Anderson Oconee Pickens

Job Opportunities for Graduating Veterinary Technology Class Are Abundant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/2/05
CONTACT: DR. PEGGY CHAMPION, 646-1357
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Job opportunities for this year's graduating Veterinary Technology class at Tri-County Technical College are abundant. You'll find graduates working in small and large animal practices all over the Upstate, in addition to specialty practices, emergency clinics, pharmaceutical sales and nutrition companies.

"The profession has grown tremendously over the years, and, as a result, so has the respect for the technician," said Dr. Peggy Champion, who heads Tri-County's Veterinary Technology department.

For the first time ever, the door has opened for Tri-County students to participate in internships at the Animal Medical Clinic (AMC) in New York and externships at Zoo Atlanta and Upstate Veterinary Specialists in Greenville.

Lisa Watkins, of Williamston, was among the few Veterinary Technology graduates in the United States selected to participate in a year-long internship at the prestigious AMC, the world's largest, referral veterinary hospital. Lisa, who is set to receive her degree May 9, will depart in December for the paid internship where she will develop and refine her clinical skills and diagnostic abilities. She will live in Manhattan for a year and under the guidance of veterinarians, will study all aspects of companion animal medicine and surgery.

"It's such a privilege and an honor for one of our students to be chosen," said Dr. Champion.

"It’s the greatest opportunity I could get," said Lisa, who is the first Tri-County student ever chosen for this project. "It is such an opportunity and not a surprise," added Dr. Champion. "It won't be easy. It will be a rigorous program with long days and nights and lots of studying. But she is ready."

In addition, Heather Scott, of Taylors, will participate in a 10-week internship at the Zoo Atlanta, the largest zoo in the Southeast. This also is a first experience for the College, the State and first-year students. "It’s an excellent facility, and it has never considered accepting an out-of-state student before. It’s a real door opener that our state now has opportunities there," said Dr. Champion. "It will get my foot in the door for the future," said Heather, who has worked in a small animal clinic for seven years. "It will open a door for those who follow," said Dr. Champion, noting that the zoo normally doesn't accept first-year students.

Dr. Champion is equally as excited about the freshmen externship opportunities that opened up this year at Upstate Veterinary Specialists. Carlin Hardin, of Easley, will begin her summer training next month. "I'm interested in surgery and internal medicine. I'm impressed by the level of new technology at the practice," said Carlin.

Externships hone the skills of the first-year students and give them an idea of which direction they want to go in the field of veterinary medicine," said Dr. Champion.

Kim Turner, of Liberty, Annie Smith of Jonesville, and Mandy Brown-Bates, of Anderson, will begin working at Upstate Veterinary Specialists next month just days after receiving their degrees. More than half of the technicians employed at UVS are Tri-County grads, Dr. Champion said.

Annie, who already holds a bachelor's in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson University and has worked in a small animal clinic for eight years, is looking forward to "new learning experiences in a larger environment."

"All of the girls are highly qualified, and I have no doubt they will succeed. Actually, they expect more of themselves than I do," Dr. Champion added.

In the last four decades, the role of the veterinary technician has undergone a major metamorphosis, evolving in name, skills and reputation, to become an invaluable professional technical support for providing patient care in today’s veterinary clinics.

“It’s an entirely different ballgame,” said Christee Williams, a licensed animal health technician (LAHT) and a 1982 graduate of Tri-County's Veterinary Technology curriculum, where today she is an instructor. (The title LAHT is synonymous with veterinary technician.) Williams, who began working in 1974 as an assistant at a veterinarian’s office when she was a senior in high school, has witnessed the transformation of the profession. “Today the veterinary technician’s responsibilities are endless. Veterinary technicians are an extra set of hands for the doctor and allow him or her to concentrate on the tasks of making a diagnosis, writing a treatment plan and performing surgery,” said Williams.

“If we are allowed to perform our technical skills, it frees the doctor up to practice veterinary medicine and leaves more time for him or her to run the business,” said Williams. “The best-run hospital is one where the entire team is utilized to its potential,” she added.

"In the last 25 years we have seen a major change in equipment and expertise in veterinary medicine," said Dr. Champion. "Technicians are an integral part of the practice."

As the trend in veterinary medicine has moved toward multi-doctor practices and high technology, a greater need for well-trained technicians has been created. Veterinary technicians work closely with veterinarians and other members of the veterinary team to deliver quality animal health care. Their primary responsibilities in a veterinary practice include animal nursing, administering medications, assisting in surgery, taking radiographs, inducing and monitoring anesthesia, client education, hospital management and laboratory duties.

Technicians also perform many tasks in the front office to include answering the phones, scheduling appointments, managing patient records and maintaining drug and supply inventories. Technicians can legally do everything in a practice except make a diagnosis or prognosis, prescribe drugs and perform surgery.

Tri-County is the first technical college in the State to offer an associate degree program in Veterinary Technology.

Tri-County's program, which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, offers, besides the traditional training in clinical and surgical nursing, the various laboratory skills, courses in laboratory animal technology, office management and computer skills.