From coaching new NVA veterinarians through their first surgeries to supporting rescue partners across Illinois, Dr. Emily Doemland is as generous with her knowledge as she is passionate about the profession.

As one of our NVA General Practice mentors, Dr. Doemland regularly supports training at the PetOne Veterinary Training Center. In January, she helped host six fourth-year students and complete more than 45 procedures and is looking forward to hosting five more externs this month. She also coaches her mentees in spay/neuter procedures on behalf of our rescue partners, giving new doctors hands-on experience while giving shelter animals a better shot at adoption.

We asked Dr. Doemland ten rapid-fire questions about mentorship and her life outside of work.

Learn by doing 🧤 or learn by watching 👀?

Learn by watching! I think everyone eventually solidifies their skills by doing, absolutely. But I am firmly in the camp that I need to see something (or read through something) before I can get the most out of hands-on learning.

Yoga 🧘 or tennis 🎾?

Yoga. I’m really working on my mindfulness practice and so yoga is a great way to be physical but also supports mental health. Tennis is great for increasing mental toughness though!

Teach the technical skills 🔧 or build the confidence 💪?

Build the confidence. Technical skills are going to come but fostering inner confidence and combating the imposter syndrome are the true challenges.

Stay and grow at one practice 🏥 or explore multiple hospitals 🗺️?

Also, great question! I always say that there is no such thing as a perfect clinic. I think if you do the work in finding the right fit for you AND the people in the clinic value an environment of learning, then there’s a ton of value in staying in one practice. I will say it is very enlightening though to see how clinics all do things differently!

Beach day 🏖️ or rainy day indoors 🌧️?

Beach day. I love getting some vitamin D, having my toes in the sand and listening to the water. A beach day is a perfect way to reset.

Celebrate the small wins 🎉 or focus on the big milestones 🏆?

Celebrate the small wins. Being a veterinarian is hard. And as perfectionists or even just humans we have that negativity bias and I think one of the ways to combat that is by celebrating the small wins and celebrating them often.

Planner 📋 or go with the flow 🌊?

I would say I am more go with the flow. I am a strong S communication style and I thrive in an environment of harmony.

Pep talk before the procedure 💬 or debrief after 🗣️?

Pep talk before the procedure. In general, I’m go with the flow but when it comes to surgery I like to talk it through first. Let’s talk about the steps and how we would tackle any complications that may arise to give our patient the best outcome.

One more episode 📺 or one more chapter 📖?

One more chapter! I LOVE to read! Give me all your romantasy recommendations!

Step in and demonstrate 🙌 or talk them through it🗺️?

There’s a time for both. I find a lot of value in watching something first, and I’m also a big fan of “see one, do one.” But sometimes it’s important to let a mentee get the feel for a technique in the moment without intervening.

More about Dr. Doemland:

Dr. Emily Doemland earned her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois. As a mentor with the PetOne Veterinary Training Center, she supports new doctors throughout Illinois, performing procedures and coaching mentees in spay/neuter surgery for PetOne's rescue partners. She also has a master’s degree in education and is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional.

Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, tennis, wine tasting, and reading — and shares her home with her husband, 4-year-old son and 7-year-old Labrador, and is in the market for a new pet tarantula. She is expecting a little girl this August. She and her family love to travel, especially to Disney and Hawaii.