Theresa Cosper-Roberts, RVT, CVPM, ACE(DE), CVBL, offers advice for veterinary technicians looking for a job

Choosing the right job

In the average person's lifetime, they will spend 90,000 hours at work, occupying approximately one third of their life.

 Given how much time is spent at work, choosing the right position is important.

Earlier this fall, Theresa Cosper-Roberts, RVT, CVPM, ACE(DE), CVBL, sat down with 

 to talk about her lecture on navigating job searches which she presented at the Southwest Veterinary Symposium in September 2024. In the interview, Cosper-Roberts offered advice for veterinary technicians seeking a job, emphasizing the importance of thorough and careful research when selecting a job.

Theresa Cosper-Roberts, RVT, CVPM, ACE(DE), CVBL:

What advice do you have for veterinary technicians seeking a job?

"To do your homework and do your research. Remember that when you are looking for a job, the whole process is sort of like looking for the right relationship to be in. You would never marry somebody based on a 1-hour conversation or 15-minute conversation, but when you think about it, we spend more time at work than we do with our families. So, the relationship that you have with your employer needs to be important. We need to put a lot of time and effort into making sure that we're picking the right position."

What are some recruitment basics from the perspective of a job seeker?

"From the perspective of a job seeker, making sure that you are qualified for the position, but also making sure that the position is one where you have opportunities for advancement or continued engagement, and not necessarily picking something that you know you're going to be bored in in 6 months or a year. Pick something where you can grow and learn and thrive."

One third of your life is spent at work. Gettysburg College. Accessed October 29, 2024. 

https://www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories?id=79db7b34-630c-4f49-ad32-4ab9ea48e72b

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 the industry faces a critical imbalance between labor supply and demand for veterinary services. In the US, employment challenges

 for veterinarians and technicians can be attributed to the high cost of entry, long working hours and emotional stress. Additionally, macroeconomic uncertainty and increasing value-seeking behavior of pet owners squeezes the sector.

Understaffed and overloaded, clinical staff are still honor bound to showcase compassion, expertise and unwavering commitment for every client. The US continues to see an increase in burnout among veterinarians, costing the economy an estimated figure of $1 billion to $2 billion annually.

 What’s more, the percentage of veterinarians facing mental health struggles is rising.

Additionally, there is pressure on clinics to provide tech-enabled conveniences and solutions that reach the same standards owners may experience within the realm of human healthcare. Despite this challenging background, the pain points faced by the industry can, in fact, be addressed and eased by improved technical efficiencies through impressive technological innovations— to higher revenues and profits, alongside greater employee engagement and well-being.

While the world races to keep up with technological developments, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the veterinary field stands on the brink of a transformation in how clinics operate. Advances in innovative point-of-care diagnostic solutions are being driven by the industry’s resource requirement, offering increasingly valuable and synergistic solutions for supporting veterinary staff and empowering healthcare teams.

Modern veterinary clinics benefit from the improved accessibility of tools which can expedite the diagnostics process from days to hours,

 as with Vetscan Imagyst® (Zoetis). As well as becoming smarter, technologies are becoming lighter, smaller, and more portable. The aforementioned Vetscan Imagyst weighs just over 8 lbs, and the AlphaTrak® 3 (Zoetis) allows both in-clinic staff and pet owners to test and monitor diabetic animals’ glucose levels while they’re at home. These tools, in collaboration with other products and services within the Virtual Laboratory by Zoetis, allow for a more efficient and holistic approach to point-of-care diagnostics and monitoring for clinicians and owners.

Think back to the early days of the global pandemic. The concept of an online meeting or a virtual consultation seemed far-fetched. How could we diagnose without physically seeing and assessing the animal? Yet, as we were rapidly pushed into virtual scenarios, technology revealed its advantages, and we have grown to embrace the convenience offered by virtual visits with doctors, therapists, teachers and even exercise classes. In the veterinary space, the pandemic catalyzed the rise of virtual veterinary startups, aimed at enhancing convenience for pet owners and improving patient outcomes by allowing for a more efficient use of time for the clinics.

