Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

Duties

Oversee the Daily operations of the veterinary medical unit with little to no supervision. Daily observations and routine care such as watering, feeding, changing cages, daily record keeping. Writing up health reports as needed then reporting the issues to the investigator and veterinarian then administering medications or other methods as ordered by the Veterinarian. Running and maintaning all equipment but not limited to the cage washer and autoclave. Uphold a stringent monthy sanitizing program of every room and its contents, housing racks, shelving, other equipment, the water system including changing out the filters at the main station when needed, surgical areas in the facility, ordering food and supplies for the VMU. I have taken care of a wide variety of animals over the years including cats, dogs, sheep, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, mice and rats. I set up rooms and cages for incoming animals and making sure all supplies are available before animals arrive.

I am experienced setting up the ABSL2 for each study, working in it and tearing down. I have also trained and overseen caretakers in the operations and duties of the ABSL2 rooms as well as changes occur. I have trained all animal techs and research staff explaining in detail the requirements and what is expected of them in the VMU. Receive or reject incoming animals as I see fit. Disposing of contaminated bedding, sharps containers and carcasses. Making sure all Monthly sanitization programs are done and within the 30 day allotment. Keep inventory of all chemicals used in the VMU and order as needed. I have great communication skills with the investigators and their techs. They rely on me to provide and have ready anything they need at any given time. I volunteer to stay late to help techs and anyone in need including construction workers and in house mechanics as they can not be left in the facility alone after hours. Accomplishments:

Over 37 years of experience. Just to name a few, I am very proud to say I developed an enrichment program for all animals which is highly successful. With my creativity and knowledge I developed a very successful breeding program for hard to breed knockout transgenic mice. I helped to develope and implement our stringent sterilization and sanitization programs included but not limited to our water system and equiptment. I am highly qualified in animal observation and can treat animals as prescribed by the veterinarians. I can assist researchers with procedures, scope out issues with our equipment and fix some issues with my experience if not I call in a work order. I read all SOPs as to know what is expected for and of the investigator and the animals. I watch and follow researchers as to make sure they are following the guidelines of AAALAS and AALAC within their colonies. I will look in on every person at any given time during surgical procedures and question them if I feel they are not adhering to their protocols and SOPs and if not I will immediately report any and all issues to the veterinarian. Related skills:

Ordering food and bedding, all record keeping of animals. Dispose of infectious disease materials, keeping the chemical inventory, call and report work orders as needed, daily checks of room temperatures, light cycles and room air pressures boxes outside the rooms and adjust as needed in the ceilings. I can reset alarms including motion detectors. Reset all electrical circuit panels when breakers blow. Change hepa filters and maintain monthly maintenance and sanitization of all fume hoods and PIV racks. I can disassemble, change filters and reassemble the air unit boxes on top of the PIV racks, fume hoods and changing stations. Put in work orders as needed and oversee they are done. Staying late and observing contractors when working within the facility and communicating with the companies who are working in our facility. I work in conjunction with the research administration during the building of our new facility, overseeing the work being done and help navigating the entire transition. Prepare and delegate work for our 3 year inspections. We have never failed a site visit at the the CVAMC. Any deficiencies found were of the building structure and such but never to do with the animal care and program. I am very proud of my work and I always strive to do better. I'm a master of multitasking and time management. We have also never had any issues or write ups regarding animal care during pop up walk throughs inspections by IACUC and the Director of the hospital. I love what I was born to do and that's to care for these animals as they are being used to help humanity. My number 1 goal is to make sure all animals are treated with the highest quality of care in the most humane way that can be given. I want them to have enrichment, clean bedding, food, water, complete creature comforts as they serve us we shall serve them.