The VIN Foundation (VF) was created in August 2005 and initially had a broad mission associated with the entirety of the veterinary profession. In the Fall of 2008, the VIN Foundation Board met to narrow their mission to better direct their efforts towards those most in need.

Even though the Board was most focused on those who are need of an extra hand, the agenda is designed to view the entire veterinary profession as an integrated "system" such that each event or decision intended to aid one sector ensures a rippling effect to eventually impact all sectors of the profession.

Board members determined that career transition was the most stressful time in one's veterinary life and, therefore, where the VF resources could do the most good.  By examining the timeline of a career the Board identified key transition points where providing support would increase the chances for success and professional satisfaction. The goal of the VF is to identify the key points within a veterinary career where creating, promoting, improving and providing resources would have the most impact to our colleagues most in need of gentle guidance.

Although it cannot be denied that every colleague and career is unique, most travel similar avenues to get to those stressful transition points.   And that first transition point is when the new grad, typically heavily laden with six-figure debt, formally enters the profession without a safety net of a support system to guide them through the shift from student to wage earner.

Since we all affirm that a new graduate's first veterinary position may color how they view this profession for the rest of their life, it is important to us that this newly minted veterinarian has at their disposal the resources necessary to make the right decisions.  Therefore, this this transition point was chosen as a key focus for the VIN Foundation in 2010.

The VF Board is committed to reviewing all aspects of this transition in an attempt to use our resources to best help those new graduates. 

Thus the Foundation's motto:

The exams that count begin after graduation -- we're here to help.