A veterinary technician’s role as an animal helper

Michael Azzarello, MBA, CVT, LVT, president of New Jersey Veterinary Technicians and Assistants (NJVTA), sat down with dvm360 to talk about his career as a veterinary technician, among other things, at the 2024 Fetch Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the interview, Azzarello shared what drew him to the veterinary field and talked about what his favorite thing about being a veterinary technician is.

Below is a partial transcript:

Michael Azzarello, MBA, CVT, LVT: I think we have a unique role. Animals can’t talk to us. It's one of the best jobs we get to have, and probably one of the hardest at the same time. We are everything for the animals, everything from giving them their daily food to making them better when they're not feeling well. So, I just like that role in life, to be a helper. I've been involved in many different roles—emergency services, police officer, fireman, EMT. This is probably my favorite, because it's the most challenging.

During his conversation with dvm360, Azzarello detailed the biggest challenge he sees for veterinary technicians. Visit our dedicated conference news page for more from the recent Fetch dvm360 Conference.