Summer 2018

Victoria (Tori) is a 2007 graduate of Bel Rea Institute, Denver CO with an Associates in Applied Animal Science.

She has worked at BluePearl Veterinary Partners with in the Internal Medicine Department, as a primary technician since 2007.

Tori obtained her first veterinary technical specialty in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2011, her second in Nutrition in 2017. She is also board member for the Academy of Internal
Medicine Veterinary Technicians, as Small Animal Director at Large.

Clinical interest include clinical nutrition and its use in disease management and prevention, feline hyperthyroidism, and acid base disorders.

Benita Altier is a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) and Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Dentistry. She has worked in the profession since 1988 in both general small animal practices and at an equine and llama neonatal referral hospital. Through her business, Pawsitive Dental Education, she has been bringing professional dental instruction to veterinary hospitals and conferences across the US and Canada since 2008. Benita enjoys motivating and encouraging other veterinary professionals to do their very best and learn something new every day. Advocating for the oral health of pets and prevention of oral pain in animals is her passion. She currently resides in the state of Washington.

Ginny has been a credentialed technician since graduating from Fairmont State College in Fairmont, WV with an AAS in Veterinary technology and passing the national board exam in 2001. She later received her BS in Allied Health Administration from FSC in 2003. Since that time, she has spent the majority of her career in academia and specialty medicine; she received her VTS in Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2012 and a Masters degree in Strategic Leadership from East Tennessee State University in 2013. She is the president of the Tennessee Veterinary Technicians Association and is currently working hard along with many others on trying to get TN to be one of the first states to pass the “Registered Veterinary Nurse” legislation.

Anna has been working in both academia and private practice since graduating with her AAS from Bel-Rea Institute in 2003 and then further completing her BS from Purdue University in 2006. While in academia she has focused a majority of her interests on canine physical therapy, wound healing and stem cell therapy. Anna currently spends her time working as an oncology technician at Newtown Veterinary Specialists in Newtown, Connecticut. In her down time she enjoys spending time on her family farm with her three children, husband, five dogs, one cat, and a variety of farm animals.

Cathy earned her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Surgery in 2014 and serves as President Elect and Credentialing Committee member of the Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians. She has been a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in North Carolina since graduating from Central Carolina Community College in 2003 and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Keene State College in Keene, NH.
Cathy works at all three locations of Veterinary Specialty Hospital in North Carolina. She has worked in the specialty surgical field since 2005 and has a particular interest in orthopedic and minimally invasive surgery.

Tami Lind is currently ICU and ER supervisor at Purdue University and has been working at the university for the last 7 years. She attended veterinary technology school at Purdue and graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary technology. Two years later Tami assumed the ICU and ER supervisor role at Purdue University. She received her VTS in Emergency/Critical Care in 2016. Her passion is teaching veterinary nurses and veterinary students in preparing them for their career ahead.

Ellen graduated from SUNY Delhi in 1996 and has worked in many sectors in veterinary medicine. She started out in veterinary technology as a student primate biohazard technician at LEMSIP in Sterling Forest, NY. After closing of the lab, she moved to shelter medicine (Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC), and a few corporate small animal hospitals in the DC metro area.

]In 2002, she joined NOVA CAT CLINIC, an approved Gold Cat Friendly Practice, and is the LVT to a five-doctor practice and supervisor to an assisting staff. She also runs the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation, which is dedicated to helping other rescues and shelters with the critical neonatal and pediatric patient. Ellen lectures on the critical feline neonate and also safe restraint and anesthesia techniques.

Sarah earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Nursing from St. Petersburg College and the Veterinary Technician Specialty (Exotic Companion Animals). She currently works at ISU Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Sarah has written numerous articles and lectured extensively on exotic animal topics. She has fostered birds for the Des Moines Animal Rescue League since 2014. Her interests include avian anatomy, physiology, behavior and enrichment; wildlife rehabilitation; and anesthesia.

Sandra Farfan works in the oncology department at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, Connecticut. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, she became a veterinary nurse after moving to Connecticut in 2007. After earning her license in 2013, Sandra began her career in oncology at the Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, Connecticut, as a nurse and nurse supervisor. She has presented case reports at the ACVIM Forum and Veterinary Cancer Society conferences. She is currently a VTS candidate (oncology).

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.

Ren is a licensed veterinary technician from Reno, Nevada. Credentialed in 1998 after graduating from the Bel-Rea Institute in Denver, Colorado, Ren has dedicated himself enthusiastically to veterinary medicine. Since that time, he has worked from coast to coast in both general practice and specialty facilities. In the past several years, he has taken a particular interest in the field of photobiomodulation therapy as this dynamic modality continues to rapidly evolve and has proven itself to be a vital part of veterinary practice. Ren teaches, writes, and speaks on the subject at conferences and educational seminars.

Heather has spent over 25 years in small animal practice, teaches veterinary technology and assistance programs, and is the author of Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team. She lectures on topics ranging from grief management for health care professionals to nutrition, inventory, communications, and veterinary team management. She has also written several articles and participated in published roundtable discussions on these topics.

Currently, Heather provides consulting services for veterinary hospitals and is an instructor for Patterson Veterinary University and VetMedTeam. She serves on several advisory committees and is the Program Chair of the Technician Program at the North American Veterinary Conference. Heather was named the 2014 Veterinary Technician of the Year and Continuing Educator of the Year for 2016 at the Western Veterinary Conference.

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.

Ms. Johnson-Harris has been involved with the NAVC as a speaker and moderator since 1990. She was the first veterinary technician to serve as an elected Board member of the NAVC serving the Board from 2003 to 2015. Ms Johnson-Harris was also the first veterinary technician to serve as the President of the NAVC (2013-2014). Along with being the Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse journal, Ms. Johnson-Harris is the NAVC Specialty Programs manager and works as the practice manager working along side her husband, Dr. Jerry Harris at Hinckley Animal Hospital.