Dr. Jocelyn Mott is a small animal internal medicine specialist and the first ACVIM Fellow under the new ACVIM Fellowship Program. Dr. Mott graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, completed an internship at Oklahoma State University, a small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and fellowship in feline and canine diabetes at University of Florida. She was a clinical professor of veterinary medicine at Western University of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, CA and practicing internist and co-owner of Pasadena Veterinary Specialists in South Pasadena, CA. She is currently actively engaged in clinical research, clinical trials and clinical practice in the exciting field of feline and canine diabetes at the University of Florida.

What drove you to want to become a Fellow of the ACVIM? 
I had always been interested in pursuing further training especially in diabetes. However, after spending many years in private practice, I was afraid I would not be a competitive applicant. After an initial chat with Dr. Chen Gilor about the fellowship, my fears and doubts were allayed and confirmed my decision to go for it.

What do you see as the advantage(s) of ACVIM-approved Fellowship Programs/fellowship-level training as a whole?
There are so many advantages – strong mentorship, participation in research, teaching opportunities and specialized training. With the Diabetes Institute in Gainesville, FL, I have also been able to explore comparative aspects of diabetes by attending pediatric endocrinology rounds, shadowing pediatric endocrinologists and collaborating on comparative research studies. The fellowship has opened up many doors to me and given me a new career path.

Were there any specific challenges you faced along the way? How did you overcome them?
The strong and positive mentorship I received during my fellowship really helped me to deal with any challenges. I also made the decision at the beginning to try and take every opportunity offered to me even when it was well outside my comfort zone. I think that decision allowed me to just accept challenges as they came and do my best..

What advice do you have for those aspiring to become ACVIM Fellows?
Just go for it! And it is never too late in your career to do a fellowship. It can add so much to your current career path and open up all kinds of doors that might not otherwise have been available to you.

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Learn more about the ACVIM Fellowship Program