Meet AAHA’s 2025 Veterinary Technician of the Year finalists and winner

The American Animal Hospital Association Veterinary Technician of the Year award recognizes the outstanding achievements of accredited, experienced veterinary technicians.

As we kick off National Veterinary Technician Week, we asked our winner, Hannah Miller, RVT and our other three finalists Allison Huettner, CVT, Heather Schroeder, CVT, and Laura Gervasio, RVT what practices can do to support techs, and what they wish others knew about their career.

First, we wanted to highlight our winner.

What does being recognized for this award mean to you? 

Hannah Miller, RVT: 

Being recognized for this award means the world to me. I have put my heart and soul into this career and being recognized shows that I have truly made an impact on the people I work with and the people I work for. This has shown that all the hard work, early mornings, difficult/emotional appointments, long shifts, bruises and scratches have all paid off. Each day I come into work with a smile on my face and try to be the emotional support and hype woman for my clinic and this shows they recognized that trait in me. I am beyond grateful for the team I work with for nominating me for this award and for the clients and pets that have made it easy to come to work and be the best veterinary technician I can be.

What should practices do to support veterinary technicians?  

Hannah Miller, RVT:

 I believe the biggest support a practice can give to a veterinary technician is empathy. This field is tough and everyone is going to have a bad day every once in a while. Supporting technicians to take care of themselves is the best way to retain hard working dedicated technicians. Let that  technician take a little time to grieve the loss of a pet they have bonded with. Let that technician see that you value them and sometimes it gets hard. Have a support system that they can talk to and not make them feel drained every time they come into work. Foster that healthy relationship between the technician and the rest of the care team. Support healthy outlets inside and outside of the clinic to help prevent that burnout. 

Another way to support veterinary technicians is to help them feel motivated for personal development. Encourage and allow for teachable moments or programs that make them feel more ready to help our patients. Whether this is allowing them time to go to continuing education or bringing that continuing education into the clinic. This helps make technicians feel more competent, boosts morale, and helps their own sense of self worth. Happy technicians help clients trust us more and let them see they love coming to work and seeing their pets.  

Allison Huettner, CVT: 

Practices can do so much to support veterinary technicians. First, they can recognize us as vital professionals, not just support staff. Giving technicians opportunities to expand their skills, providing ongoing education, and creating a culture that values every role in the hospital make a huge difference.

At my practice, we use a model that isn’t doctor centric. That allows us, as technicians, to step into meaningful responsibilities, whether it’s advanced imaging, surgical assisting, or specialized therapies. This not only strengthens the practice but also builds pride and confidence in the technician team. Respect, fair compensation, and opportunities for growth are essential for keeping veterinary technicians thriving in their careers. 

Heather Schroeder, CVT: 

When practices allow us to be challenged and work at the top of our licenses, we are truly members of the team and are able to contribute to the success of the practice. When bring in more profits, it should be turned back around to help us with higher wages and more opportunities to attend CE and gather more knowledge. It is a cycle that helps to benefit everyone involved. We feel engaged, educated, and included, and the practice earns more money which can be turned around to benefit the employees.   

Laura Gervasio, RVT: 

Practices can support veterinary technicians in many different ways. Above all, most technicians want to feel seen, acknowledged, heard, and supported. Doing regular check-ins or one on ones is a great way for technicians to be able to express any concerns or issues they are having. It is also a great time to discuss their goals and skills they are working on. Practices should also always have a learning pathway or training plan.

Providing educational support helps technicians grow and become confident to be able to perform their jobs successfully. It is also very important to make sure that practices provide a resource for mental and emotional support. The amount of emotional toll and stress that technicians face every day is very high. 

What do you wish others knew about your work? 

Hannah Miller, RVT 

I wish other people who don’t work in this field realized that it is truly not playing with puppies and kittens all day. While that is a highlight of working as a veterinary technician, the truth is that you see more sickness than health and that can take a toll on all the veterinary staff. While it is rewarding to bring a beloved pet from sickness to health and seeing them go back to their family healthy, and we work hard to help assist that, it is not the case for all the patients we see. This field has a very high burnout rate from compassion fatigue and difficult clients who don’t understand that we are doing everything we can to help their pets.

I especially wish clients would see the importance of the veterinary technician for their pets. Many people think it’s the veterinarian drawing blood, monitoring anesthesia, cleaning the teeth, placing catheters, etc, but these tasks are normally the job of the technician. We are the face they see before the veterinarian comes in and many don’t believe that we know the importance of doing the diagnostics, preventative care, or treatments we, as a veterinary team, recommend. I try my best to inform them of the value of the treatment plan, but without the DVM title, many people still are hesitant to trust until we’ve built that valid client patient relationship.  

Allison Huettner, CVT: 

One thing I wish others knew about my work is the depth and variety of what we do. Many people imagine a veterinary technician as someone who simply restrains animals or assists with vaccines, but the reality is so much broader. In a single day, I might assist in orthopedic surgery, operate advanced imaging equipment, monitor anesthesia, educate clients, manage lab work, and comfort a grieving pet owner. It’s a role that requires technical skill, emotional resilience, and constant learning. What drives me most is knowing that the care I provide has a direct and lasting impact, not just on patient’s health, but also on the client’s peace of mind. 

Heather Schroeder, CVT: 

How hard and sad it can be. Most people don’t have any idea just how hard it can be to have to hold a pet owner’s hand as they deal with an unexpected traumatic loss of a beloved pet, then just 5 minutes later greet a new client with a puppy they are so excited about. It is very emotionally draining, and when clients don’t understand what we have just gone through it makes it that much more difficult for us to be at the top of our game. We have compassion for everyone that comes through our doors. The entire veterinary team asks the same of our clients, compassion and understanding of how our jobs can be.   

 Laura Gervasio, RVT: 

I wish others knew how much we truly love their pets like they are our own. We take time with them to make sure they are comfortable during their stay in the hospital. We love to show all of our coworkers how cute they are and if they are able to have it, we provide them with a fear free snack to help them to be less nervous while they are receiving treatments.

People often don’t realize how hard some days can be for us, but we keep coming back every day because of how much we love what we do. We have very long days, often without breaks and sometimes have to go right into an appointment after helping with an emergency or euthanasia. There usually is not even time to process what may have happened just minutes before, but we want to make sure our next patient, or client has a good experience. 

This award was made possible by the generous support of Zoetis.  

Photo credit: VTOY winners 

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.