Not just for the birds: Mat Su College launches Vet Tech program

It’s no surprise that as the population in the Mat Su Borough, so does the pet population. And with that comes the need for more veterinary care professionals.

The Mat Su College is preparing to launch a brand new Veterinary Tech program, but the idea and the driving forces behind the program have been a long time coming.

“There was a pitch to launch the program to the Board of Regents in 2014, but then massive cuts to the University of Alaska system pushed it back,” said Judith Montalbano, DVM, one of the forces integral to the new Vet Tech program.

Even before then, in 2006, the school began offering Introduction to Veterinary Technology and Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology classes under the Agriculture umbrella, then in 2007, a survey of local veterinarians and vet techs during the Alaska Veterinary Medical Association (AKVMA) state meeting had respondents rank proposed educational opportunities, including a 2-yr American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited associates degree as the most popular option, while a 2-yr associate degree came in as the second best option.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, Mat Su College began offering a 21 credit Veterinary Assisting Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC), which is different than a veterinary tech program, but many still wanted to see an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program.

Enter Dr. Montalbano, who was a private veterinary practitioner and part of the advisory board, who joined the Mat Su College in 2021 as the coordinator for the Vet Assistant program.

“We were fired up to push for the Vet Tech program. The school wanted to re-start it with then-director Talis Colberg advocating the proposal to the Board of Regents,” says Dr. Montalbano. She says that when Dr. Marie Gardner was hired as the new MSC Director, she was also supportive of bringing the Vet Tech program to life at the college.

“We’ve retooled and revamped the program and we are excited. Local veterinarians are thrilled and excited. Techs are needed here.”

The coursework is a full-time program with a set curriculum, and courses must be taken sequentially, with each semester’s courses serving as prerequisites for the next semester. Along with typical bookwork, there are 2 clinical externships in which students participate.

“Not only are hands-on skills essential, but there are skills mandated by the AVMA. Some will run concurrently with labs and classwork and learning simulations, and some will skills will be developed while working with real patients,” says Dr. Montalbano. Externships are conducted with supervision of clinic technicians and veterinarians.

Students will not only be working with typical pets of the canine and feline variety, but will also work with other species of animals.

“We want well-rounded exposure to all species of animals, so students are required to work on certain species like chickens, horses, goats, birds, and even lab animals.” Dr. Montalbano says the program will be working not only with local veterinarians but also in partnership with the Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter to ensure care of the animals there.

Not sure what makes for a great veterinarian tech? Dr. Montalbano says that along with being good with animals, candidates must also be good with people.

“Every animal is attached to a human, so if someone is thinking that this is a career where human interaction isn’t critical, that isn’t the case.” She says that most of the time, animals needing care bring with them humans who are highly emotional, stressed and full of anxiety and fear.

“People need to know that the best animal care also requires good communication and compassion with the humans that love these animals.”

The Vet Tech program has begun accepting applications, and those interested must also submit a resume, essay and 3 professional references, before a selection committee reviews applications and makes the final determination for entry into the program. The deadline to apply to the program is March 1, 2024.

“The deadline is looming from and there is a selective admissions limited to 16 students only.”

Students will begin coursework starting in the fall.

For more information about the program and the requirements to apply, please visit www.matsu.alaska.edu/academic-programs/veterinary-medicine