Veterinary Heroes: Gerry Sprague

A client service representative (CSR) at Tabernacle Animal Hospital in New Jersey, Gerry Sprague is known for her “composed demeanor, uplifting personality, and profound grasp of veterinary medicine,” according to a colleague. Those attributes are among the reasons Sprague was selected as an honoree for dvm360's 2024 Veterinary Heroes^TM program.

This year's Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center as well as category sponsors Blue Buffalo Natural, MedVet, Banfield Pet Hospital, Thrive Pet Healthcare, and PRN Pharmacal. The program recognizes those who have positively impacted animal care, demonstrating leadership, expertise, and a commitment to improving the health and well-being of animals. These recognized individuals have excelled in their professional roles and influenced the broader veterinary community, setting new standards and inspiring others.

Sprague got her start in the industry by answering a newspaper ad seeking a front desk receptionist at an animal hospital and found the job to be the right fit for her. “I loved the atmosphere of the people coming in. I loved working with the people that I worked with; their empathy, their compassion, their integrity was beyond anything I had ever experienced. They just were so kind to me and taught me so much. It was just incredible. But reaching across that barrier between a pet owner and a pet [care provider] and trying to figure out what was going on with that pet, it was amazing to me,” Sprague said in an interview with dvm360.

Photos courtesy of Gerry Sprague

Sprague has since served as a “mentor to hundreds of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and client service representatives” over the course of her career. “Gerry’s commitment extends beyond her [CSR] title, she generously imparts her extensive knowledge to both clients and colleagues,” the nominator wrote. “She consistently demonstrates remarkable empathy and compassion in managing even the most challenging client interactions…. [She] instills in [clients] and staff a sense of trust, ease, and expertise that is truly exceptional to encounter.”

For the past 20 years, Sprague has organized an annual event that provides free veterinary visits to golden retrievers for routine checkups, vaccine administration, and ophthalmology examinations. Passionate about golden retrievers, Sprague has also done therapy, obedience training and field work with these dogs.

"[Golden retrievers] live to make you happy. They live every day as as if it's just a joy to be here. And I think if we all live like that, we could really be a much happier group of people," Sprague said. "They love to go out and pick things up and bring them back to you. They love to swim. They love to run out in the field. I do love doing field work with them."

Additionally, Sprague has volunteered in lifetime studies on golden retrievers conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation with data collected from 2 of her own pets. "Both of those dogs have since passed, but I just love the breed," she said.

In nominating Sprague for the Veterinary Heroes award, a colleague said she exemplifies a "true veterinary hero" with unwavering dedication to the field of veterinary medicine. "She consistently demonstrates remarkable empathy and compassion in managing even the most challenging client interactions," the nominator wrote. "Gerry's commitment extends beyond her client service representative title, she generously imparts her extensive knowledge to both clients and colleagues alike. Having had the privilege of working alongside Gerry for over 3 decades, I can attest firsthand to her transformative impact on every hospital fortunate enough to have her on board."

In honor of Sprague and 11 other Veterinary Heroes inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 2024 Fetch dvm360 conference in Long Beach, California, where the winners will be recognized for their unwavering commitment and extraordinary efforts within the veterinary profession. The ceremony will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All Fetch Long Beach registrants are invited to attend the award ceremony for no additional fee.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.