Just Cats Spotlight
We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of our dedicated team members, Kimberly Perkins who has was a recipient of AAFP’s 2024 Veterinary Technician Scholarship Award Program! This achievement is a testament to Kim’s hard work, passion for veterinary medicine, and commitment to continuous learning.
In this interview, we’ll dive into Kim's journey at Just Cats, what inspired her to pursue further education, and how this scholarship will impact her career and the care she provides to our beloved patients.
Join us in celebrating this exciting milestone and learn more about the incredible individuals who make our clinic a special place for pets and their families!
Introduction
Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to become a veterinary technician? As a child, I was always drawn to animals, especially felines and felt that my career path was always going to be involved with animals. I initially started my college career interested in Zoology, but realized my passion was with actively helping and treating animals, which inspired becoming a veterinary technician.
How long have you been working in the veterinary field? I have only been working in the veterinary field for about 2 years! There is still so much to learn and experience.
What led you to develop a particular interest in feline practice? Feline medicine has been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember. I have only ever owned cats and felt drawn to their uniqueness and personalities. I feel cats can be misunderstood in the veterinary world, and I want to do my part at making sure they are getting the highest quality of care, and educating owners so their cats live a happy and full life.
Scholarship and AAFP
Congratulations on winning the scholarship! Can you share more about the scholarship and how you came to apply for it? This scholarship is through the American Association of Feline Practitioners and it is a specific Veterinary Technician scholarship. It will cover the registration cost for the AAFP Feline conference in Minneapolis in September. I had already been interested in attending the conference and when I received an email from the AAFP letting members know this scholarship existed I knew I had to apply.
What does winning this scholarship mean to you both personally and professionally? Winning this scholarship was quite the surprise to me. I honestly was not expecting to win as I know there are many members of the AAFP. Winning this has really cemented the fact that I am on the right career path and makes me excited for what is to come in the future.
How do you think this scholarship will impact your career and your ability to care for cats? This scholarship will give me the ability to further my career in feline specific veterinary medicine and gives me more confidence in continuing my journey into the veterinary technician field.
Education and Professional Development
Can you describe any specific training or educational opportunities the scholarship provides? This scholarship provides a tremendous amount of educational opportunities as the conference is three days of feline specific lectures, several of which are extremely relevant to the day to day operations at Just Cats! I plan to use this scholarship and attend lectures I feel are going to provide me with the most relevant education and ones that I can also share with my fellow coworkers.
What are you most looking forward to learning or experiencing through the AAFP Seminar? . Aside from the actual lectures, I am most looking forward to being around other veterinary colleagues who are just as passionate about feline medicine. I am excited to hear their stories and advice they might have working with our feline patients! The ability to share and give guidance is one of my favorite aspects of veterinary medicine.
How do you plan to apply the knowledge and skills gained from this experience to your current practice? I am planning on absorbing all the knowledge and education this conference provides and sharing it with the Just Cats team. The AAFP conference theme this year is “Dermatology, Cardiology & Diagnostic Methodology” and covers content that is not always part of a routine appointment at Just Cats. I want to be able to share the information learned and discuss these topics with other providers to grow and learn as a team.
Experiences and Challenges
Can you share a memorable experience you've had working with cats that reaffirmed your passion for feline care? I have had many memorable experiences working with cats, but more recently there was an experience I had while working that helped me to realize how much I enjoy working in feline medicine. There was an elderly cat coming in who’s owner needed a demonstration on how to administer subcutaneous fluids. I was able to show her the process and I recognized how much she was paying attention and watching every detail so she could provide for her boy. I felt great knowing that she was going to be able to make him more comfortable in his older age and that I was able to teach someone and convey how important this treatment would be. Working at Just Cats in general has made it so easy to further my passion for felines and I am so grateful for the opportunities that allow me to do what I love!
We are incredibly proud to have Kim as part of our Just Cats family! We are excited to see how this opportunity will further enhance her skills and the exceptional care she provides to our patients.
Please join us in congratulating Kim on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to supporting her in her journey and celebrating many more successes together in the future!
