Feature Articles

Heather is a graduate of Central Carolina Community College with an AAS in veterinary medical technology. She obtained her VTS in anesthesia and analgesia while working as an anesthesia technician at North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Currently, she is the ICU supervisor at North Carolina State University and is working to obtain her VTS in emergency and critical care. Heather enjoys lecturing and has lectured at state and national conferences around the United States. She is a member of NAVTA, her state organization, IVAPM, and VECCS and is Fear Free Certified, a Recover Rescuer, and a Healing Touch for Animals Level 2 Practitioner. 

Barbie teaches clinical pathology and laboratory animal courses in the veterinary technology program at Murray State University and is a continuing education instructor for the Veterinary Support Personnel Network. Before full-time teaching, she worked at the Breathitt Veterinary Center diagnostic laboratory. She currently serves as secretary of the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians and the Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association. She resides in western Kentucky, near Land Between the Lakes, where she loves to hike with her 2 sons and husband. She shares her home with 3 dogs, 4 cats, and an assortment of feathered and scaled animals.

Elana is a graduate of Harcum Junior College. She has worked at Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for the past 27 years. Her first 10 years were spent as the ultrasound technician in the radiology department and the next 17 years as a critical care veterinary nurse in the intensive care unit. In addition to her interest in ultrasonography and emergency and critical care, Elana loves cows and has spent time working in the dairy industry. She lives with her husband on a small hobby farm with a myriad of much-loved pets.

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 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.

Jennifer is a licensed veterinary technician with a master’s degree in animal biology. She attended the University of California, Davis, and later moved to Utah, where she found her passion for emergency and critical care medicine. Jennifer has worked for BluePearl for the past 5 years and is the emergency and critical care supervisor for the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Midvale, Utah. Her interests include post-cardiopulmonary arrest care, transfusion medicine, and bone marrow disease. She is the proud mother of 4 cats. In her down time, she enjoys spending quality time with her spouse snowboarding, mountain biking, dirt biking, and fishing.

Liane is a graduate of Purdue University and returned as the Diagnostic Imaging Instructional Technologist after working in private practice. Liane has produced and launched a digital radiography positioning guide for small animals, large animals, and exotics. She stays busy these days by spending the evenings with her family on their small farm in Attica, Ind.

Donna earned her degree in radiological sciences from Butler University. She worked in radiology in human medicine for 20 years before transitioning to veterinary medicine. Sixteen years ago, she began her career at Purdue University to bring advanced technologies to the veterinary school. In her spare time, she enjoys coaching, sports, boating, and spending time with her family.

Rachel is a veterinary nurse and a member of the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. She is the lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. Rachel is a Certified Training Partner through the Karen Pryor Dog Trainer Professional Academy. She is a Fear Free Certified Level 3 Professional, is on the Fear Free Speakers Bureau, and is a member of the Fear Free Advisory Panel. Rachel is also the speaker committee chair and website chair for the Clinical Animal Behavior Conference and serves as secretary for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians.

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.

Barbie teaches clinical pathology and laboratory animal courses in the veterinary technology program at Murray State University and is a continuing education instructor for the Veterinary Support Personnel Network. Before full-time teaching, she worked at the Breathitt Veterinary Center diagnostic laboratory. She currently serves as secretary of the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians and the Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association. She resides in western Kentucky, near Land Between the Lakes, where she loves to hike with her 2 sons and husband. She shares her home with 3 dogs, 4 cats, and an assortment of feathered and scaled animals.