Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association

10/23/2026

Another SEMVMA Technician Appreciation Contest finalist is Dr Gurpreet Kaur's nomination of the North Hills Veterinary Hospital. She said of her team:

"As the owner of North Hills Veterinary Hospital for nearly three years, I am incredibly proud of the team I have built. We are honored to carry forward the over 50-year legacy of serving the Rochester Hills community while shaping the future of my private practice.

My support staff bring compassion, knowledge, and dedication to their work every day. They go above and beyond for clients and their pets, whether comforting an anxious animal, supporting a worried owner, or paying close attention to details that make a difference in patient care. They communicate well, support one another, and work together toward a shared goal of providing exceptional care.

For such a small team, more than 75 years of combined veterinary experience is remarkable. Their expertise allows them to provide thoughtful, personalized service while creating meaningful relationships with clients. Clients appreciate seeing familiar faces and knowing the people caring for their pets. Over time, they become part of the North Hills family.

For all these reasons, I believe my team deserves to be recognized as the winners of the Veterinary Technician Appreciation Contest. They represent the compassion, dedication, teamwork, and excellence that make veterinary medicine special."

10/22/2026

Dr Michelle Koss at Center Line Veterinary Hospital nominated her team for the SEMVMA Technician Appreciation contest. Her finalist entry says:

"In this profession, a good team can make the difference between just providing basic care and being able to truly make a difference in the lives of our pet patients and their owners. We are thankful at Center Line Veterinary Hospital to have an amazing team of licensed veterinary technicians who allow us to make that difference.

Our technician staff takes enormous pride in their care for our pet patients. They treat each pet individually, taking the time to find the most effective way to deliver treatment without stress. They also help council owners on decisions involving care and treatment when gold standard is not an option. Their caring compassion and ability to communicate make a huge difference in allowing us to help.

Our hospitalized pets are snuggled, petted, talked to and provided with comfort to make their stay with us less stressful. Owners are called and texted with pictures and updates.

Our technicians take pride in continuing education, even before it became mandatory.

Being able to hand off a patient to capable hands is the most amazing gift for us as veterinarians. We can expect correct diagnostics, treatments and updates on status to help us provide the best care."

10/21/2026

Another SEMVMA Tech Appreciation Contest finalist was Dr Lauren Davenport's nomination of the staff at Oxford Veterinary Hospital.

"Every great veterinary practice is built on an exceptional team, and I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside ours. Our veterinary technicians are the heart of our hospital. They keep the practice running with remarkable skill, compassion, and professionalism, often anticipating what is needed before anyone has to ask.

Their technical abilities are outstanding, but what truly sets them apart is their unwavering dedication to both our patients and their families. They communicate with clients calmly, patiently, and with genuine empathy, helping people navigate some of the most emotional moments of pet ownership.

As a veterinarian, I know I can depend on them in every situation. Whether managing a critical emergency, comforting a frightened patient, or supporting me through a challenging case, they are always there with knowledge, confidence, and teamwork. Their support allows me to be the very best veterinarian I can be.

They don't simply assist in patient care—they elevate it. Their commitment, resilience, and compassion make an immeasurable difference every single day, and they are truly deserving of this recognition."

10/20/2026

SEMVMA offered a Vet Tech Appreciation contest in recognition of the hard work LVTs do. We had so many entries! Here is one of the finalists, submitted by Dr Kathy Christy at Oakland Hills Veterinary Hospital:

"Oakland Hills Veterinary Hospital does indeed have an amazing veterinary technician team that deserves recognition! We celebrate our LVTs during tech week every year, but they are appreciated all of the time. Our team consists of 5 LVTs – Magda, Quynn, Leah, Sam and Marci. They are the backbone of the practice as they are always on top of what needs to be done and have the skills to do those things. They help each other, they’re kind to each other as well as to the rest of the staff, our clients and our patients. They catch our mistakes, make great suggestions, are patient and compassionate, and great at their jobs.

We strive to keep thorough medical records each time we speak to a client about their pet, or see a patient, which leads to a lot of time spent by our LVT team teaching, explaining to, and comforting our clients. Every member of our team has a voice here, which leads to exceptional patient care, and an outstanding work environment.

We are so thankful for our LVTs, and are happy that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve, and are trending up to the financial compensation they’re worthy of."

