Canadian Vet Tech uses the same unique format as Canadian Vet newsmagazine to keep veterinary technicians and animal health technologists informed though coverage of national conferences. Initiated in March 2009, each quarterly issue offers up-to-date information on animal health and client management, animal behaviour, and veterinary communications topics. The Training Tips column, written by Leanne Barker, AHT, CMT, CPDT, CCT, offers useful, practical advice on the management of animal behaviour issues. Each issue also features a ‘Day in the Life of’ essay, written by a vet tech about their experiences in this career. All articles in Canadian Vet Tech are reviewed and approved prior to publication.
Continuing Education
Every issue of Canadian Vet Tech includes 3 articles with associated CE quizzes that can be completed online, at www.k2publishing.ca, to earn CE credits. Vet techs can complete a total of 12 quizzes each year to earn CE credits. Both current issue quizzes, and quizzes from the prior 3 issues, will be available for completion online. Canadian Vet Tech CE quizzes are approved for credit by all of the provincial accrediting associations in Canada.
Day in the Life of a Vet Tech
A day in the life of an AHT as a territory manager
Where do I even begin? I never imagined that a life-plan prediction I made when I was younger would ever come true, especially at a time when my personal life was crashing down around me. I remember thinking when I graduated from Olds College in 1999 that maybe in 10 years I might like to try my hand in an industry position. Almost 10 years to the day, I started my career with Novartis Animal Health as a Territory Rep in the Farm Animal Business. For years the Novartis rep for the clinic I worked at had been trying to get me to apply for a job, but the timing was never right. Then all of a sudden the right doors opened. I was ready for the change and the Farm Animal Business territory I wanted to be in was available. It seemed that the stars were aligned to create this opportunity for me.
There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to be in the cattle division; the cattle industry has always been my passion. Having grown up on a cattle farm and showing cattle my whole life, I always knew I had to involve them in my career somehow. While I really enjoyed my 10 years in mixed animal practice, I was at the point professionally where I needed more of a challenge. I wanted to feel passionate again about what I did every day. With Novartis, I have found that.
The lifestyle is vastly different. A typical day is spent visiting my clinics to review new products, marketing pieces, or customer service issues. Call notes have to be made for each visit and there is always paperwork to be done, emails to be returned, or calls to be made. I also attend tradeshows throughout the year and have regular team sales meetings and once a year Novartis Animal Health USA and Canada get together, which is always a good time. I can actually dress like a girl again in nice clothes and not be covered in cow crap all day long, although I have stood chute side in high heels and dress clothes and helped an old colleague with a C-section! I spend a lot of “windshield time” as my manager calls it, driving between clinics, and I love the chance to see parts of the province I have never seen before. I’ve learned quickly what hotels to avoid and which ones have the best pillows. I’ve also learned to make my nights away from home as comfortable as I can. I love the challenge of dealing with my different customers and their different ideas, passions, and business plans. No one person is the same and I have to adapt each call to each individual.
In the beginning I was a little worried that I would be just a number in a big company. What difference could I really make to the cattle business with Novartis Animal Health? Was I wrong! I have seen my ideas turned into marketing pieces and slogans and now I know that not only are my ideas and thoughts heard, they are important. Novartis is a great company to work for – we are individuals and they truly care about each of us. The Farm Animal Business team is extremely small: there are only five territory managers for all of Canada, but we love it. We are like a family and it is what sets us apart. Our business is about more than just selling a product. It is about understanding our customers and showing them ways to succeed with their business as well.
Working in a clinic for 10 years really gave me an advantage. I understand what it is like to be on the other side of the desk, dealing with sales reps. It has allowed me to really understand the challenges they face daily. The other thing I love about this job is that I never stop learning. I have the opportunity to meet wonderful people and see wonderful places and this is only just the beginning....