This year, Oct. 16-22 was reserved for acknowledging the achievements and contributions of veterinary medical technicians nationwide. A veterinary clinic’s smooth and efficient operation relies heavily on the skills of its certified veterinary technicians, and those who work at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC) are no exception.
Each year during National Veterinary Technician Week, UWVC’s technicians select two from within their own ranks who exemplify commitment to the profession and to high-quality service for clients, patients, and clinicians alike. The “Early Career” award, recognizing one who has worked in UWVC for less than five years, was presented to Hayley Lombard, while the “Legends” award, offered to those who have worked in UWVC for five years or longer, was given to Lindsey Hernke. Read on below to find out more about this year’s winners.
Hayley Lombard
Lombard
Lombard’s desire to work in a challenging and fast-paced environment prompted her to join UWVC in June of 2014. She now works overnight shifts in the Critical Care Unit. Lombard says that her motivation to get certified as a veterinary technician came from the promise of “being able to help, comfort, and care for animals every day.”
In the future, Lombard plans to continue working in critical care and to eventually earn her veterinary technician specialty in emergency and critical care.
Lindsey Hernke
Hernke began work at UWVC in July 2008 after attending a program through Madison College and spending four years in private practice.
Hernke
“I became a certified veterinary technician because I have always wanted my life to be spent around animals,” says Hernke. “When I found out, at age 11, that I could not only have them as family but also be able to help them when they were sick, I jumped on it.”
When a friend working at UWVC informed her of a job opening in the Critical Care Unit, she took the opportunity. She now works weekends with the Emergency and Critical Care Service.
Like Lombard, Hernke hopes to earn her veterinary technician specialty in emergency and critical care in the future.
AnnaKathryn Kruger