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I couldn't have had a better day 😀! Three weeks ago, a tech position opened up at the equine hospital I have been volunteering at (for almost two years) and they hired me! I was able to do a lot when I volunteered, but now that I am an employee, I get to do so much more (which is the reason for this post). I just had to write about it!
Anyways, the clinic schedules one of the equine surgeons from Auburn University to come down and do surgeries/consultations at least once a month. I have been fortunate enough to observe three of his previous surgeries and today I actually got to participate in two 😱! We had a neurectomy on a reigning horse and orthoscopically removed cysts from another horse's stifles. This was the best anatomy lesson! He talked his way through each surgery and explained everything (I felt like I was already in the classroom at Auburn 😍). I was in charge of the fluids, assisted with vitals and anesthesia, and was the Dr.'s second set of hands! We also had to ultrasound three mares and AI one, collect semen, one lameness exam, one farm call to castrate a cutting horse, one colic farm call, cleaned and tx wounds; the list goes on an on! I clocked a 12.5 hour work day and loved every moment of it (even the cleaning part)!
The owner of the clinic wrote one of my LORs and I cannot express enough gratitude to him. I was a SA tech for 2.5 years at another clinic with little LA exposure. I had plenty of LA animal experience, but minimal veterinary hours and I owe everything I have learned to him and the other techs 🙂.
Also, the surgeon is on one of the admission committees for this cycle. He is on the Kentucky interview board so I won't see him across the table (I'm IS), but it is still good to have face time with him. I can't wait till he comes back next month!
Anyways, the clinic schedules one of the equine surgeons from Auburn University to come down and do surgeries/consultations at least once a month. I have been fortunate enough to observe three of his previous surgeries and today I actually got to participate in two 😱! We had a neurectomy on a reigning horse and orthoscopically removed cysts from another horse's stifles. This was the best anatomy lesson! He talked his way through each surgery and explained everything (I felt like I was already in the classroom at Auburn 😍). I was in charge of the fluids, assisted with vitals and anesthesia, and was the Dr.'s second set of hands! We also had to ultrasound three mares and AI one, collect semen, one lameness exam, one farm call to castrate a cutting horse, one colic farm call, cleaned and tx wounds; the list goes on an on! I clocked a 12.5 hour work day and loved every moment of it (even the cleaning part)!
The owner of the clinic wrote one of my LORs and I cannot express enough gratitude to him. I was a SA tech for 2.5 years at another clinic with little LA exposure. I had plenty of LA animal experience, but minimal veterinary hours and I owe everything I have learned to him and the other techs 🙂.
Also, the surgeon is on one of the admission committees for this cycle. He is on the Kentucky interview board so I won't see him across the table (I'm IS), but it is still good to have face time with him. I can't wait till he comes back next month!
