Rock on: Give a cheer for the 2015 California RVT of the Year

Being a veterinary technician is like being a cheerleader in this respect: there's no halftime for veterinary technicians or cheerleaders. And to highlight a leader in the profession, the California Registered Veterinary Technician Association recognized Harold Davis, RVT, VTS (ECC & Anes.) with the California RVT of the Year Award. We think that's worth a cheer:

V is for Vision. Davis was the cofounder of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians (AVECCT). It's the first specialty organization and it has international ties, with members in several other countries.

E is for Exploring opportunities. It's a well-known fact some technicians have struggled to stay in the profession long-term, and Davis says this problem doesn't have a “one-size-fits-all” solution. He says the first step is to identify the problem that's making you want to move on to another career. For example, if you're feeling a lack of job satisfaction, you might need to find a new place to work-or a new area of veterinary technology to work in. Or if you don't feel challenged, specialty certification might be an option. “The bottom line is, try not to give up,” Davis says. “Explore different avenues.” 

T is for together: “Together we stand, together we fall. All for one and one for all!” As a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia, Davis is dedicated to creating a coalition of technicians working together to help pets-and to grow the profession.

T is for teamwork to make the dream work. Davis serves as team leader as the staff manager of the Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

E is for Education. Davis has written extensively in veterinary medicine, including journal articles and textbook chapters, and he's the coauthor of Advanced Monitoring and Procedures for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care (June 2012, Wiley-Blackwell).

C is for coach. He's lectured extensively internationally, from Korea and the United Kingdom to Israel, Sweden, Australia and Denmark and around the world.

H is for Helping. When he's asked what he still loves about his job, Davis says, “That's easy. It's the sense of accomplishment when a patient gets better and is reunited with its owner. I also enjoy talking to veterinary technicians and helping them expand their knowledge. It's rewarding when they come up at the end of a lecture and tell me they have a better understanding of the topic and thank me for helping them.”

V-E-T T-E-C-H. What does that spell? Vet Tech. V-E-T T-E-C-H-team members who deserve respect!