National Vet Tech Week
CELEBRATING THEIR COMMITMENT TO CARE
From the exam room to the surgery floor, vet techs are at the heart of veterinary medicine. They care for patients, connect with families, and support each other through good days and bad days. To celebrate our vet techs, we asked seven Heartland team members to share what they love most about their work and the people they get to do it with.
ERIN DECKARD
STONESIDE VETERINARY HOSPITAL, TX
Q: What do you wish more people understood about veterinary technicians?
A: “I wish more people realized how much veterinary technicians do. At the end of the day, we are the ones performing treatments on our patients, taking them to the bathroom, and sometimes even handfeeding them. I think technicians are underrated when it comes to how much we do and how much we care for each of our patients.”
Q: What do you wish other technicians knew about working at a Heartland practice?
A: “When we first became a Heartland practice, I was hesitant. But Heartland didn’t change our culture or how we do things in practice. They’re our support system. They help provide us with training and whatever else we need, but we are still Stoneside. We make the medical decisions in-house, and that’s something I really value.”
JESSICA MITOSINKA, LVT
ST. JOHNS ANIMAL CLINIC, MI
Q: What do you love most about being a vet tech?
A: “I am very proud to say I’m a licensed veterinary technician. I love talking about what I do and all the hats I get to wear at work. I like to learn, and that’s the brilliant thing about vet med – it’s always growing. The more you can continue to build off of your education and growth the more knowledgeable you and your team can become.”
Q: Who has encouraged and supported your growth in your role?
A: “Jennie, our practice manager, has supported my growth. She helped me get set up with attending a CE training in Chicago for a weekend which was awesome!”
BROOKLYN GRAHAM, LVT
ST. JOHNS ANIMAL CLINIC, MI
Q: What do you wish more people understood about the role techs play in patient care?
A: “In human medicine a nurse usually sticks to one discipline. As a vet tech we really get to do it all, which a lot of people don’t realize. I also think people don’t realize we aren’t just there for the patient; we are there for their families too. We build a lot of strong relationships, especially when we see patients as babies and get to treat them throughout their lives.”
Q: What does it mean to work for a company that invests in your growth?
A: “I really appreciate that Heartland has so many internal options for continued growth. Having people who actually worked in the field come to our clinic to help us learn has been beneficial for our whole team.”
ALYSSA TAWZER
BLOUNT VETERINARY CLINIC, TN
Q: What made you want to work in veterinary medicine?
A: “My passion for animals started when I could talk. When I was just a little girl I loved being able to play and run with animals and hang out with them. I knew from then that I just wanted to be in vet med. I love being a vet tech and getting to be an advocate for animals that don’t have a voice.”
Q: What does it mean to you to work for a company that invests in your growth?
A: “Heartland hasn’t just invested in me as an employee; they’ve invested in my future. They made my schooling possible with a scholarship, and they’ve trained our team through different continuing education opportunities. I’ve grown in my skills and my confidence since joining my practice and that means a lot to me.”
ALLISON DUDENHOEFFER
JEFFERSON CITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL, MO
Q: What do you love most about being a vet tech?
A: “Growing up, we had 8 animals in my house. I was their caregiver and the one making sure they were getting the right care, vaccines, and nutrition. It made me realize animals don’t have a voice, and I love getting to be that voice for them.”
Q: What opportunities have you had to learn and grow at your practice?
A: “Heartland is a great place to work because I can rely on so many different mentors. In fact, when I first started working at Jefferson City, our RDO, Mike Brady, came to talk to us about mental health. It almost brought me to tears because it’s so fantastic to work for a company that genuinely cares about their people’s mental health.”
ERIN MACDONALD, LVT
HIGHWAY 58 ANIMAL HOSPITAL, TN
Q: What do you wish more people knew about the role vet techs play in patient care?
A: “I wish more people knew that vet techs encompass so many different roles. You are a nurse to patients, an educator to clients, and an advocate for your patients as well.”
Q: What opportunities have you had to grow at your practice?
A: “The growth I’ve had at this practice has been phenomenal. My current practice manager took a chance and hired me as a receptionist in 2015, even though I had no training. Since then, I worked my way to kennel tech, room tech, surgery tech, and now assistant practice manager. It’s all been because of this practice and the ability they’ve given me to learn new skills.”
ELI STOUDEMIRE
WARR ACRES ANIMAL CLINIC, OK
Q: What’s a moment in your career that made you think, “this is why I love what I do”?
A: “One of my favorite parts about being a vet tech is getting to work with the animals. I do a lot of work with the aggressive or scared animals, so when I can make them feel more comfortable it makes me feel good about what I do.”
Q: What does it mean to you to work for a company that actively invests in your growth?
A: “Working for a company that invests in your growth is very meaningful. I appreciate the support that we get. When we had our first anesthesia training, Natalie, Heartland’s Vet Tech Development Manager, followed up afterwards and checked in with how we were doing. She made sure we felt comfortable with the things we learned.”
Where can your career take you?
From patient care to supporting pet families, veterinary technicians make a difference every day. Whether you’re building your skills or ready for a new challenge, Heartland offers opportunities and support to help you grow.