In veterinary medicine, leadership comes in many forms, from veterinary technicians advancing clinical excellence to practice managers shaping team culture and educators of all kinds inspiring and growing the next generation of leaders. 

This week, we’re spotlighting veterinary team leaders who are driving progress in patient care, staff training, hospital operations, and so much more. Some lead from the treatment floor, some from the front office, and many from classrooms and conference halls, but they all provide crucial leadership that elevates patient outcomes, enhances team morale and cohesion, and empowers team members to excel in their roles. They are a crucial component of effective team-based medicine.

Many of these exceptional veterinary team leaders often fly under the radar, so we wanted to highlight a few who are pushing boundaries within their own teams and in the veterinary community.

1. Feliza Lopez, LVT, VTS (ECC)

Feliza has a decade of experience as a licensed veterinary technician (LVT), including extensive work in level-one trauma specialty hospitals. Most recently, she served as the medical education manager at Bond Vet. 

At the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), she served as team leader of emergency/critical care (ECC), working in all aspects of the critical care department, including triage assessment, patient oversight, and staff training. Now, she is AMC’s director of ECC! 

She is a board member of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association and lectures all over the country, educating veterinary team members on ECC topics.

2. Camia Tonge, MS, LVT, VTS (SAIM)

Camia is a veterinary technician specialist (VTS) and clinical educator with over 17 years of experience in the veterinary industry. 

She has been a pivotal member of the Animal Medical Center team since 2011, where she started as an LVT in the internal medicine service. Since 2018, she’s been the clinical educator responsible for training medical staff across hospital services.

Now, she’s the director of a ton of services, including dentistry, exotics, and interventional radiology… and that’s still not the full list!

Along with confidently managing her duties at AMC, 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.

3. Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, LVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC)

Everyone’s favorite good troublemaker, Liz practices as a relief veterinary technician, trainer, and consultant. After becoming a certified veterinary technician (CVT), Liz went on to earn her VTS in both Small Animal Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care. (Yes, that’s right—she has two specialist certifications!) 

Liz is president of the National Veterinary Professionals Union, cofounder of the Veterinary Cannabinoid Academy, an administrator of Not One More Vet Support Staff, credentialing committee co-chair of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians, and a member of the California Veterinary Medical Association’s registered veterinary technician (RVT) committee representing District IX.

4. Noah Monroe Meyers, LVT

Noah serves as the clinical skills instructor for the veterinary technician program at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Virginia. With a background in wildlife rehabilitation (starting at age 14!), Noah now applies his passion for medical care to teaching the next generation of veterinary technicians. 

He recently gained recognition for his innovative use of cutting-edge immersive simulation technology. His approach really pushes the boundaries of traditional training methods and allows students to practice and build confidence without risk to actual patients. That's some Blade Runner-type stuff, and we are here for it!

5. Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT

The current fearless leader and president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), Beckie not only expertly juggles life in vet med, but she’s also obtaining her Master’s in Public Administration and is the powerhouse behind the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree.

When she’s not running the show at NAVTA, she’s sharing her knowledge as a sought-after lecturer and cohost of the long-running podcast, The Veterinary Viewfinder, dropping wisdom on everything from veterinary tech skills to navigating “people stuff” in and out of the clinic! 

This vet tech is on a mission to elevate the profession, advocate for change, and ensure both patients and their teams get the care and respect they deserve. No stranger to challenge, she’s redefining what it means to be a leader in veterinary medicine.

6. Theresa Cosper-Roberts, RVT, CVPM, ACVE(DE)

Theresa boasts a multifaceted background as a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM), Academy Certified Veterinary Educator (ACVE), and RVT! 

Passionate about advancing the veterinary profession, Theresa has dedicated her career to enhancing veterinary technician education and elevating the standards of veterinary practice management. 

As a senior consultant for National Veterinary Solutions, Theresa plays a pivotal role in guiding veterinary practices nationwide toward operational excellence and strategic growth. 

7. Ron Sosa, CVPM, CCFP, PgD Coaching

Ron is dedicated to building a more connected, inclusive, and resilient veterinary profession. A former practice owner and multisite business director, he now leads the Uncharted Veterinary Conference as executive director, fostering innovation, leadership growth, and collaboration across the industry. 

Neurodiversity is central to Ron’s leadership philosophy. As an advocate for neuroinclusive leadership, he draws from and shares his own experience to help veterinary professionals create workplaces where diverse thinking styles are valued, and all voices feel heard. Ron also runs his own consulting/coaching business, Syn-APT Neuroinclusive Leadership & Coaching. 

He is passionate about creating welcoming work environments where everyone can communicate openly and feel like they belong.

8. Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP

As a veterinary technician working with rescue organizations and in general practice, Tabitha became interested in animal behavior and training when she found she was seeing frequent cases of euthanasia and rehoming due to behavior issues, misinterpretation of animal body language, and the suffering that animals and humans endure when they’re misunderstood. 

She dedicated herself to learning root causes and permanent solutions to feline and canine behavior concerns through continuing education, workshops, and consultation with experts, completing her Low-Stress Handling and Elite Fear Free Certifications, obtaining her KPA-CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy, and becoming a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). 

She is now one of only 30 veterinary technician specialists in Behavior worldwide. Find out more about her work on her website, Chirrups and Chatter.

9. Melody Martinez, CVT

Melody is the executive director and immediate past president of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association and the daughter of Afro-Caribbean working-class immigrants from the Dominican Republic. 

Melody has worked in small animal general practice, emergency and critical care, and as a senior animal caregiver at Farm Sanctuary in New York. She volunteers much of her time with organizations aiming to increase access to care for people and animals experiencing poverty and homelessness. 

Melody currently works as a racial equity and organizational change management consultant at Acorde Consulting.

10. Jessica Joosse, RVN, VTS (Nutrition)

Driven by a deep passion for pet nutrition, Jessica has invested heavily in continuing education to expand her expertise. In 2020, she launched NutritionRVN.com and her social media platforms to help pet owners make informed choices about their pets' diets—especially in today’s fast-changing and often controversial online space.

In 2023, she reached an incredible milestone, becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Nutrition—one of only 28 vet techs/nurses worldwide (and the fourth in Australia!) to earn this title through board certification with the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (recognized by NAVTA).

Now, Jessica is all about sharing her knowledge. She teaches fellow veterinary professionals at major conferences, creates continuing education content both online and in-person, and collaborates with pet food companies to help bring accurate, evidence-based nutrition advice to pet owners.

There are certainly so many more names we could include in this list. Our industry is full of talented veterinary team leaders who make a measurable impact every day—not just in their practices but across the industry as a whole. 

Stay tuned for follow-up posts featuring more of the incredible people who make this industry so special. Plus, be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook to let us know who you think should be included in our next list!

About the Author

Tasha McNerney is a certified veterinary technician from Philadelphia, PA.

She is also a certified veterinary pain practitioner and became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha is an award-winning presenter on anesthesia and pain management topics and travels internationally to consult with veterinary hospitals on best anesthesia practices. She has authored numerous articles and textbooks on anesthesia and analgesia for both veterinary professionals and pet parents. 

In her spare time, Tasha enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and son, and recording the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast. 

About Instinct Science

We’re a team of veterinary professionals and technology experts on a mission to make life easier for the exceptional people caring for animals around the world. From medical-first practice management tools to clinical resources like Standards of Care, Plumb’s, and Clinician's Brief, we’re here to support you with everything you need to deliver exceptional care with less stress and more confidence.