Looking upstream, virtual technology can now directly benefit vets themselves, streamlining workflows and improving professional interactions by connecting teams with a network of board-certified specialist clinical consultants and pathologists, accessible around the clock and from anywhere—via Zoom or email. The expert support delivered with the Virtual Laboratory by Zoetis also provides the assurance that only comes from a partner with more than 70 years of global leadership in animal health innovation.

By providing this access, vets can diagnose and treat with confidence, a reassurance for those waiting for specialist support as well as those looking to discuss a particular result, aiding with medical decision-making. For more complex cases, regardless of where you are in your career—from recent graduate to seasoned veterinary professional— there will be moments where you could benefit from an additional perspective on a case. The Virtual Laboratory provides additional virtual support through a network of board-certified specialist clinical consultants and pathologists to confer with, when required.

Then, of course, there is the increasing adoption of AI—at a global level and across a multitude of sectors, including within veterinary care. With workload and time pressure cited as some of the most common causes of burnout,

the incorporation of technological resources such as AI can help staff to increase efficiency and reduce this source of pressure.

The industry has long used shallow learning AI for tasks such as equipment that assesses x-rays, ultrasound scans, blood analyzers and other diagnostic testing devices. Systems that utilize shallow learning AI are a remarkable support in this context, but they are reliant on the manual entry of a predefined set of data represented by specific features. This leads to limitations in the system’s ability to incorporate new, unseen data.

As the technology continues to rapidly evolve, we are able to integrate deep learning AI and large language models at numerous points in the workflow, from note-taking and scheduling through to AI diagnostic tools. These deep neural networks can automatically discover important patterns in raw data, meaning these systems can identify complex representations, without the need for explicit feature engineering. The result is that it can be exposed to tens of thousands of images of a multitude of “objects of interest,” such as cells, bacteria, yeast, and intestinal parasite eggs, as well as the likes of crystals in the urine. All of this allows for a comprehensive, accurate identification and robust classification, within minutes,

 avoiding the aspects that challenge shallow learning systems.

This development has brought new, rapid diagnostic test capabilities in-house, creating less reliance on outsourced pathologists or lab testing. A unique example is Vetscan Imagyst (Zoetis), which offers multiple applications in one diagnostics platform, including AI Fecal, AI Blood Smear, AI Dermatology, AI Urine Sediment, AI Equine Fecal Egg Count and Digital Cytology. These types of advanced AI-integrated diagnostic analyzers help expedite the time to diagnosis for a wide array of disease states and help highlight where additional expert analysis or testing may be required.

It would be remiss not to note the hurdles to greater AI adoption within the industry; the top concern has been found to be reliability and accuracy.

 To drive progress and build trust, it is necessary for established manufacturers to be committed to ethical practices, rigorous testing and maintaining field integrity. Technology is only as good as its training, and the end users of this technology deserve to possess the knowledge of how the resulting data came to be. Zoetis, for example, trained its deep-learning AI (integrated within the Vetscan Imagyst’s application) using thousands of iterations of samples and elements identified by board-certified specialist consultants and pathologists.

Global spending on veterinary services for companion animals continues to rise, with the market estimated to grow significantly; in the US, it is projected to reach an estimated value of $18.69 billion by 2033, a CAGR of 10.4%.

Market growth will, at least in the short term, correlate with an increase in demand and subsequent pressure on veterinary clinics.

To meet demand and provide a more consistent level of service for better patient outcomes, the industry needs to streamline processes, which will also serve the dual purpose of relieving time pressures of stretched veterinary staff, at all levels. Utilizing the latest technology allows practice teams to maximize efficiency and streamline clinical workflows while enhancing service value, all vital components of staff well-being.

Technological innovations in advanced diagnostics and AI—like those offered under the Virtual Laboratory by Zoetis— present themselves not only as tools for the modern veterinary clinic, but also provide a new and more efficient way of working to those who embrace it. And with the industry showing no signs of slowing down, we’re likely to see continued technological developments coming to further support professionals working in today’s modern veterinary practice.

Megna M. Pet ownership statistics and facts in 2023. Forbes. January 25, 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/ pet-ownership-statistics/#sources_section

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Economic headwinds could impact veterinary practices, says economic futurist. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www. avma.org/news/economic-headwinds-could-impact-veterinary-practices-says-economic-futurist

Nolen RS. Facing economic uncertainty, clients delay veterinary visits. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 5, 2023. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/ facing-economic-uncertainty-clients-delay-veterinary-visits

IMAGYST Digital Cytology. Turnaround times based on internal Zoetis data pull as of October 2023. Study Report TI-10365. 2023.

