The Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Rippie who was a leader in the veterinary profession. Dr. Rippie recognized that nurses are the spoke in the wheel of the practice and the heart of the hospital. 2019 scholarship winners of the Dr. Earl Rippie award were recognized during VMX for their outstanding contributions.
JANET MURRAY
RVN, Assoc Deg Adult & Voc Ed, Cert IV TAE, Advanced Animal Science – Veterinary Nursing (IRE), General Animal Science – Veterinary Nursing (NZ), Perth, Western Australia
After growing up on a New Zealand dairy farm, it was a natural fit for Janet to begin her career in 1996 as a veterinary nurse. After years of studying and serving in London and Ireland, she moved to Perth, Australia, in 2012, undertaking a brief sales role and then her current role as a lecturer for Certificate IV veterinary nursing at South Metropolitan TAFE, in Bentley, Western Australia. Janet is president of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia, was one of the first veterinary nurses invited to sit on the Australian Veterinary Association’s Veterinary Business Group, and is editor of the Australian Veterinary Nursing Journal.
KARI GRIFFITH
LVT, VTS (Dentistry), Everett, Washington
Kari has worked in the veterinary field since 1984. In 1992, she became a licensed veterinary technician in Washington state. In 2013, she earned her credentials as a veterinary technician specialist (Dentistry) from the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians, the third person to do so in Washington. Kari helped develop a health care and first aid training program for police departments and K9 handlers in the Puget Sound, and she has spoken at many canine training seminars.
JULIE ANN NETTIFEE
RVT, BS, VTS (Neurology), Apex, North Carolina
For more than 20 years, Julie Ann has been on the staff at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently supports clinical research in neurology and nutrition, teaches and conducts outreach. She trained at the University of Minnesota, Waseca, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has experience in public relations, technical writing, and grant research and writing for North Carolina State. She has presented locally, nationally and internationally and has authored numerous articles on veterinary nursing.
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Subscribe to Today’s Veterinary Nurse to read more about these extraordinary veterinary nurses in the Spring 2019 issue.