Future veterinary professionals got a unique, hands-on experience at the Elmwood Park Zoo, writes Kristen Coppock Crossley for dvm360.
More than 50 students from area colleges gathered for the zoo’s first-ever Vet Tech Summit at the Norristown zoo.
The event, held during National Veterinary Technician Week, welcomed students from Manor College, Harcum College, and Camden County College for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration. Organized in partnership with Zoetis, the summit included behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo’s Frank and Paige Engro Veterinary Health Center. There, veterinary technicians demonstrated daily care routines for species ranging from frogs to giraffes.
Panel discussions highlighted diverse career paths in veterinary technology, from zoo medicine to academia and entrepreneurship. Speakers like Alyssa Mages of Empowering Veterinary Teams and Jodi Koch, VMD, of Zoetis, emphasized the growing role of technicians in patient care and innovation.
Organizers, including Laura P. Clark, DVM, PhD, hope to expand the event to include more colleges in the coming years, strengthening the profession’s future workforce.
The summit underscored Elmwood Park Zoo’s broader mission: connecting education, animal care, and community engagement right here in Montgomery County.
To learn more about the summit that gathered vet techs in Norristown, visit dvm360.