Goodall C. The big issue: burnout. Veterinary Practice. January 8, 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024. https:// www.veterinary-practice.com/article/the-big-issue-burnout

Nagamori Y, Scimeca R, Hall-Sedlak R, et al. Multicenter evaluation of the Vetscan Imagyst system using Ocus 40 and EasyScan One scanners to detect gastrointestinal parasites in feces of dogs and cats. 

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Data on file, Study Report No. D870R-US-21-045. 2023.

Data on file, Phase IV Study No. DHX6Z-US-22-166. 2023.

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Gupta M, et al. Almost 40% of vets are using AI tools to gain a competitive edge. GlobalPETS. April 18, 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://globalpetindustry.com/article/ almost-40-of-vets-are-using-ai-tools-to-gain-a-competitive-edge

U.S. Companion Animal Health Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report. July 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www.novaoneadvisor.com/report/ us-companion-animal-market

In the US, 66% of households own a pet. That’s almost 87 million homes. Even more striking, 97% of US pet owners consider their animals to be part of the family. This may not come as a surprise for those of us in the veterinary field, but it does underscore the growing demand for veterinary services — placing considerable pressure on our dedicated veterinary healthcare teams.

Modern technologies in veterinary diagnostics: Addressing industry challenges

The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, is currently open for admission applications for its first-ever class of 70 students for its inaugural class in September 2025. 

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Council on Education recently issued a Letter of Reasonable Assurance to the Shreiber School, according to a university release.

 This letter enables the school to start accepting applications for its first class of students that will begin next fall.

Matthew Edson, DVM, MBA, founding dean of the Shreiber School, explained that the Letter of Reasonable Assurance allows the school to move forward with its plans and welcome students. “[The] Letter of Reasonable Assurance is a status awarded to developing schools and colleges in the US and Canada that allows the school to pursue its plan for the veterinary program and to admit students,” he said in the release.

 “With this action, the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is able to receive provisional accreditation when students matriculate next fall, allowing students to complete their training and be eligible to sit for the National Veterinary Licensing Examination.”

Students looking to apply for the Shreiber School's first class can submit their applications through a dedicated Rowan application portal on the school's website. The application period will close on December 31, 2024.

According to a statement from the university, the school plans to eventually expand its annual class from 70 students to 90 students. Future applicants for the school's second class and beyond will use the Veterinary Medical College Application Service portal instead of a Rowan-specific site.

The new school aims to tackle the urgent need for veterinary professionals both in New Jersey and across the US. It will support local residents pursuing veterinary careers while also drawing in students from outside the state at one of the other 24 existing veterinary schools.

The building hosting Schreiber School is divided between the school and the Virtual Health College Research Center, which contains open, modular laboratories, collaboration spaces, and support facilities.

Standing at 162,000 sq ft, Shreiber School is Rowan’s largest academic building and features classrooms, research and diagnostic laboratories, and a teaching hospital that offers clinical services to the community.

Students admitted into the school will follow an innovative curriculum, according to a news release.

 This program will blend teaching, research, practical clinical training, and evidence-based approaches, equipping students with the skills necessary to meet the demands of the veterinary profession. 

Moreover, the school will provide additional programs aimed at shaping the future of veterinary medicine and animal health care in New Jersey, alongside its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, per a university release.

“We want our students to learn to be confident veterinarians with hands-on experience from day one, and leave feeling equipped to begin practicing,” said Edson in the release.

 “Our teaching hospital is going to be a phenomenal resource for both these students and the community. We don’t have a lot of access here in South Jersey for emergency care, for specialty care, and we’re looking forward to filling these critical needs in our area.”

A first for N.J.: Applications now open for inaugural class at Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine. News release. Rowan University. October 11, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://today.rowan.edu/news/2024/10/shreiber-school-applications.html

Littrell A. Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine celebrates 50% completion. 

