Fall 2020

Beckie is a Registered Veterinary Technician living in Southport, North Carolina. Beckie graduated from Central Carolina Community College in 2007 with her AAS in Veterinary Medical Technology and will graduate from the University of North Carolina Pembroke with her Bachelors in Non-Profit and Public Administration in 2019. Beckie has enjoyed a diverse career in small animal, large animal, and mixed practices; academia; and management and consulting. Beckie co-founded Veterinary Advancement, is a professional medical responder with the ASPCA Field Investigations Response (FIR) Team, is Volunteer Director of Operations 3K9 Working Dogs, and co-hosts the podcast Veterinary Viewfinder.

Sandy is a veterinary practice management consultant, instructor, speaker, and advisor with over 35 years of experience in the veterinary field. She is dedicated to improving hospital operations through coaching and sharing appropriate practice management techniques to the whole team. Sandy still works in a small animal practice and is an active member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, NAVTA, VetPartners, Sacramento Valley Veterinary Practice Managers Association, Sacramento Valley Veterinary Technician Association, and the CVMA. She is an instructor for Patterson Veterinary University and a former hospital inspector for the California Veterinary Medical Board.

Angel graduated from Macomb Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program in 2007. After 1 year of working in Michigan, she decided to move back home to Georgia where she now works as an RVT. She then enrolled at St. Petersburg College and earned her bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology and practice management. She joined Georgia Veterinary Associates in 2010. With a great understanding of all the positions and needs of the hospitals, she is now the Operations Manager for all 4 GVA locations. Angel helped start the CARE Fund in 2014 and was recognized with the 2019 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Award, a national award that honors those behind the scenes in animal medicine.

Jessica Bowditch, RVT, provides clinical case work and teaches fundamentals of physical rehabilitation to veterinary technician students in the veterinary technician program at Purdue University. She received her associate of science degree in veterinary technology from Baker College in Jackson, Michigan, in 2013. She began working in the neurology and physical rehabilitation department at Purdue University as a registered veterinary technician in 2015. She is pursuing her credential as a Certified Canine Rehab Practitioner through the University of Tennessee.

Harold is a veterinary practice educational consultant and former manager of the emergency and critical care service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He is a co-founder of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians, a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia, and the past president of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. He currently serves as President-elect on the Board of Directors for the NAVC. In addition, he is a Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. He has spoken at events in 12 countries and has published several book chapters and journal articles.

Laura attended the veterinary technology program at Hillsborough Community College and attained her CVT in 2013. She has been with the UF College of Veterinary Medicine since 2011. After working in the anesthesia and pain management department for several years, she found her calling in shelter medicine. Currently, she is the manager of the Veterinary Community Outreach Program.

Kali attended the veterinary technology program at St. Petersburg College and attained her CVT in 2019. She immediately began working at the University of Florida, where she is currently involved in the Veterinary Community Outreach Program. She has a passion for shelter work and caring for the animals that go through the system to make a better, happier life for all involved.

Rachel Beck is a certified veterinary technician and credentialed project manager on the Veterinary Medical Programs team at Banfield Pet Hospital. She currently leads a team of project managers who specialize in implementation. Having been in the veterinary field for over 15 years, she has served roles both in hospitals and at Banfield’s central office. She is passionate about engaging the whole veterinary team in proactive health and wellness as well as about career pathing for paraprofessionals in the industry. She resides in Portland, Oregon, with her significant other and 2 cats.

Dr. Christina Melvin works as a full-time high school biomedical science instructor and part-time general practice veterinary nurse in Northern Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Worcester State University, Master of Public Health from the University of New England, and Doctorate in Education for Health Professions from A.T. Still University. She is a CVT in Massachusetts and LVT in Virginia. Dr. Melvin’s professional interests include One Health, health literacy, and health education. She previously started and directed a high school veterinary assistant program in Massachusetts, and is passionate about introducing veterinary medical careers to young students.

Nicola has worked in the veterinary profession since 1994 and is currently the Head Medical Nurse at Plymouth Veterinary Group. She has written for many veterinary publications and textbooks and is the editor of Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Nicola won the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)/Blue Cross award for animal welfare in 2010, and she was designated the SQP Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2011 and the SQP Nutritional Advisor of the Year (2013). In 2012, Nicola was given the CAW Professional Development Award for outstanding service to the veterinary nursing profession. She is studying for a master’s degree in Advanced Veterinary Nursing from Glasgow University.

Lynda is the lead technician in general practice at Nanuet Animal Hospital, where she has been working for 29 years. In 2013, she achieved her VTS in clinical practice through the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (AVTCP). In 2018, she became the vice president of the AVTCP and currently serves as president. In 2015, she earned her Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) credential. In her spare time Lynda likes to garden. Year-round she loves to train her 3 dogs and shows 2 in Rally Obedience. She also has a rescue pit who is happy to be a homebody, where he is most comfortable!   

Ken has spent nearly 20 years in practice. He obtained his VTS certification in emergency and critical care, as well as small animal internal medicine, and earned his master’s degree in Veterinary Science. He served as ICU Manager and Blood Bank Manager at Adobe Animal Hospital until 2018, and is now Program Director for the RECOVER CPR Initiative and simulation lab manager of the Park Veterinary Innovation Laboratory at Cornell University. He co-chairs the Veterinary Nurse Initiative and serves as a board member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians, and the Veterinary Innovation Council.

Kara Burns is an LVT with master’s degrees in physiology and counseling psychology. She began her career in human medicine working as an emergency psychologist and a poison specialist for humans and animals. Kara is the founder and president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians and has attained her VTS (Nutrition). She is the director of veterinary nursing for the NAVC as well as the editor in chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse. She also works as an independent nutritional consultant, and is the immediate past president of NAVTA. She has authored many articles, textbooks, and textbook chapters and is an internationally invited speaker, focusing on topics of nutrition, leadership, and technician utilization.

Amber graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Morehead State University in 2001. She has worked in emergency medicine since 2004 and achieved VTS (ECC) certification in 2014. Currently, she works in the ER/ICU on the Emergency and Nursing Team at MedVet in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her professional interests include CPR, sepsis, and intensive care nursing. She keeps the company of a small ark that includes snakes, lizards, guinea pigs, a parrot, and a dog. During her free time, she enjoys reading science fiction, practicing tai chi, making photo albums, and generally being a bit of a nerd.