10/19/2026

The week of October 18-24 is National Veterinary Technician Week. To celebrate our coworkers, SEMVMA offered the chance to nominate clinic teams for special recognition this week. The winner of our Tech Appreciation Contest is Moore Veterinary Hospital!

Dr Susan Burcham had this to say about her team:
"Two hundred words or less doesn’t allow me adequate adjectives to explain how blessed I am to know and love the six Licensed Veterinary Technicians who support me unconditionally on every shift I work. The LVTs at Moore Veterinary Hospital arrive daily with unwavering dedication, going above and beyond for every patient and every teammate. First, our hospital manager, brilliant Brenda, who performs ultrasounds and backs up her fellow technicians on the floor, in addition to conquering COGS and enhancing EBIDTA. Glorious Gina, our lead technician and go-to-gal for all things surgery and vein related. Helpful Heather has a head for the pharmacy and is the touchstone for all things Idexx and Vetcove. Tenacious Trisha juggles all the LVT hats and never says no, even to calling back the neediest client ever; she is also The Lady of Laser therapy. Sociable Shelby makes us laugh and moves at the speed of light, a dental radiography diva to be sure. Calm Kelly, always cool under pressure with a kind word for everyone and getting the job done with no complaints. Their contributions to this team go far beyond what I could ever fully capture here — but let this be a start."

Moore Veterinary Hospital has chosen to get their break room restocked with kitchen staples and goodies. Congratulations!

10/16/2026

Recent grads: don't forget that the SEMVMA Debt Reduction Scholarship applications are due this weekend! You can apply online at https://semvma.vet/debt-reduction-program/

SEMVMA offers two $2,500 scholarships available to member veterinarians who have graduated within the last three years. This payment is made directly to the graduate's loan company in an effort to reduce the debt burden on veterinarians.

The SEMVMA Debt Reduction Program awards two scholarships annually to recent veterinary graduates. Learn about eligibility and apply online.

10/12/2026

SEMVMA is proud to present nutrition CE this Wednesday, October 14th. The event will be held at the Management Education Center in Troy and is available on Zoom.

Dr Deborah Linder will be presenting lectures for veterinarians from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Seven hours of CE are available. Dr Linder's topics include diet dilemmas: practical strategies for feeding pets with multiple diseases, to cook or not to cook: talking with owners about fresh, raw, and home-prepared diets, turning pet food conversations from salty to sweet: tools for your nutrition communication toolbox, the lighter side of obesity: creative strategies for ‘weight’y discussions, and more.

Dr Deborah Linder will also speak with technicians about the same topics from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Techs and office staff will receive two hours of CE for attending.

If you would like to attend and haven't registered yet, need to amend your registration, or have registered already and didn't receive an email on 10/12, please contact Emilie at the SEMVMA office at (248) 651-6332 or [email protected].

10/08/2026

We are pleased to announce that Deborah Linder, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition) will be speaking about nutrition this Wednesday, October 14th. She will present to veterinarians from 9am-5pm and technicians from 6:30pm-8:30pm. These seminars will be held at the Management Education Center in Troy, MI. We also offer a virtual option!

Some of the topics Dr. Linder will cover include: Diet dilemmas: practical strategies for feeding pets with multiple diseases. To cook or not to cook: talking with owners about fresh, raw, and home-prepared diets. Turning pet food conversations from salty to sweet: tools for your nutrition communication toolbox. The lighter side of obesity: creative strategies for ‘weight’y discussions.

To register, sign up online at www.semvma.com or call/text the office at 248-651-6332 or email [email protected].

09/13/2026

Our CE schedule for veterinary technicians is up! See the link for more information:https://www.semvma.vet/sites/site-5466/documents/Tech%20Brochure%20Proof%203.pdf
Oct 14 - nutrition
Nov 11 - oncology
Dec 2 - dentistry
Feb 2 - neonatology
Mar 17 - feline medicine
If you would like to register, please contact the office at [email protected] or call (248) 651-6332.

09/13/2026

Our 2026/2027 CE season is posted! See the link for more information:https://www.semvma.vet/sites/site-5466/documents/Vet%20Brochure%20Proof%203.pdf
Oct 14 - nutrition - Dr Deb Linder
Nov 11 - oncology - Dr Laura Garrett
Dec 2 - dentistry - Dr Amy Thomson
Feb 3 - dermatology - Dr Mollie Mesman
Mar 17 - feline medicine - Dr Petra Cerna
Sign up by contacting the office at [email protected] or calling (248) 651-6332.