This article was originally printed in the Mar/Apr 2026 issue of the California Veterinarian magazine.

Veterinary nursing is a profession built on skill, resilience, and a deep commitment to patient care. Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that supporting those skills—helping others grow, gain confidence, and reach their potential—can be just as impactful as hands-on clinical work. My path into Learning and Development (L&D) has allowed me to continue contributing to veterinary medicine in a way that strengthens teams, improves patient outcomes, and creates sustainable career growth for veterinary professionals.

Like many in this field, I began my career driven by a love for animals and a desire to make a difference. After earning a degree in biology and exploring veterinary school, I discovered that veterinary nursing aligned far more closely with my strengths and interests. I became a registered veterinary technician and later specialized in emergency and critical care. Working on the floor was demanding, rewarding, and became a defining part of my professional growth, but it was also physically taxing. Over time, I began looking for ways to stay connected to the profession while finding a role that was more sustainable long-term.

That search led me into management, where staff training and development were part of my responsibilities. I quickly realized that education was the part of the job that energized me the most. I loved breaking down complex concepts, supporting team members through moments of uncertainty, and watching confidence grow alongside competence. What I didn’t enjoy was managing the many other operational aspects of running a department.

When the opportunity arose to move into a role dedicated entirely to L&D, I jumped at it. I’ve now been working in L&D for eight years, and it has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. Today, I help design and oversee national programs that support veterinary clinical staff at every stage—from those just entering the profession to technicians pursuing advanced specialization.

Working within a large corporate organization has made this work possible in ways that wouldn’t be feasible in many individual hospitals. Dedicated training roles can be cost-prohibitive for smaller practices, even though the need for education and mentorship is just as great. By supporting multiple hospitals across an organization, L&D programs can be scaled to reach more people, provide consistent standards, and ensure that growth opportunities aren’t limited by hospital size. This structure allows smaller hospitals access to training, mentorship, and resources they otherwise wouldn’t have, creating equity in professional development across the system.

The most rewarding part of my role is seeing the ripple effect of education. Helping someone truly understand a concept with which they once struggled, watching a technician grow into a confident mentor, or seeing a learner advance their career and earning potential reinforces why this work matters. I firmly believe that “the more you know, the more you are worth”—not just financially, but in the value you bring to your team, your patients, and the profession as a whole. By empowering learners, we elevate patient care and strengthen veterinary medicine from the inside out.

There are challenges, of course. Learning how to be an effective educator—understanding adult learning theory, instructional design, content creation, and presentation skills—was its own steep learning curve. Early on, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I was fortunate to have a mentor who understood education deeply and helped guide my development, allowing me to grow into this role with intention and confidence.

Looking back, my journey into L&D wasn’t something I planned—but it’s where my skills, values, and passion intersect most powerfully. Supporting veterinary professionals as they build meaningful, sustainable careers has become my way of caring for patients, teams, and the future of our profession.

The most rewarding part of my role is seeing the ripple effect of education. Helping someone truly understand a concept with which they once struggled, watching a technician grow into a confident mentor, or seeing a learner advance their career and earning potential reinforces why this work matters.