From February through June, the group meets for monthly one-hour virtual sessions, each focused on a single leadership skill, with peer pods keeping the work alive in between. It closes with two days of learning and a graduation ceremony at AVMA in July, where each participant presents a capstone leadership contribution. Along the way, you get access to respected leaders from across veterinary medicine, a peer pod, and an experienced mentor who meets with your small group twice a month to coach, challenge, and encourage you. You also leave with a cohort you keep long after graduation. January kickoff to July graduation
Two in-person anchors, monthly virtual sessions, a dedicated mentor, and a cohort of twelve.
Who it's forELEVATE is built for early-career veterinary technicians, from final-year students to about five years past earning the credential. It is selective and application-based, and the cohort is capped at twelve, small on purpose so every voice is heard and every person is known. You do not need a title or a long resume to belong here. What matters is the leadership you are ready to grow. Prior time as a veterinary assistant or in another practice role is an asset, not a barrier. Before you applyApplying asks something real of you, and it should. Here are two ways to get what you need first.
Academy DirectorELEVATE is led by an Academy Director who guides the cohort from the January kickoff through graduation in July. Heather Prendergast
Synergie Consulting LLC
Apply for the cohortApplications are open through Friday, November 13, and this cohort is small. Take your time with it. We are listening for you, not for polish. Start your application →Questions along the way? Email [email protected].
Interested in mentoring?
We are inviting a few experienced veterinary professionals to mentor small groups in the first cohort, from the January kickoff through July. It is less about an impressive title and more about asking good questions and helping someone grow. Apply to be a mentor by October 15.
Interested in supporting ELEVATE?
ELEVATE runs because organizations across the profession invest in it. Practices, programs, and industry partners can help grow the next generation of veterinary technician leaders at several levels. Download the partnership one-pager or email [email protected].
ELEVATE: The Veterinary Technician Leadership Academy. Growing the leaders who will carry the profession forward.
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