The faces of excellence: Celebrating our Veterinary Nurse Champions!
October 15, 2025
We are honored to recognize the winners of this year’s Veterinary Nurse Champion Awards! These individuals exemplify the heart of veterinary medicine — dedicated to patient care, committed to teamwork, and passionate about lifting others through mentorship and innovation.
🏆 Grand Champion Award
Jenna L., CVT – Arizona Regional Intensive Specialty & Emergency Center (ARISE), Queen Creek, AZ
Jenna is a passionate advocate for veterinary nursing and a dedicated leader. As lead surgery technician, she trains and mentors teammates, encourages certification, and helped support two veterinary assistants as they worked towards becoming veterinary technicians. “Jenna helped to develop the blood donor program in our hospital and has hosted numerous blood drives, advertising the importance of blood donation broadly, including featuring on morning talk shows to help spread the word.”
👏 Champion Award Recipients
- Mika D., RVT, LVT – Bush Veterinary Neurology Service, Rockville, MD
“As an RVT Team Lead, she models the highest standard of professional practice, ensuring her team understands the value and impact of their role in patient care. She takes every opportunity to educate colleagues, support staff, and even clients on the specialized skills and expertise that veterinary nurses bring to the field.”
- Michelle R., RVT – Southern Colorado Veterinary Internal Medicine, Colorado Springs, CO
“Michelle is a trusted expert in anesthesia, frequently sought out for training and support. Her willingness to mentor others — inviting them to shadow her and creating a safe space for questions and vulnerability — has had a lasting impact on staff development and morale.”
- Sarah W., LVT – Virginia Veterinary Centers, Midlothian, VA
“Sarah personally invests in her colleagues by meeting with team members one-on-one to discuss their comfort levels with specific skills and to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, she regularly sends out targeted training materials to support ongoing professional development, ensuring that our team’s skills remain sharp and up-to-date.”
