Fall 2019

Abbie’s career in veterinary medicine began nearly 12 years ago, following her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California. After gaining experience in retail management, Abbie started as a veterinary assistant, then earned her veterinary technician credentials and evolved her leadership skills as a practice manager. In her current role as Program Manager of Veterinary Technician Training, Abbie supports current and aspiring veterinary technicians across Banfield Pet Hospital’s more than 1000 hospitals nationwide to help create healthy workplace environments and enable lifelong careers.

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.

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.

Steven is a registered veterinary technician at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Sandy Springs, Georgia. He has been a surgical technician since 2007, and his practice has been limited to the orthopedics service since 2013. In 2014, Steven was admitted to the Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians (AVST), and he served as the president of the AVST during 2015–2018. Steven enjoys clinical research pertaining to veterinary surgery; topics of interest include stifle stabilization procedures, treatment and prevention of surgical site infections, and other orthopedic conditions. He and his boerboel, Bigwig, live north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Ashley attended the veterinary technology program at the College of Southern Nevada and received her registered veterinary technician license in 2009. In 2016, she earned her veterinary technician specialty certification in small animal internal medicine. In 2019, she co-founded Internal Medicine for Pet Parents. She is currently the internal medicine department lead and the technician training supervisor at IronHorse VetCare in Dublin, California, as well as serving as president of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians in 2019. In her time off, Ashley enjoys kickboxing and wine tasting at local wineries. She is owned by 2 extraordinary kitties, Tito Bandito DiPrete-Ortiz and Vincenzo Stefano.

Nicole is a Licensed and Registered Veterinary Technician in Washington and California. She is the immediate past president of the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians and holds multiple advanced degrees in veterinary technology, psychology, and human health care management. She has worked in private and corporate settings. Nicole manages an ambulatory surgery practice based in the Puget Sound area of Washington. When not working in the clinic, Nicole is a frequent lecturer at various national and international  conferences and meetings. She is also a tireless advocate for the appropriate use of regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine.

Ashley graduated from Murray State University’s Veterinary Technology program in 2012. After completing her internship at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine she stayed to continue working as the veterinary technologist on the clinical nutrition service. She successfully passed her veterinary technician specialty in nutrition in June of 2018. Ashley is passionate about clinical nutrition in both small and large animals and educating pet owners about the impact nutrition can have on their beloved pets.

Saleema entered the veterinary field in 2009 and has since held a variety of roles and positions. This diversity led to the discovery of her true passions for patient care, education, and mentoring. In 2015, she took the VTNE and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. Hoping to share her experiences with other veterinary nurses, Saleema has presented as a speaker in many settings. She is currently part of the Boehringer Ingelheim Tech Champion team and delivers CE presentations to veterinary nurses. Currently residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Saleema practices as a veterinary nurse in a high-caseload small animal practice. She enjoys trail running, crocheting, and being covered in cat hair.

Kathleen is a Massachusetts native who has recently transplanted to Long Island, New York. She is an alumna and former faculty member of the Mount Ida College Veterinary Technician Program in Newton, Massachusetts (now the University of Massachusetts Veterinary Technology Program), where she was a diagnostic imaging instructor. Reproductive medicine is a passion of Kathleen’s, but imaging has always been her “home” in veterinary medicine. Currently, she works at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in the neurology department. Kathleen enjoys spending time with her partner, Meghann, and their
5 show dogs, traveling around the Northeast to various dog shows.

In her 35 years in the profession, Michelle has worked in every paraprofessional position in veterinary practice. She began in hands-on animal care positions, but shifted to the business side when she realized a passion for veterinary business. The need for veterinary business knowledge was nationwide, which was the impetus for creating the Patterson Veterinary University program, which has educated many veterinary professionals since 2006. Michelle is currently responsible for the education and development of practices owned by the Encore Vet Group, a group whose focus is to elevate and empower the people providing animal care.

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.

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.

Brittany provides clinical case work and teaches fundamentals of neurology and neurologic diseases to students in the veterinary nursing program at Purdue University. In 2010, she received her Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University, and in 2012, she began working in the Purdue neurology department as a Registered Veterinary Technician. She recently became a credentialed Veterinary Technician Specialist in Neurology.

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.