St. Petersburg College’s Veterinary Technology program has had some wins to celebrate, recently!

Faculty Recognition

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Board of Directors honored Trish Gorham, Veterinary Technology Instructor In-Charge,  by awarding her the Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship. Each year, the NAVC Board of Directors provides three scholarships to attend the VMX conference, which has more than 7,000 veterinarians and 17,000+ members of the veterinary healthcare team in attendance and is the largest veterinary conference in North America. This scholarship is awarded to veterinary nurses/technicians who have demonstrated exemplary leadership abilities and have made a positive growth in the profession or their practice. Gorham, who was chosen from an extensive group of peers, will receive travel expenses and hotel accommodations for six nights, complimentary conference registration, attendance to a hands-on workshop of her choosing, and a daily per diem for meals and ancillary expenses.  

Student Recognition

Annually, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association awards two $600 scholarships to one Veterinary Technology Associate in Science (AS) student and one Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) student. Kelsey Tate received the AS student scholarship. She has been working in the field for five years and is currently working in a practice in Sarasota. She is in her second semester in the program and working towards certification. Her interests are surgery and emergency medicine.

The BAS scholarship was awarded to Robert Fuller, a graduate of SPC’s AS program. Fuller is in his final semester in the BAS program. He is the main veterinary technician at a privately operated endangered species breeding facility in Florida, and he is responsible for the clinical pathology lab where they run all patient samples from the Florida Grasshopper to the Asian Elephants.

Veterinary Technology AS degree student Kayla Porter received a $1,000 scholarship from the Think Great Foundation, which supports spouses of active military personnel and veterans. The mission of the foundation is to enrich and enhance the lives of military and veteran spouses by supporting the accomplishment of their educational and career goals.

The Think Great Foundation is currently accepting  scholarship applications. Learn more here.

Thank a vet tech this week!

National Veterinary Technician Week, October 17-23, celebrates veterinary technicians/nurses who perform valuable medical and non-medical services as part of the veterinary health care team that protects the health of both animals and people.

The National Veterinary Technician Association (NAVTA) established Vet Tech Week in 1993  to reinforce the value and professionalism of veterinary technicians and to provide an opportunity for them to encourage one another for excellent work ethic and team building, as well as to acknowledge a quality relationship with veterinarians and other veterinary professionals.

St. Petersburg College Vet Tech students and the profession were celebrated by VCA and Banfield Pet Hospital®. Many thanks to them for treating our students to food and swag this week!

Veterinary technicians are a vital part of assisting in the preservation of animal and human health and welfare. They are part of the One Health initiative, a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach that seeks to achieve the best health outcomes by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

Upon graduation, our graduates -and other graduates of an AVMA accredited program- take an oath:

“I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering and by promoting public health.

I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment to lifelong learning.

Vet Techs work tirelessly to adhere to this code, utilizing their knowledge and clinical expertise in providing medical care to all species of animals. They are an integral part of public health that betters the lives of animals and humans by providing compassionate care in veterinary clinics, emergency hospitals, zoos, conservation centers, sanctuaries, rescues, shelters, colleges and universities.

If you are looking at professions on the rise,  a career in veterinary nursing might be for you! Find out at our open house on Oct. 17.

Veterinary Nursing careers

Dr. Richard Flora, dean of the  veterinary nursing programs at St. Petersburg College, shared that “employment opportunities for veterinary nurses have been increasing and are expected to continue to increase.  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for veterinary technicians to grow at 19 percent between 2014 and 2024, much higher than the average for all professions.”

On-campus and online

If you are concerned about available time to attend campus classes, you can earn your degree in  veterinary nursing by attending class fully online (either an associate or bachelor’s degree). If you have more flexibility and prefer the traditional classroom environment, you can obtain your associate degree on-campus.

SPC’s programs are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and offer students engaging and varied learning experiences, whether the student is on campus or online.

Annual Open House  – Oct. 17^th from 4 to 7 p.m.

At the event you can speak to current students and graduates of the program, faculty, see student demonstrations, take a tour of the facility, and speak to an advisor to see how you can major in the field of veterinary nursing.   You can even interact with our furry four-legged friends for adoption.  Come out and visit with a variety of exhibitors associated with the field of veterinary medicine as well.

Join us for a fun, informative event at 12376 Ulmerton Road, Largo!  For more information, please call Ginny White at 727-302-6720.

If you are looking at professions on the rise, Veterinary Technology careers might be for you! Find out at our open house on Oct. 18.

Veterinary Technology careers

Dr. Richard Flora, dean of the Veterinary Technology degree programs at St. Petersburg College, shared that “employment opportunities for veterinary technicians have been increasing and are expected to continue to increase.  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for veterinary technicians to grow at 19 percent between 2014 and 2024, much higher than the average for all professions.”

On-campus and online

If you are concerned about available time to attend campus classes, you can earn your degree in Veterinary Technology by attending class fully online (either an associate or bachelor’s degree). If you have more flexibility and prefer the traditional classroom environment, you can obtain your associate degree on-campus.

SPC’s programs are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and offer students engaging and varied learning experiences, whether the student is on campus or online.

Educational opportunities abroad

Unique learning opportunities we are excited to offer our students are our study abroad trips.

Students have traveled to Thailand and worked at an elephant sanctuary and studied sea turtles in Costa Rica and in the Great Barrier Reefs in Australia.

Open House on Oct. 18

If you want to learn more, come visit us at SPC’s Vet Tech Open House on Oct. 18. Students will be sharing their learning experiences. There will be interactive exhibits and educational sessions. There may even be some petting time with some of our four-legged friends!

See our facilities with tours of the Veterinary Technology Center, a facility Dean Flora said there is “nothing to compare to in any technology program in the world.”

SPC advisors will be on hand to answer questions about our programs and the application process. Dean Flora will hold information sessions hourly to provide you more details about the programs and veterinary technology careers.

Join us for a fun, informative event at 12376 Ulmerton Road, Largo!  For more information, please call Ginny White at 727-302-6720.