. September 11, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/rowan-universitys-shreiber-school-of-veterinary-medicine-celebrates-50-percent-completion

Admissions for the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University will be open until December 31, 2024

First veterinary school in New Jersey now accepting applications

Mella Pet Care, a Chicago startup company, announced a collaboration with Vetster, a veterinary telemedicine platform, earlier this month. The partnership aims to offer users of the Mella app in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States access to 24/7 veterinary care through Vetster’s veterinary marketplace.

"We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking collaboration with Vetster,” Ben Seidman, cofounder of Mella, said in a a company release.

 “At Mella, our mission has always been to redefine pet care through innovation, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment. By integrating Vetster's telemedicine platform with Mella's advanced technology, we're not just offering convenience to pet owners—we're revolutionizing the way we care for our furry family members. This collaboration underscores our dedication to providing comprehensive, accessible, and proactive health solutions for pets."

Mella Pet Care is the developer of health monitoring devices for veterinarians and pet owners. Their products include the “first-ever accurate axillary thermometer,” a body fat analyzer, a chip reader, and a pulse oximeter.

 According to a news release, Mella has received 14 industry awards, including the 2021 Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize and Mars’ 2022 Leap Venture Studio accelerator.

Vetster allows clients to seek advice and care from veterinarians through video calls, chat, and messaging. The platform allows veterinarians to choose the location, timing, and manner of their practice.

 Moreover, veterinarians using Vetster can conduct tele triage, manage nonurgent cases, and offer follow-up consultations, as well as providing proactive and preventative health plans for pet owners.

 The platform also features a built-in booking and payment system, along with a repository for stored medical records.

“By connecting Mella's home diagnostic technology with the Vetster platform, veterinarians have more information to work with when assessing a pet virtually. Our partnership is one more way we can improve access to care for pet owners and their pets,” Cerys Goodall, chief operating officer at Vetster, stated in the release.

Following Florida’s passing of the Providing Equity in Telehealth Services (PETS) Act earlier this year, Vetster responded by announcing that veterinary professionals in 

 can now establish their virtual practices through Vetster.

Speaking of their partnership with Vetster, Mella Pet Care wrote in a news release, “Mella Pet Care and Vetster are dedicated to making pet healthcare more accessible and stress-free. This integration represents a significant step toward improving the lives of pets and their owners, providing peace of mind and expert guidance, 24/7.”

Mella Pet Care, Vetster connect real-time diagnostic to pet telehealth. News release. October 1, 2024. Mella Pet Care.

New mobile app designed for virtual veterinary practice. 

. November 26, 2022. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-mobile-app-designed-for-veterinarians-practicing-virtually

Bautista-Alejandre A. Florida bill expands veterinary healthcare access. 

 July 6, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/florida-bill-expands-veterinary-healthcare-access

The collaboration between Mella Pet Care and Vetster will give veterinarians more information for virtual pet assessments 

Veterinary telemedicine platform partners with pet health device startup 

Can you give me a little bit of background about yourself?

I’m a veterinary technician specialist in Emergency and Critical Care as well as Small Animal Internal medicine with 24 years of experience, starting as a veterinary assistant and growing up in a 24/7 general/emergency practice. Today, I am the chief veterinary nursing officer at VEG overseeing over 2100 veterinary nurses and assistants in 88 hospitals.

What are the key clinical signs that indicate a patient is in the early stages of shock?

 The heart pumps faster to maintain cardiac output.

: A stronger pulse due to increased stroke volume.

Normal to slightly elevated blood pressure

 Blood pressure may still be maintained despite underlying issues.

: Vasoconstriction causes less visible blood flow, but in some cases, color remains normal.

: Vasoconstriction makes it take longer for blood to return to the capillaries.

: Peripheral vasoconstriction shunts blood to vital organs, making extremities feel cooler.

These signs indicate the body's compensatory mechanisms are active, maintaining vital organ perfusion despite underlying problems.

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM), chief veterinary nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group (Image courtesy of Veterinary Emergency Group)

What are some of the most common causes of shock?

The common causes of circulatory shock are:

 Due to significant fluid or blood loss (e.g., hemorrhage, severe vomiting or diarrhea, polyuria) leading to loss of intravascular volume.

: Caused by heart dysfunction (e.g., dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or pericardial effusion) reducing forward flow of blood.

