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Past Award Winners

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RVT’s Outstanding DVM of the Year Winners

2023 Inductee

Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim

Empowered by the belief that RVTs are the backbone of all veterinary practices, Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim has dedicated her career to building the RVTs in her community into a fortified, skillful, and fully utilized team of professionals. Disheartened that there were no veterinary technician schools in Ventura County, Dr. Lim endeavored to create the first.

 

With the help of the school’s administration, Dr. Lim successfully set up the Veterinary Technology Program at Ventura College—writing the curriculum, serving as Program Director, and lecturing as an instructor. After years of perseverance by Dr. Lim and the college administration, the program formally launched in 2021 and a year later was granted the prestigious honor of accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Better yet, through her membership on the Ventura College Foundation Board, Dr. Lim made sure that the majority of first-year veterinary technician students were able to graduate from the program for free.

 

To provide a modernized and hybrid education that weaves together both lectures and hands-on experience, the Ventura College program is partnered with Ohana Pet Hospital, where Dr. Lim has served as a founding partner and HR director for over a decade. While Dr. Lim worked tirelessly to bring the veterinary technology program to fruition, her unflagging dedication to her team at Ohana never wavered. As HR director, Dr. Lim invests significant time, resources, and training into her staff members, offering structured goals and learning objectives and utilizing RVTs in every department in the hospital. “Dr. Jill, as she is known to her team and the community, advocates for the advancement of the veterinary technician profession like no other DVM I have worked with in my 25 years in the industry,” says Michelle Anderson, RVT at Ohana Pet Hospital. “She truly understands that utilizing her team to their highest potential not only makes her more efficient, but also improves patient care and client satisfaction, and improves the job satisfaction and longevity of her team.”

2018 Inductee

Laura Bellinghausen, DVM

Dr. Laura Bellinghausen is an associate veterinarian for Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority and also a staff veterinarian and instructor at Carrington College in San Jose, CA. Her colleagues describe her as an asset to the veterinary medical profession and someone always willing to discuss cases, share ideas, and utilize RVTs as much as possible.

 

Dr. Ashley Cotton, a former colleague of Dr. Bellinghausen, described her as supportive by allowing the staff to perform their duties independently and encouraging them to problem solve on their own. “She practiced high-quality veterinary medicine and was routinely performing blood work, radiographs, and further testing as needed, but always encouraged the veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to do those tasks, as time and skill allowed,” Dr. Cotton explained.

 

As a veterinary technology instructor, Dr. Bellinghausen shows up early and stays as late as needed. She is patient with students, giving them time to figure out the answers on their own, and meets privately with those preparing for the Veterinary Technician National Examination.

2017 Inductee

Andrew Moffatt, DVM

As Managing Director of Vetncare, Inc., a management company, Dr. Moffatt is a very busy man. Despite taking ownership of four hospitals in the last five years, he remains dedicated to the veterinary profession. He still continues to provide care for several species besides cats and dogs including pigs, goats, sheep, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish, in addition to the mentorship of colleagues, staff, and veterinary students.

 

Dr. Moffatt supports strong professional development for all employees. He provides open communication with his RVTs about the latest studies and encourages his RVTs to attend continuing education classes. He finds ways for them to attend classes that interest them while encouraging his non-licensed veterinary assistants to enroll in the Penn Foster Program to become RVTs and helps them with their tuition. Also, all new employees are provided guidance through structured phase training as well as several online training platforms.

 

Dr. Moffatt has created a fair and supportive work environment for his entire team. He has supported accommodations for his staff and this kind of attention has made his staff feel cared for which in turn allows them to provide excellent care for their patients.

 

For a complete list of past winners, contact the CVMA at staff@cvma.net.

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