Chief Veterinary Medical Officer

The hospital’s Focused Recognition Award Program provides an opportunity to highlight our ongoing Cultural Journey and recognize those who have provided remarkable progress within our five Cultural Beliefs: One Team, Trusted Dialogue, Pursue Excellence, Realize Our Vision, and Value People.

Megan Loscar was recognized for exemplifying our Cultural Belief of One Team, which contributed to the Key Result of Outstanding Patient Care.

“Megan has been helping out the Radiation Oncology Service while it has been short staffed. Every day, she comes in happy and always jumps right in to help (usually one step ahead of me). I don’t know how we would have survived without her!”

Katie Berg was recognized for exemplifying our Cultural Beliefs of One Team and Pursue Excellence, which contributed to the Key Result of Outstanding Patient Care.

“Katie graciously offered to work her scheduled shift (grave all night) and stay for an entire day shift too! We were faced with an extreme shortage of techs for the day and had multiple ICU and Isolation patients.”

 

Thank you, Megan and Katie, for your hard work and dedication to the VMTH.

 

Thank you to everyone for submitting the Focused Recognition cards and demonstrating your support of each other that demonstrate excellence in support of our Cultural Journey. The drop boxes are located: Reception A, second floor in Pritchard waiting room 2198; Large Animal Reception, first floor in Pritchard next to water fountain/restrooms; Reception B, first floor in CCAH next to the recycle bins. In the near future, we will be re-energizing our recognition program and automate the process a bit. We provided goodie bags for Halloween and plan to do so for Thanksgiving and Christmas as a way to show our true appreciation for all the extra work and commitment provided during the pandemic. 

The hospital has treated hundreds of animals over the years that were burned in wildfires. Every year, there seems to be at least one that everyone remembers. This year, one of the most memorable was Ned, a semi-feral cat who was rescued from the property he calls home a few days after a wildfire swept through and destroyed everything. Ned was one of 15 cats and several livestock on the property owned by Linda Kearney. Before evacuating, Kearney was able to gather 11 of the cats and leave before the fire came. Ned was one of two others she found a few days later. Only one cat perished, and one remains missing. Ned was immediately brought to the VMTH and was hospitalized for three months recovering from burns to his feet, face, ears, hind limb, and tail. Throughout that time, Drs. Elizabeth Montgomery and Karen Vernau—and many staff members of their services—volunteered their time to care for Ned. Meanwhile, Kearney worked hard to secure housing for the other animals and a home for Ned when he was discharged. The Lucky Ones Ranch took them in and provided permanent shelter for as long as needed. Plans are for Kearney and her husband to build sheds and other structures for the animals back on their property and to live there in a newly purchased RV. She was thrilled to finally have Ned back with the rest of the animals. It is rare for an animal to be hospitalized for three months and takes a dedicated team to see a severely injured animal through to a successful and happy discharge. “Being semi-feral, Ned was not always a cooperative patient,” said Dr. Kate Hopper. “His care team did a stellar job powering through that daily adversity to make sure he fully recovered.” Congratulations and Thank You to his entire team!

Florence Soares-Dabalos, MS, LMFT, the VMTH’s client support/grief counselor, offers tips on managing stress through the current crisis. Please see the full website of services that Florence offers.