Technologists

Point of Excellence: State-of-the-heart care.

Our technicians are all graduates of accredited Veterinary Technical Colleges and are members in good standing of the Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists. They are responsible for safe and accurate administration of all chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and they stay in close contact with each owner throughout therapy to make sure they are comfortable and well informed. And yes, they are always there with a gentle touch and a kind word.

Jenn Rees, CVT

Jenn Rees is Western Veterinary Cancer Centre's newest medical oncology technologist. Jenn grew up in Nanaimo, British Columbia and completed 2 years of post secondary education there at Malaspina University College. In 2004, Jenn moved to Olds, Alberta and entered the Animal Health Technology Program at Olds College. She graduated in 2006, and came to Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre to complete her 2 month practicum.

Jenn's positive experience as a student at Western persuaded her to accept a full time position at the hospital. She initially spent two years working as an ICU and Emergency technician, and then became a medical oncology technologist in February, 2008. While Jenn thoroughly enjoys many aspects of her job, she finds the special bonds she makes with WVCC's patients and their owners particularly rewarding.

Beckie MacLean, CVT

Becky is one of Western Veterinary Cancer Centre's two medical oncology technologists. Beckie is originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She worked as a veterinary assistant at a small animal practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia prior to graduating from the 3 year Animal Health Technology program at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro in 2004. After graduation, Beckie moved to Calgary and started work at Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre. She spent her first 2 years at Western working as a surgery technician and anesthetist for oncology surgeon Dr. Dave Szentimrey. The positive experiences she had caring for cats and dogs with cancer on Dr. Szentimrey's service eventually led her to apply for a position as a medical oncology technologist. Beckie has been a medical oncology technologist with the Cancer Centre for Animals since March, 2006 and she is an integral part of our team. She has also been very involved in the Canine and Feline Volunteer Blood Donor Program at WVSEC.

Tracy Weber, CVT

Tracy is Western Veterinary Cancer Centre's radiation oncology technologist. Tracy grew up in a small town in southern Ontario, and in 1999 she and her husband moved to Calgary. In 2001 Tracy was accepted into the Animal Health Technology Program at Olds College in Olds, Alberta. After graduating in 2003, Tracy joined the staff at Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre. She spent her first 3 years at WVSEC as the medical oncology technologist, coordinating and administering chemotherapy treatments first for Dr. Dave Szentimrey, and later for Dr. Neal Mauldin. Tracy then took a year's leave after the birth of her son in August 2006, returning to WVSEC in August 2007 as a part-time Emergency and Critical Care Technician. At that time she also took over coordination of WVSEC's Volunteer Blood Donor Program and became a technologist assistant "Team Leader," providing mentorship and developing training programs to help improve job performance and satisfaction. Although she enjoyed the challenges of these positions, Tracy found that she missed the special relationships she had always shared with her oncology patients and clients, and the other members of the oncology service. So, Tracy has recently returned as a member of WVCC's team in the new role of Radiation Oncology Technologist. Tracy loves working with veterinarians and clients to help find the best treatment options for each patient. The most rewarding aspect of her job is the opportunity it provides her to use state of the art technology to give hope to the families of the dogs and cats she treats.