Longtime Union Countian Jessica Montoya has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the 41st person in the United States to be admitted into the Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Surgery. With fewer than 50 veterinary surgical nursing specialists nationwide, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is proud to have two of these esteemed professionals on its team.

Jessica graduated early from Union County High School in December 2002. Jessica began working at UTCVM in September 2015 and earned an associate's degree in animal science (AAS). In addition to her most recent accomplishment, Jessica holds several credentials, including being a licensed veterinary technician (LVMT). Additionally, she is a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner (CCRP) and, most recently, completed her veterinary technician specialty license in surgery (VTS-Surgery) last year.
To become a licensed veterinary technician, an individual must complete a minimum of two years of education through an AVMA-approved college. While many technicians may choose to stop at this stage and begin working, Jessica has always been passionate about working in surgical cases, particularly veterinary orthopedic surgery, which constitutes most of her daily work.

As her first step to deepen her knowledge and skills, Jessica completed a two-year course to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). This certification provided her with a comprehensive understanding of how muscles, ligaments, and joints work together and how to manage them through physical rehabilitation.

There are currently 16 VTS (Veterinary Technician Specialty) certifications that a technician can pursue. To begin the VTS process, a technician must maintain their annual licensure and complete the required continuing education (CE) during the process. Additionally, they must work in the specialty area they are pursuing for a minimum of 60,000 hours or five years.

After this period, the technician must document, manage, and write detailed case logs and reports for 60-79 patients within a one-year timeframe. These case logs and reports serve as the application to the chosen VTS academy. Once accepted, the candidate has 10 months to prepare for a rigorous board examination, which can range from four to eight hours and include hands-on testing, multiple-choice questions, and essay components, depending on the specialty.

As a VTS in Surgery, Jessica is required to have expertise in a wide range of areas, including soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, ophthalmology and physical rehabilitation procedures. This specialty also demands proficiency in managing cases, understanding surgical instrumentation and ensuring the care and maintenance of both patients and equipment.

Jessica sees opportunities in her role as a VTS technician. She is able to perform more advanced skills than many other technicians are typically allowed. However, she acknowledges that, despite holding the VTS title, she is not permitted to perform surgery, prescribe medications, or diagnose patients. She respects the veterinary oath and adheres to the practice laws of veterinary medicine in the state of Tennessee. Jessica actively participates in procedures such as total hip replacements in dogs, showcasing her expertise. Her second passion within orthopedics is working with external skeletal fixators (ESFs), a field in which she is also actively involved.

Imagine comparing a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) to a Nurse Anesthetist. During a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, you would want the highly trained Nurse Anesthetist overseeing your care, rather than a CNA.

Similarly, earning a Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in any field requires rigorous training and ongoing dedication. In addition to meeting state requirements for continuing education (CE), VTS-certified technicians must complete an extra 50 hours of CE during each five-year renewal period. Yes, a renewal is required every five years to ensure that the VTS holder remains actively involved in their specialty.

Of these additional CE hours, only 40 can be earned by attending conferences. The remaining hours must come from activities such as publishing articles, writing textbooks or speaking at national conferences, underscoring the high standards expected of VTS-certified professionals.

For UTCVM, this holds significant value. UTCVM is fortunate to have many VTS-certified technicians across various specialties. This expertise helps to enhance the education of the next generation of technicians, as well as future veterinarians.

UTCVM is not only a teaching hospital for veterinary students aspiring to become veterinarians but also operates as a fully functioning 24-hour hospital. The same technicians who teach and mentor future veterinarians are simultaneously responsible for the care of patients.

In addition, UTCVM hosts a variety of technician students, pre-vet shadowing students, and high school students interested in veterinary careers. As VTS-certified professionals in any specialty, these technicians are held to a higher standard of care, integrity and professionalism, setting an example for those they mentor.

If one can imagine a procedure performed in human medicine, it is likely that a similar procedure can now be performed for animals. The similarities between human and veterinary medicine are significant in many ways. However, public awareness of the role of veterinary technicians remains limited. Organizations such as the TVMA, AVMA, and NAVTA aim to increase recognition of veterinary technicians and highlight their critical contributions to the veterinary field.

At UTCVM, Jessica believes that a fully staffed team of technicians would allow greater participation in procedures throughout the day. Currently, the one procedure she consistently participates in is Total Hip Replacements. These surgeries require someone, in addition to the orthopedic surgeon, who has expertise in equipment handling, patient preparation, and case management. This level of involvement is one of the reasons Jessica particularly enjoys these procedures; it allows her to play an active role in surgery.

Most days, Jessica is on the floor providing patient care in other capacities. She hopes that as UTCVM continues to grow, the number of veterinary technicians will increase, enabling those with VTS certifications to be utilized to their fullest potential, ultimately improving patient care and surgical outcomes.