AEF's Amazing Volunteers

Learn more about our Volunteer Committee Members!

 

Deborah Bascombe, B.Sc., L.V.T., C.V.T.
AEF Committee for Public Education

Deborah Bascombe spent her early childhood learning about animals and farmland at her family home on the island of Jamaica. These years as her grandmother's farmhand grew her interest in taking care of animals. Deborah graduated from Andrews University in 2011 with a BSc in Animal Science/Agriculture and she later earned her AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2017. 

As a Licensed Veterinary Technician, Deb loves working in specialty veterinary medicine. She has special interests in oncology and clinical studies. Deb previously worked at the Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, CT where she coordinated many oncology clinical trials that developed new therapies and protocols. Deb is currently in her application year for her veterinary technician specialty certification (VTS) in Medical Oncology and hopes to support her community and veterinary teams as they continue to navigate new opportunities to keep patients (and their parents) happy and healthy. Additionally, she is working towards her certification as a Clinical Research Coordinator.

Deborah is currently a co-chair of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and hopes to broaden inclusivity for all in veterinary medicine. Additionally she is a member-at-large on the Executive Committee for the Veterinary Cancer Society and contributes to veterinary oncology nursing and educating the referral community.

At home, Deb has a teenage daughter, Daylin, 2 dogs, and 1 cat. She enjoys indulging in creating art and she loves watching movies with her family.

 


Rochellie Cortés-Martínez, L.V.Tg., M.B.A.
AEF Committee for Public Education

Rochellie Cortés-Martínez is a dedicated Licensed Veterinary Technologist with over a decade of experience in veterinary clinics and educational settings. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she earned her bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing. Currently an Instructor at the University of Puerto Rico, Rochellie actively contributes to the CVTEA Accredited Veterinary Technology Program in Arecibo. For over half a decade, she worked as a dedicated Veterinary Technology Program Director at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Universidad Ana G. Méndez where she was recognized for her leadership and commitment to the field.

Beyond her academic roles, Rochellie serves as a liaison for the veterinary profession in Puerto Rico within the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), working towards advancing the profession in the Caribbean. Her exceptional contributions were recognized in 2022 when she received the title of NAVTA's Veterinary Technician of the Year. Rochellie continues to share her expertise both locally and nationally, serving as an advisory board member for the ViequesHumane Society and Animal Rescue.  Additionally, she is a member of the CVTEA and of the NAVTA DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Committee, where she continues to contribute to the betterment of our profession while actively promoting diversity and inclusion within the veterinary community.

 


Ann Jorgensen B.Sc., M.S.
AEF Committee for Strategic Initiatives

Ann Jorgensen has a diverse background in animal welfare, in addition to her post secondary education with emphasis in Animal Behavior, Neuroscience, Education and Statistics.  Ann's doctoral studies examined the behavioral changes caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite on the common mouse, demonstrating the first instance of a parasite changing mammalian behavior.  Ann has a specific interest in strategic planning pulling from her diverse experience in animal welfare and business management.  Including municipal strategic planning, policy and ordinance writing as the former Director of Animal Care and Regulation for Mat-Su Borough, Manager and Dog Control Officer of Marion County, and Behaviorist for Olympic Peninsula Humane Society.  Ann currently runs her own business, The Good Pup, focused on shelter consulting and education, as well as behavior consultations for small animals.  Ann is a dedicated volunteer and works with many organizations in different facets, but one of her favorites is as a behavioral foster for Seattle Golden Retriever Rescue and now Animal Emergency Fund. 



Tricia Gorham, M.A.T., C.V.T.
AEF Committee for Volunteer Education

Graduating from St. Petersburg Junior College in 1991 with an AS degree in Veterinary Technology, I began work in a small animal veterinary clinic locally where I became the technician manager for the hospital. I began teaching for St. Petersburg College in 1996 as an adjunct instructor while continuing my work in the veterinary hospital. Shortly after beginning as an adjunct, I decided to further my education and received my Bachelor's degree in 2005 from University of Central Florida in Vocational Education. After taking on a full-time role with the college, I furthered my education once again and received my Master’s degree in Teaching with an Instructional Technology specialty from National University. Currently I serve as the Program Director for the College of Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College where I am responsible for the AS degree program, both face-to-face and online. 

I am active in several committees to further the role of the Veterinary Technician nationally including The Florida Veterinary Technician Association as Legislative Action Committee Chair, NAVTA as District Representative, the CVTEA as a Committee Member, and AAVSB’s VTNE committee.  I am currently President-Elect for the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators.  I currently maintain a clinical relationship weekly to maintain my skills and to remain current in my field.



Lidia Hernandez, R.V.T., L.V.T.
AEF Committee for Education

Lidia Hernandez is a Licensed Veterinary Technician at the first VCA Urgent Care in Austin, Texas. She has taken part in the veterinary world for over 8 years and initially started volunteering with farm animals at Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue. She knew she wanted to work with animals from a young age and obtained her Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology at Pierce College in Los Angeles, CA. Having had such an exceptional professor (Shout out to Elizabeth White, R.V.T.!) she continued her journey at a local small animal General Practice for 3 years. After gaining some experience as an R.V.T. it was time for a change of scenery. She moved to her current location in Austin, Texas in 2019. She created life-long connections through her emergency medicine journey at Central Texas Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital and Emergency Animal Hospital of Crystal Falls. She continues to show her associates that you must be committed to life-long learning in this field. Her interests include preventative medicine, emergency medicine, and she enjoys mentoring Veterinary Assistants and future Veterinary Technicians. She loves to come home to her cats, new puppy, and fiancé.