: Results from altered blood flow distribution (e.g., anaphylaxis, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome) which leads to relative hypovolemia and poor perfusion.

What are some of the challenges in assessing shock in animals, especially in high-stress emergency situations?

Assessing shock in animals during emergencies is a race against time, requiring the ability to quickly and confidently evaluate the patient and determine the type of shock involved. The initial challenge is recognizing the signs accurately and rapidly deciding on a treatment approach when every second counts. Once the diagnosis is made, success hinges on swift, decisive action and the coordinated efforts of a well-trained team. Effective management demands more than individual expertise. It requires seamless teamwork, strong communication, and clinical proficiency to implement interventions that stabilize the patient and prevent further deterioration.

How important is teamwork and communication in managing a shock patient during an emergency?

Managing shock patients effectively relies heavily on strong teamwork and communication. Rapid identification and prompt treatment are key, and these depend on having a team that can respond quickly and work together seamlessly. Shock cases often require multiple actions happening at once (placing IV lines, administering fluids, monitoring the patient, while setting up for necessary procedures) making coordination essential. Clear communication keeps everyone on the same page regarding the treatment plan and any changes in the patient’s condition.

It’s also important that each person understands their role to prevent delays or confusion. Safety is a top priority, especially when handling complex treatments, and having a well-organized team reduces the risk of mistakes. In emergency situations, solid teamwork can make all the difference in achieving a good outcome for the patient.

Veterinary technician Ken Yagi explains clinical signs, causes, and the importance of teamwork when treating patients presenting with a respiratory emergency

Respiratory emergencies Q&A with Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM)

There are several pathways to practice ownership for veterinarians, each offering unique benefits regarding autonomy, financial growth, and the owner’s vision for the practice.

Reviving the Dream: Considerations for Practice Ownership

Sponsored by PetSmart Veterinary Services

“The first thing that I always like to tell doctors when we're talking about ownership is that you do have options,” said Jennifer Bruns, DVM, MPVM, Senior Director of Vet Relations at PetSmart Veterinary Services. At the 2024 Atlantic City Fetch 

conference, Bruns presented on the several pathways to practice ownership and stressed that there is no one-size-fits all approach to becoming an owner.

“Ownership drives higher job satisfaction,” said Bruns, who noted that practice owners experience less burnout and more fulfillment in their work compared to associate veterinarians.1 This increased job satisfaction not only supports mental well-being, but also helps with staff retention—both of which are key concerns in the veterinary industry. Additionally, ownership allows veterinarians to build equity, as their production contributes directly to their personal wealth.

Practice ownership models and key considerations

Veterinarians looking to own a practice have a wealth of options and ownership models to choose from. “You are the king [or] queen of your own world,” said Bruns. “You get to choose what you are going to do in that practice; you get to align your vision, mission, and values.”

The startup model allows veterinarians to build a practice from the ground up, and offers owners full control over design, operations, and practice values. However, it requires significant time investment and considerable financial capital. “You’re looking at a big, big financial loan,” said Bruns, who mentioned that some banks estimate a startup can cost between $2 to $3 million.1 Additionally, staff recruitment and client acquisition can drag out the business ramp up time. Once the practice is through its early stages, however, owners can operate more autonomously under this model.

Alternatively, the acquisition model allows veterinarians to purchase an existing practice, offering immediate revenue and an established client base. Because the practice is already in operation, this pathway is seen as less risky. Of course, owners should consider the competition they may face from other potential buyers, including corporate consolidators. Bruns also noted that, with this model, new owners often inherit the culture of the existing practice. This can create challenges in aligning staff and client expectations with the new owner’s vision.

Corporate and franchise models allow veterinarians to own or co-own a practice with the backing of a larger organization. These models usually involve less financial investment and risk, and the parent company can offer support. However, these options may limit the owner’s decision-making power and potential to build equity.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong approach to ownership; aspiring practice owners must weigh their options to choose which model best aligns with their goals and values. “Stop, look up, and see what options are out there,” said Bruns.

Bruns, Jennifer. Reviving the Dream: Considerations for Practice Ownership. Presented at: Fetch dvm360® Conference; Atlantic City, New Jersey. October 14-16, 2024.