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Partnership with local Vet Practice yields Positive Results

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recently partnered with Johnstown Veterinary Associates to offer local students the ability to train and become veterinary assistants.

Penn Highlands’ Veterinary Assistant program began this past February with over ten students enrolled in the program. These students got the experience they needed through both 50 hours of intensive, classroom training and four-week clinical rotations at Johnstown Veterinary Associates.

Under the supervision of Dr. Fayez Assad and other veterinary technicians, students were evaluated based on competencies in surgery, lab, kennel, and client service. “These clinical rotations offered students the opportunity to apply what they studied in the classroom and provided them with the first steps in becoming veterinary assistants. Last year, we were able to provide a job opportunity to one of the students. This job doesn’t only depend on ability, but the desire to learn and absorb all of the skills needed to be successful,” stated Dr. Assad of Johnstown Veterinary Associates.

For information on this partnership and the Veterinary Assistant program, please contact Penn Highlands Community College Continuing Education at 814.262.3815 or continuinged@pennhighlands.edu.

Photo includes Dr. Assad (right) working with a veterinary assistant student (left) during a clinical session. Photo taken by Sean McCool, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.