Four students are first TCC Vet Tech Graduates

Diana Brown, Kael Marsh, Crystal Remy, and Julie West are the first graduates from the Tulsa Community College (TCC) Veterinary Technology Program.

The program, which began in January, 1999, was recently accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

”The friendships that we built among ourselves helped us cope with all the time spent away from our families,” said West, a TCC Provost Scholar who gave birth to a son near the end of the recent semester. Prior to attending TCC, West completed the Equine Technology Program at Connors State College and trained horses for several years.

”They are pioneers who have scrambled to build this program and build upon their dreams,” said Dr. Dean VanTrease, TCC President and Chief Executive Officer, about the four students.

In designating the four students as “TCC Vet Tech Originals,” VanTrease hoped that they would continue to share their skills and experience with the veterinary program in particular and with TCC in general.

”These students are part of a journey that we have just started and will continue until we reach great heights”, said Dr. Peggy Dyer, Provost, TCC West Campus. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this program will be nationally recognized in the future.” “The large animal care training was new to all of us,” said Brown, when asked to describe here most memorable part of her training. “Working a cattle chute is something I never want to do again.? ?I?ll always remember the class that we worked with a hawk and a cockatoo and the field trip to the tall grass prairie, where we got close to buffalo,” said Remy, who is raising two Siberian huskies at home.

Each student must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination and Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners Certification Examination in order to be designated a Certified Veterinary Technologist (CVT).

A CVT may teach or work in a private veterinary practice, a laboratory, or in a zoological park. Under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, a CVT may provide intensive nursing care, assist in surgery, and perform dental, radiological, or clinical laboratory procedures.

”I am excited about the possibility of using the special skills and perspective of a CVT to help provide incredible medicine that will promote a bond between humans and animals, “said Marsh, a TCC Provost Scholar who has Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from East Central University in Ada.

Also, four TCC adjunct veterinary technology instructors--Dianne Kirk and Drs. Suzanne Dunkerley, Carolyn Fairless, and John Myers?were recently honored for their service to the program.

The TCC Veterinary Technology Program requires the completion of 80 credit hours, including 60 hours of veterinary technology courses, to receive an Associate Degree in Applied Science. A TCC graduate has an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of animal husbandry and nursing care for a variety of species.

The TCC program, directed by Dr. Jan Weaver, DVM, currently operates a laboratory and small-animal care facility located at West Highlands Plaza, 6100 South 33rd West Avenue, Tulsa.

Construction has begun on a 20,000 square foot facility, at the TCC West Campus, that will contain classrooms, laboratories, and small-animal and large-animal care facilities and that will be completed in August, 2001.