Building Skills and Confidence Together
New Grad Retreat 2026
Each year, Heartland’s newest class of veterinarians gather together for New Grad Retreat, giving them a chance to step away from the day-to-day, connect with peers, and celebrate the start of their careers. This year’s event brought us to Nashville for a few days packed with collaboration, hands-on learning, and community-building.
“Vet school prepares you with an incredible foundation, but those first months in practice bring a whole new set of real-world decisions, pressures, and learning curves,” said Dr. Jessi. “Our new graduates are showing up with curiosity, resilience, and a genuine commitment to their patients and teams – and we could not be more proud of them.”
Making Connections
We kicked off the retreat with good food, live music, and space to simply get to know one another. With new grads coming together from practices across the country, the evening was a chance to put names to faces, swap stories, and get to know others who are also embarking on their first year in practice.
“Being at New Grad Retreat has been really great,” shared Dr. Jesseca Ballard of West Asheville Family Vet in Asheville, NC. “It has been so helpful to be able to meet and share stories with peers who are all newer grads.”
Hands-On Training
While connection was a big part of the week, so was the chance to hone their clinical skills, through an anesthesia simulator and a hands-on dental lab, where our new doctors got to practice canine and feline dental extractions.
For Dr. Harlee Williford of Fairview Animal Hospital in Maryville, TN, these trainings were especially valuable.
“Getting more experience with dental extractions is something I’ve been looking forward to since starting in practice,” she said. “The anesthesia workshop was also a great addition.”
With new techniques mastered and a few more extractions under their belts, the new grads wrapped up the lab with skills they could take directly back to practice.
Learning Together
Through sessions focused on navigating difficult conversations, making confident clinical decisions, and discovering how to lead and grow – the new doctors took home valuable skills they can put to work in their practices.
Perhaps even more important than the topics themselves were the discussions around them. Each conversation was set up to provide opportunities to ask questions, bounce ideas off one another, and talk openly about what it’s really like to be starting out in practice.
“I loved how the sessions felt more like a big conversation,” said Dr. Sydney Garcia of Miami Lakes Veterinary Clinic in Miami Lakes, FL. “It felt really comfortable for everyone.”
An Expert-Led Panel
We closed out the retreat with a panel discussion featuring experienced Heartland veterinarians Dr. Kelly Hinterneder, Dr. Matt Allen, and Dr. Alex Turner – giving new grads the chance to hear honest advice and ask some of the questions that don’t always get brought up in the classroom.
“The panel was fantastic,” said Dr. Garcia. “We discussed all the questions new veterinarians are scared to ask. It was reassuring and comforting to know we are all in the same boat.”
“Bringing this cohort together gave them space to celebrate early wins, learn from one another, and build the confidence and community they can carry back to their practices,” reflected Dr. Jessi. “We are so lucky that they chose to begin their careers with us.”
Looking for a supportive community?
Whether you’ve just graduated or are looking for a new opportunity, Heartland practices come with a built-in community designed to support your personal goals and professional growth.