Amanda Hackerott, A.A.S.(V.T.), B.Sc., R.V.T.
AEF Committee for Education

Amanda Hackerott is a Registered Veterinary Technician from Kansas. She attended Carrington College California in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated with her AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2011. She completed her BAS in Workforce Education and Applied Learning from Wichita State University in 2020 and is currently working to complete a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Pittsburg State University.

Her clinical background is primarily in veterinary emergency medicine, but she enjoyed a couple of years working in shelter medicine before becoming a vet tech educator. As Director of Veterinary Nursing at WSU Tech in Wichita, Kansas she created the veterinary nursing program in 2016 and the veterinary assisting high school courses in 2020. 

She loves to volunteer and spent time working with pets of the homeless population through VET SOS in San Francisco. She is an active volunteer with the Kansas Humane Society and attends multiple vaccine and microchip clinics locally. Amanda and her daughter volunteer at the shelter as well providing enrichment for the animals housed there. She has volunteered internationally as well with World Vets in Central America and Peru and looks forward to an upcoming trip with Aprovet in Nicaragua.

She enjoys working on the editorial committee for the journal of the Association of Veterinary Technology Educators and presenting at conferences nationwide. Amanda is a passionate advocate for veterinary education and believes that learning opportunities should be available for anyone, anywhere.



Amber Bean, B.Sc., F.F.C.P.
AEF Committee for Volunteer Initiatives

Amber Bean embarked on a journey in the Veterinary Field following her graduation from Rowan University in 2010. With a clear passion for working with animals, she took her first steps by immersing herself in the industry. Starting as a Veterinary Assistant at Banfield after gaining valuable experience through shadowing at a local Veterinary Hospital, Amber Bean honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of the profession.

Over eight years in private practice, Amber Bean seized the opportunity to explore various roles within the clinic. From her initial position as a Veterinary Assistant, she gradually took on diverse responsibilities, including Marketing Coordinator and Technical Director roles. This multifaceted experience allowed her to broaden her horizons and contribute significantly to the clinic's success.

In a pivotal moment, Amber transitioned to a leadership role as a Practice Manager with Heart and Paw, where she continued to make a positive impact on both the team and the overall functioning of the practice. Her dedication and hard work were recognized, leading to a new opportunity with GeniusVets, where Amber now serves as a Client Success Coach, utilizing her expertise in marketing to benefit veterinary professionals.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Amber's heart belongs to two wonderful canine companions. Cashew, a senior Pitbull Mix, and Yoshi, a lively and assertive Yorkie mix, bring joy and companionship to her life. As Amber continues to evolve in her career, her love for animals remains at the core of her professional journey.



Karen Wasilewski, B.Sc.
AEF Committee for the Pets of the Homeless Program

My name is Karen. I have been a Veterinary Technician for over 20 years. I graduated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. I have a B.S. in Veterinary Medical Sciences and a minor in Business. I live with my 3 dogs and 5 cats. I do a little bit of rescue here and there. I am currently working at a Veterinary Clinic as a Surgical Veterinary Technician, for VetTriage, and now will be volunteering with Animal Emergency Fund!



Erin Stangor, B.A., R.V.T.
AEF Committee for Strategic Initiatives

Erin is a Registered Veterinary Technician from California. She went to the University of Redlands and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ethical Philosophy, where she used her love of animals to develop skills in debating and writing about animal rights. From there, she went on to Mt. San Antonio College to get her A.S. in Veterinary Technology.

Erin has worked in Veterinary Medicine since 2014 and is Fear Free Certified. She currently works in a multi-specialty hospital where she divides her time between working in dentistry, training staff on technical skills, and collecting data for clinical research trials.

Outside of work, Erin has two dogs: an 11 year-old Golden Retriever named Cayenne, and a 7 year-old Flat Coat Retriever named Karma. Last year, the 3 of them went on a 40-mile backpacking trip together! Erin also enjoys cake-decorating and woodworking in her free time, and embraces activities that present her with new challenges and allow her to exercise her mind.



Mel Lueck, C.V.T., Private Practice Owner
AEF Committee for Hospital & Veterinary Partnerships

I am currently a licensed C.V.T. in the state of Oregon, where I have been working in General Practice in small animal and large animal, with my strengths in equine medicine for 20 years.

I'm originally from Utah, I started on my career path in Veterinary Medicine while still in high school. 

I worked for a small animal clinic in Salt Lake City and later moved to Emergency and Critical Care in Draper. While going to the University of Utah I was asked to help start up the first All Pet Complex as the Lead Veterinary Technician in the second clinic that Dr. Martin Becker (Fear Free Founder) opened in Utah.  That soon launched other opportunities in Veterinary Medicine. I moved to the Pacific Northwest, where I worked for the distribution company MWI for a short while before beginning my next journey managing a new practice for an upcoming clinic in Puyallup, WA.

My husband (Barry Lueck, D.V.M.) and I moved to Oregon where we opened our own practice in Aloha and have never looked back. We serve the community of Aloha and surrounding areas in small animal medicine.

I continue to work in practice as well as running my own equine training facility where I teach lessons and train horses for clients.

I previously served on the O.V.T.T.A. Board of Directors, and at present am on the N.W.F.T.C. Board and am the Region 10 Delegate.

My passion is Gun Dogs and the canine athlete. I breed and compete with my Elhew Pointers throughout the season and enjoy upland hunting with my husband.