Fellow Specialists Help with Virtual Pinning to Honor Veterinary Technician Specialist Brittany Laflen

July 17, 2020

Screen shot from video — Fellow PVM veterinary technician specialists (left-right) Julie Commons, RVT, VTS (SAIM), small animal nephrology/urology technologist; Kimberly Sederquist, RVT, VTS (Cardiology), cardiology technologist; and Danielle Buchanan, RVT, VTS (SAIM), Clinical Skills Laboratory manager, welcome Brittany Laflen, RVT, VTS (Neurology) as a new member to the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians as part of a video celebration for all new academy members.

The Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT) welcomed its newest members this summer, including Brittany Laflen, RVT, VTS (Neurology), small animal surgery/neurology technician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Brittany is one of only 15 members inducted into the AIMVT in 2019, of which only three received a specialty designation in neurology.

Historically, new members receive recognition of this accomplishment at the following American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum, which takes place in the summer. This year’s event was slated to take place in Baltimore, Md.; however, as the forum transitioned to an online platform, the celebration switched to a digital format. As part of this effort, the AIMVT turned to fellow members to help in welcoming their colleagues with video messages and pin presentations along with slides of new members and their specialty designations, which were then compiled into a video and posted on the AIMVT’s website.

The celebration arrives at Purdue about five minutes into the video, as Brittany is joined by fellow PVM veterinary technician specialists Danielle Buchanan, RVT, VTS (Small Animal Internal Medicine), Clinical Skills Laboratory manager; Kimberly Sederquist, RVT, VTS (Cardiology), cardiology technologist; and Julie Commons, RVT, VTS (Small Animal Internal Medicine), small animal nephrology/urology technologist. They congratulate Brittany on successful completion of her application packet and examination and officially “pin” her as a new member. Brittany is one of a number of veterinary nurses in the college working toward their specialist designations.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) developed the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties in 1994, which led to formation of academies for 16 specialties. Each academy sets requirements for a registered veterinary technician to earn its specialist designation. The AIMVT specialist designations include small animal internal medicine, large animal internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, and neurology.

Congratulations, Brittany, on this achievement!

Click here to view the video.

Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, sincere gratitude is shared with Abby Props who is the Pathology Laboratory Supervisor in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Student Landscape Project Benefits Animals at Purdue Veterinary Hospital

A student-led landscape redesign project has taken root at Purdue University, in the form of outdoor upgrades at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Originally developed by Mary Schultz, a graduating senior in the College of Agriculture’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program, the project reimagined outdoor spaces used for animal recovery, training, and enrichment. This summer, the hospital implemented one of the recommendations, which involved replacing natural turf in an outdoor dog run with a new synthetic material.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Welcomes New Students

As the heat and long days of summer subsided and the start of a new school year approached, the sense of excitement and new beginnings pervaded Lynn Hall over the last couple of weeks with the arrival of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s new DVM and Veterinary Technology students. The DVM students in the Class of 2029 participated in a week-long onboarding program that started Monday, August 18, while the Veterinary Technology students in the first and second years of the program were welcomed with an Ice Cream Social and orientation program at the start of the fall semester.

Approaching Purdue Veterinary Conference Mixes CE and Celebration in September

The start of a new academic year signals the approach of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference and the last chance to get an early-bird discount on registration. The conference is scheduled for September 16-20 on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, and features a variety of specialized tracks as well as special events. Early bird registration ends September 1, and late fees will apply as of September 2.

Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Names New Senior Director of Admissions and Student Success

A key Purdue Veterinary Medicine staff member who has played a vital role in admissions and recruitment will now serve as the new senior director of admissions and student success. Lori Stout has been promoted to the position and Dean Bret Marsh announced the appointment Tuesday, August 26.

Lecture Hall Murals by Acclaimed Artist Continue to Inspire Lynn Hall Visitors

Two murals by artist Harry Boone have been part of Lynn Hall’s large lecture hall for more than 20 years. Commissioned in 1998, the works continue to leave a lasting impression, and Boone recently returned to campus to see them again.