They Are the Wind Beneath Our Wings

Have I ever told you they were my heroes? This is National Veterinary Technician Week, and all the veterinarians here will be celebrating with enthusiasm because we would be all crying in our respective corners if we had to even go a day in the clinic without our techs (and our veterinary assistants are included, but for brevity I’ll just be using techs for this post to encompass all of our technical support staff).

A good staff, which I am so grateful to have here at MDVC, is what drives success and the level of care our patients receive.

You see, if a vet practice is a building, the veterinarians may be the bricks, but the support staff is the mortar. They hold everything together, keep the building strong and secure, and keep us vets from crumbling into a pile of rubble. And, like mortar, they can be easily overlooked.

What Do Techs Do, Exactly?

Well, almost everything, really. There’s the easy things to list like pulling up vaccines, writing histories, drawing blood, taking radiographs, taking client phone calls, and running labs.

But what makes techs so invaluable is the things that are harder to explain. They’re constantly making sure we don’t miss anything, doubling checking on our patients, talking to stressed out clients. They will think about the practicality of our recommendations and provide a different perspective, beyond what the textbooks say to do, so that we can cultivate an effective plan that will work for our patients.

A good technician knows what a doctor needs even before we do, and they know that our success means better care for our patients.

So, for National Veterinary Technician Week, I will be getting up extra early to wait in line to get the good bagels (I will die on the hill that New York Bagel & Bialy are the best bagels in Chicagoland), and I will take this opportunity to shout out each of our techs:

Technicians

Kyleen – No one is as good with cats as you are. Our cat whisperer!

Kristyn – Our surgery technician rock star, you always know what I need before I do.

Olivia – Watching you grow and develop into the capable, talented technician that you are has been a privilege.

Crystal – Our clinics overall MVP! Your addition to our staff was the breath of fresh air that we needed.

Ashleigh – Your empathy and kind heart is second to none, and I have so enjoyed seeing your confidence in your abilities grow over the years.

Nicole – You are such a talented technician, and you can always make me laugh.

Veterinary Assistants

Ariana – You are our clinic’s glitter.

Diana – No one can keep me on track and give it to me straight like you do.

Luis – Our most improved player, such a great, competent assistant.

Samantha – Our clinic’s sunshine, you know how to make us all smile, are a bang-up baker, and you are so very good at your job.

Alejandra – Consistent and steadfast. It’s been great watching you grow!

Yazmin – Any day I get to work with you, I know I’m going to have a good day. Your work is always exceptional.

Lastly, Kanye and Eddie – We miss you and are so proud of you both!

Thank you again to you all, you are what makes our clinic such a special place to be a part of, and I promise to never make you listen to me sing Celine Dion songs no matter how inspiring you are.

— Alyssa Kritzman, DVM