{"id":647,"date":"2026-06-20T00:25:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T00:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/?p=647"},"modified":"2026-06-20T00:25:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T00:25:31","slug":"the-humans-behind-hannah-why-we-chose-veterinary-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/2026\/06\/20\/the-humans-behind-hannah-why-we-chose-veterinary-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"The Humans Behind Hannah: Why We Chose Veterinary Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Behind every appointment, phone call, treatment plan, and tail wag is a Team of people who genuinely care about the well-being of Pets and the families who love them.<\/p>\n

In honor of Veterinary Appreciation Day, we wanted to shine a light on some of the incredible humans who make Hannah what it is. From Member Advocates and Veterinary Assistants to Technicians, Trainers, Doctors, and support staff, each Team Member brings their own unique story, passion, and purpose to the work they do every day.<\/p>\n

While every journey into veterinary medicine is different, they all share one thing in common: a love for helping animals and the people who care for them. Whether it’s comforting a nervous Pet, supporting a worried Pet Parent, or celebrating a healthy milestone, our Team is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the Pets we serve.<\/p>\n

We asked a few Team Members what inspired them to work in veterinary medicine and what they love most about helping Pets and Pet Parents. Here’s what they had to say.<\/p>\n

\"\"Rie Caliendo | Member Advocate<\/h3>\n

For Rie, a love for animals has always been at the heart of her career goals. While she once wondered if the more difficult aspects of veterinary medicine might be too challenging, her experience at Hannah helped her realize she was exactly where she was meant to be.<\/p>\n

“I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. It’s been my passion since I was young. Working at Hannah gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to pursue what I’ve always truly wanted.<\/p>\n

I love meeting our Members and their fur babies, whether they’re sweet or a little spicy! Every day brings something new, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Aldo Mata | Pet Practitioner<\/h3>\n

For Aldo, a fascination with animals began at a young age and eventually grew into a passion for veterinary medicine. As a child, he spent hours watching National Geographic documentaries, visiting the zoo, and dreaming about having all kinds of Pets. While he briefly considered a future in marine biology, he always knew he wanted to work with animals in some capacity.<\/p>\n

What continues to inspire him is the opportunity to help Pets through challenging moments and see them return home to their families. He finds great meaning in combining science and medicine with compassionate care and witnessing the positive impact it has on the health and well-being of his patients.<\/p>\n

“When our patients get to go back home and when they manage to overcome an illness or a complicated condition.”<\/p>\n

“Applying medical knowledge and science while also seeing the results reflected in the health of the patients.”<\/p>\n

\"\"August Lazarz | Nurse Aide II<\/h3>\n

For August, a love for animals has been a lifelong constant. “My love for animals began before I can remember. I was brought home as a newborn to our family dog who lived well into his teens. We always had at least a cat and a dog, and I was very grateful for it.” That connection to animals eventually led to a career dedicated to helping Pets and the people who love them.<\/p>\n

What August enjoys most is witnessing the special bond between Pets and their families and having the opportunity to help strengthen and prolong that connection through excellent care. The most meaningful moments come from supporting Pets through challenging times and being there for them when they need it most.<\/p>\n

August also values the trust that is built with animals through every interaction, a connection that continues to inspire a passion for helping Pets thrive.<\/p>\n

\"\"Emily Kezer | Lead Dog Trainer<\/h3>\n

For Emily, helping Pets and their people has always been about strengthening the bond they share. Hannah’s mission immediately resonated with her, especially after seeing firsthand how often families are forced to surrender beloved Pets due to the rising cost of veterinary care.<\/p>\n

“Hannah’s mission to enable Pet Parents to provide their Pets with the longest, happiest lives possible was something I really wanted to be a part of. Being a Pet Parent is an incredible honor, but it shouldn’t be a luxury.”<\/p>\n

One of Emily’s favorite parts of her work is helping Members better understand how their Pets think and learn through positive reinforcement. She finds it especially rewarding to watch insecure, fearful, and reactive dogs gain confidence and independence over time.<\/p>\n

“I love helping Members understand how their Pets think and learn, and being part of deepening their bond. Watching their confidence and independence grow is incredibly rewarding.”<\/p>\n

\"\" Sarah Hulse | Enrollment Specialist<\/h3>\n

For Sarah, helping Pets and the people who love them has always been at the heart of what she does. She joined Hannah Pet Hospital in 2014 and was drawn to the mission of helping Pets receive the care they need without Pet Parents having to constantly worry about the cost.<\/p>\n

One of Sarah’s favorite parts of her role is connecting with Members, answering questions, and helping families better understand the care available to their Pets. She especially enjoys hearing Pet Parents share stories about their beloved companions and helping them feel supported and confident in their Pet’s care.<\/p>\n

Her love for animals began early in life and was inspired in part by reading the veterinary stories of James Herriot. What she loves most about working with Pets is how genuine they are and the joy they bring to the families who love them.<\/p>\n

\u2726 \u2726 \u2726<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, veterinary medicine is about more than exams, treatments, and procedures. It’s about the relationships we build, the trust we earn, and the moments we share with Pets and the people who love them.<\/p>\n

We’re incredibly grateful for the dedicated Team Members who bring their knowledge, compassion, and heart to Hannah each day. Thank you for the countless ways you support Pets, Pet Parents, and one another.<\/p>\n

Happy Veterinary Appreciation Day from all of us at Hannah Pet Hospital.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Behind every appointment, phone call, treatment plan, and tail wag is a Team of people who genuinely care about the well-being of Pets and the families who love\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":650,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[139,141,25,140,138,135,136,137],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meet-the-team","tag-behind-the-scenes","tag-careers","tag-hannah-team-members","tag-team-culture","tag-team-spotlight","tag-veterinary-appreciation-day","tag-veterinary-medicine","tag-veterinary-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":676,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions\/676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hannahpethospital.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}