Being a Veterinary Technician at AMC
Being a Veterinary Technician at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is a highly rewarding career in a role that’s critical to the lifesaving care we deliver every day. Our Veterinary Technicians are trusted team members with a high degree of leadership and decision authority, and our culture of learning supports our LVTs with opportunities for mentorship, advancement, and growth. We work to promote the veterinary technician role, both within our hospital and in the industry at-large, with events such as our annual Veterinary Technician Conference and our Veterinary Technician Week celebrations, and we’re among the few veterinary institutions to appoint a Chief Veterinary Technician on our executive team to represent and advocate for our LVT workforce.
AMC’s Commitment to Technician Growth
Pathways for Veterinary Technician Advancement
AMC invests in its Veterinary Technician workforce by offering a variety of opportunities for career growth based on an individual technician’s passions and ambitions. These advanced roles allow technicians to grow their skills and make a deep impact in the lives of patients and colleagues. Click on each role to learn more.
Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS)
Veterinary Technician Specialists are LVTs who have received formal, specialized training, testing, and certification in a specific field of veterinary medicine. This certification requires over five years of experience in the specialized field while acquiring and demonstrating mastery of specific skill sets, submitting case logs, writing case studies, and passing a rigorous exam. This accreditation is recognized nationally.
Management
Management roles for LVTs at AMC include Team Leaders, Managers, and Directors. These leaders are responsible for various levels of managing employees and strategic planning. These roles are administrative as well as clinical.
Clinical Educator
Clinical Educators teach, mentor, and support LVT’s in the clinical application of academic knowledge. The Clinical Educator adapts and cross trains in specialty departments throughout AMC. They devise curriculum and lesson plans for lectures and labs, create rotation schedules for Veterinary Technician Interns and Externs (VTIs and VTEs), and provide onboarding for new hires.
Advanced Clinical Technician (ACT)
The Advanced Clinical Technician appointment acknowledges LVTs with 10+ years of experience in a multi-specialty clinic and the value that experience brings to the ACT’s clinical skill, patient care, and mentoring abilities. The ACT is a leader in team building, exemplifies AMC’s core values, and actively participates in quality assurance programs.
Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) Support Program
AMC offers extensive training and support for technicians seeking to specialize their skills through VTS certification. With a large and varied caseload as NYC’s premier specialty animal hospital, AMC is one of the best places to pursue your clinical passions and grow your knowledge. Our LVT Clinical Educators guide applicants through the VTS process and provide externship opportunities for veterinary technology students. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced LVT looking to advance your career, AMC provides the tools and resources to help you become the best technician you can be.
Open LVT Positions
We are always looking for talented and dedicated veterinary technicians to join our team. We are hiring across a range of specialties and services.
Become a Veterinary Technician at AMC
Since 1910, AMC’s founding mission has been the compassionate care of companion animals. We continue this legacy today as the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital, with a non-profit mission that allows our staff to focus on patient care first and foremost.
With 130+ veterinarians in 20+ specialties and services, our clinical teams are highly collaborative in their pursuit of cutting edge solutions to our patients’ care. When you join the team at AMC, you join a renowned group of veterinary professionals dedicated to world-class care, research, and education.
We offer generous compensation and benefits to LVTs, including:
- Up to $10,000 sign-on bonus
- Relocation and housing assistance for candidates moving from outside the NYC area
- 50% discount on veterinary care
- Continuing education funds with rollover options
- Generous paid time off
- Matching retirement plan contributions
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Federal loan forgiveness eligible as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity
- And more!
AMC’s Veterinary Technician Leadership
At AMC, our veterinary technician workforce is represented at the highest level of the organization. Our Chief Veterinary Technician is a valued member of our executive leadership team, ensuring AMC technicians have the resources they need to thrive individually and as part of a team.
Meet AMC’s LVT Leadership
Nancy Patsos, LVT, VTS (ECC)
Chief Veterinary Technician Read BioNancy Patsos, LVT, VTS (ECC)
Chief Veterinary TechnicianIn her role as Chief Veterinary Technician, Nancy is responsible for the management of the veterinary technician workforce and related patient care services, including oversight of Licensed Veterinary Technician Directors and Mangers, Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs), Veterinary Assistants, and Clinical Educators. Nancy ensures compliance with patient care safety standards, fosters the professional growth of LVTs and Veterinary Assistants, manages the quality improvement of patient care across all services, and assists in strategic planning for the hospital. A technician with over 20 years of experience, Nancy has been at the Animal Medical Center since 2001 serving in several roles including Emergency & Critical Care Technician, Team Leader of Emergency & Critical Care, and Veterinary Clinical Manager. She is committed to providing the highest standard of care to a diverse array of patients. Nancy holds two Bachelor’s Degrees; one in Veterinary Technology from Mercy College and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Hunter College.
