Meet Our Amazing Veterinary Technicians
By: Cody Mattox
National Veterinary Technician Week 2024
“Credentialed Veterinary Technicians Change Lives,” is the theme for 2024’s National Veterinary Technician Week. First celebrated in 1993, the third week of October is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the incredible work of the Veterinary Technicians all over the country.
Veterinary Technicians are integral players on the veterinary healthcare team. They are on the front lines, compassionately working day-to-day in preserving animal health and welfare. They work tirelessly in exam rooms, labs, and operating rooms, using their vast technical and scientific knowledge to treat and care for every animal species. And they do it all with love and a smile on their faces.
Very few zoogoers have had the opportunity to meet our amazing team of veterinary technicians, so we would love to introduce you to these vital members of our veterinary team, who go above and beyond here at the Indianapolis Zoo’s Polly Horton Hix Animal Care Complex.
Meet Our Amazing Veterinary Technicians
Jeff joined the Indianapolis Zoo’s veterinary team in March 2020. Jeff has a B.S. in Biology from Ball State University. He later received his Associate of Applied Science degree from the Wayne County Community College District Veterinary Technology Program in Detroit, Michigan. Jeff worked as a veterinary technician at the Georgia Aquarium for 7 years prior to taking his current position at the Indianapolis Zoo. Jeff also has experience in small animal general practice as well as small animal specialty practice (neurology & surgery). While in school, Jeff trained at the Detroit Zoo and was a research assistant for 3 departments at Wayne State University. He also worked for 3 years as a marine mammal trainer at the Indianapolis Zoo prior to pursuing his career as a veterinary technician.
Jeff lives in Avon with his wife, Rachel, and 2 children, Logan and Claire. They have 2 dogs, Gracie and Eevee, and 2 guinea pigs, Leia and Rey. Jeff enjoys boating, fishing, and hiking in his free time. Jeff was excited to return to the Indianapolis Zoo, although starting a new job at the beginning of a pandemic was quite the challenge. He loves Marvel and his favorite animals are the walruses.
Bridget joined the Indianapolis Zoo’s veterinary team in November 2022. Bridget has a B.S. in Animal Behavior with minors in Biology and Psychology from Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She then received an Associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology from Joliet Junior College in Illinois. She previously worked at the Purdue University Large Animal Teaching Hospital as a surgery technician. While in school, she worked at a small animal veterinary hospital and trained at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas & the Cape Wildlife Center in Massachusetts. She is always on top of keeping everything around the hospital clean and organized and preps for some of our most intense procedures. She has worked really hard on laser training and blood draws with our kudu and her success is a huge achievement.
Bridget enjoys hiking and running with husband, Ben, and her dog, Beaumont. She also has 3 ball pythons (Manuka, Malibu, & Tillamook). Bridget enjoys playing the piano and drawing in her free time. Working in the zoo field has been a lifetime goal, & Bridget is very happy to be at the Indianapolis Zoo. Her favorite animals are the cheetahs.
Kori joined the Indianapolis Zoo’s veterinary team in June 2023. Kori received her B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Psychology from Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she had both an academic and athletic scholarship. She then received an Associate of Veterinary Technology degree from Owensboro Community and Technical College in Kentucky. She previously worked as an equine anesthesia and surgery technician at the Kentucky Equine Hospital in Simpsonville, Kentucky. While in school, she trained at the Mesker Park and Botanic Garden Zoo in Evansville, IN, where she continued to volunteer post-graduation. Kori also has experience in small animal emergency medicine. She has worked really hard to modernize our surgical procedures and make everything more efficient. She has perfected arterial catheter placements and using the ventilation equipment to give our patients the best treatment under anesthesia.
Kori likes to spend her free time with her 2 dogs, Wally and Frank, and her 3-legged cat, Arizona. She was excited to join the Indianapolis Zoo’s veterinary team. Her favorite animal is the best panda in the whole world – Nyima our female red panda.
The love our technicians have for their patients is unparalleled and we couldn’t be more grateful. In such an emotionally and physically demanding field, it can be difficult to find genuine people who truly care for and enjoy their jobs.