Gail Hedberg: My Success Story

My career and commitment to veterinary medicine has encompassed all types and varieties of animal care.  For the past 40 years, I have focused on the specific health care needs of zoo animals.

As a Registered Veterinary Technician, my job has included, but has not been limited to, assisting zoo veterinarians with anesthesia, surgical nursing, radiography, and various treatments throughout the zoo.

Now that I am semi-retired, I can focus on my true avocation, exotic neonatal care, the hand-rearing of exotic animals.  I never thought I would be a published researcher, creating and managing websites and Facebook pages.

I recently found my CMC Veterinary Technology Externship journal from 1976. Looking back on the days as a student and then entering the workforce is like a first novel. The first chapter begins as a student at CMC with eyes wide open and very eager to learn. I am grateful for the style and aggressive teaching philosophies offered to me as a veterinary technology student. The on-campus life and working on the “Farm” instilled the team approach and strong work ethics.  I graduated with a level of confidence and a new skill set now in demand. Memories from Chapter 2 are exciting as the learn-as-you-go philosophy was common in the zoo field, but I had the competitive edge with the comprehensive clinical experiences as a student. Interacting with graduates from a variety of other veterinary technology schools reinforces it takes many of them one to two years to gain the experience that I had when I graduated.

Now as a consultant I feel called upon to guide the next generation of veterinary technicians to find their passion so they too can look back on a career and not just a job.