Terry Moon, LVT
Director of Peri-Operative Services and Ambulatory Care Read BioTerry Moon, LVT
Director of Peri-Operative Services and Ambulatory CareTerry Moon, LVT, serves as the Director of Peri-Operative Services and Ambulatory Care at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center of New York City. In this role, he oversees over 60 veterinary support staff and manages multiple veterinary services including collaborating with referral veterinarians, in-house veterinarians, clients, hospital staff, and other sectional supervisors to facilitate the day-to-day referrals of patient care. He has deep experience working in diverse veterinary settings as a technician ranging from large specialty hospitals to spay and neuter programs. A lover of the outdoors, Terry has also worked as a Yellowstone National Park Expedition Tours Guide for Scenic Safaris. A native of Pennsylvania, he holds an Associates of Science from Manor College.
Camia Tonge, MS, LVT, VTS (SAIM)
Director of IR, Neurology, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, & Exotics Read BioCamia Tonge, MS, LVT, VTS (SAIM)
Director of IR, Neurology, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, & ExoticsCamia is an experienced VTS and clinical educator with over 17 years of experience. She has worked at AMC since 2011, first as a LVT in the Internal Medicine service and, since 2018, as Clinical Educator where she educates and trains medical staff across hospital services. She previously worked at Animal Specialty Center and Lenox Hill Veterinarians as a LVT. Camia is an Executive Board Member and Committee Chair of the Academy of Small Animal Internal Medicine and a District Representative for the New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians. She holds a degree in Veterinary Technology from Laguardia Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hunter College, and a Master of Science from SUNY Brockport in Instructional Design.
Feliza Lopez, LVT, VTS (ECC)
Director of ECC & Radiology Read BioFeliza Lopez, LVT, VTS (ECC)
Director of ECC & RadiologyFeliza is an LVT with extensive experience in level one trauma specialty hospitals and a decade of experience as an LVT. Most recently, she served as Medical Education Manager at Bond Vet. Previously, she worked here at AMC as Team Leader of ECC working with all aspects of the critical care department including triage assessment, patient oversight, and staff training. She has also worked as an LVT at Park Slope Veterinary Care and Reade Street Animal Hospital. She is a Board Member of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association and holds a BS in Veterinary Technology from Mercy College.
Corrado Picarelli, LVT
Director of Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Diagnostic Imaging, & Dermatology Read BioJesse Cornell, M.S.Ed, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)
Director of Clinical Education Read BioJesse Cornell, M.S.Ed, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)
Director of Clinical EducationJesse is a graduate of Medaille College where she obtained her degree in Veterinary Technology in 1997. She has primarily focused her clinical skills over the past 26 years in emergency/referral/teaching hospitals in Boston and New York. Throughout her career she has worked as an anesthesia technician at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, completed her veterinary technician internship (VTI) at the Animal Medical Center in NYC in 2000, obtained her Master’s degree in Education (while working crazy busy overnights in ICU), and fulfilled all requirements for her veterinary technician specialization (VTS) in anesthesia and analgesia in 2011. Her favorite part of her current role as Director of Clinical Education, is providing positive mentorship to colleagues and students, and fostering confidence as they develop their clinical skills in anesthesia. Outside of work, Jesse enjoys a diversity of art, music, running, and exploring hiking trails with her husband, two sons, and highly energetic, super sweet yellow lab named “William.”
Dion Small, LVT
Director of Cardiology, Primary Care, Internal Medicine, & Special Care Unit Read BioDion Small, LVT
Director of Cardiology, Primary Care, Internal Medicine, & Special Care UnitDion started his career at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center as a Veterinary Technology Extern in 2002.
Dion holds an Associates Degree in Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health and is a graduate of Mercy University (formerly Mercy College) with a BSc in Veterinary Technology.
After working overnights for about 5 years as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, he transitioned into management by working as an assistant supervisor in Patient Care. He was subsequently promoted to LVT Manager. He is currently LVT/Assistant Director for Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Primary Care Service, Medical-Surgical Unit, and the Clinic.