Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures
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July 22, 2026
Community impact often starts with a simple conversation. When our hospitals step into the communities we serve, we do more than share expertise. We help inspire future generations, and in return, those communities strengthen and energize our team members.
Inspiring the Next Generation at United Way Mentorship Day
Recently, South Mill Veterinary Clinic's Cerissa Noble, DVM, CVA, CVCHM, and Dani Tonti, RVT, Elite FFCP, CFVP, LSCH-S, participated in United Way Mentorship Day, joining a diverse group of professional women dedicated to empowering local students.
The event brought together doctors, lawyers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and other professionals to speak with an audience of seventh and eighth grade girls about overcoming obstacles, pursuing career goals, and building confidence in the face of challenges. Throughout the day, panelists shared personal stories about their educational journeys, daily responsibilities, and the experiences that helped shape their careers.
For Dr. Noble and Dani, it was an opportunity to showcase the many paths available within veterinary medicine. They spoke about the wide range of careers in the profession, from clinical practice and Fear Free animal handling to integrative medicine, corporate roles, industry opportunities, and education.
One special guest, however, may have stolen the spotlight.
"I brought my dog, Huckleberry (a 4 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) who charmed the audience with his friendly demeanor and laser focus on all food available. I was not surprised to find he was the most popular panelist as the audience was most responsive and enthusiastic to his endless antics."
While Huckleberry provided comic relief, the conversations throughout the day tackled meaningful and timely topics. Students and panelists alike engaged in honest discussions about societal pressures, self-doubt, peer influence, and imposter syndrome. Together, they explored how to embrace self-improvement without losing personal identity and how supporting one another can create opportunities for growth and success.
Those moments of openness left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
"It was extremely fulfilling to look back at our careers and laugh with these young women as well as give them more of an awareness of what working in veterinary medicine can look like anything you can imagine it to be."
Events like United Way Mentorship Day reflect the powerful relationship between our hospitals and the communities they serve. By sharing their experiences, knowledge, and encouragement, our team members help young people envision new possibilities for their futures. At the same time, those interactions remind us why we do what we do.
Giving back is not a one-way street. When our hospitals invest in their communities, those communities give back through connection, inspiration, and the opportunity to help shape the next generation. For Dr. Noble, Dani, and countless others across our organization, these moments reinforce the purpose, passion, and people-first culture that make veterinary medicine so rewarding.
Thank you to Dr. Noble, Dani, and of course, Huckleberry, for representing South Mill Veterinary Clinic and demonstrating how a little mentorship today can help create tomorrow's leaders.
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