MEET OUR TEAM
Teamers
We call them team members, or teamers – that is, the folks that work at Countryside. Because we are a one doc shop (single doctor practice), and because our hours of operation are long, our teamers do a lot of work. They also wear a number of different hats. That is, they are cross trained to handle a number of different jobs.
Working in a veterinary hospital is not the easiest job in the world, and very few ever get rich doing it. Therefore veterinary hospital work usually has a number of different job requirements. This work typically requires the following - quite a lot of time, a bunch of effort, more than its share of down and dirty work, often weird/atypical work hours, a whole lot of patience, a genuine affection for animals, a willing to learn, a ‘can do’ attitude’, and the desire and ability to work with people (often & especially during times of stress). Lots of people start a veterinary hospital job, only to leave it a short or medium time thereafter, as they learn firsthand of the scope and demand of this work. The work is too hard. Few stay on. But the few who do stay on tend to be special people.
Animal & Veterinary Work
So often people say they want to work in a veterinary hospital. They say they “love animals”, and they would “love” to work in a veterinary hospital. Well, truth is, while such thoughts are noble and altruistic, they are not even close to reality. Real truth is that these are jobs are tough, and they are not great payers. People often assume that veterinary care works are compensated somewhere near the level of human health care workers. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Sooo - point is - the folks that work these jobs are special. They give of themselves in many ways you don’t even know about. And believe it or not, a most difficult part is working with people. Those of you out there who work with lots of people, especially in sometimes difficult & stressful situations, know that such work can be stressful and taxing.
Our folks work hard on a daily basis. They don’t complain. We are thankful to have them, and we appreciate them a whole, whole lot. We could not be without them.
Proud of Our Team
We are proud of our team. Were you to have walked a mile in each of their shoes, your eyes would be dilated like saucers, as you realized the complexity and demands of their work. A number of them have been with us for quite awhile. We think they are special.
Take a peak below.
DR. WAYNE - Veterinarian
Dr. Wayne is our veterinarian – our only one. He has been with us since the doors first opened in August of 1980. Only his hair color and waistline have changed. Check him out at Meet Dr. Wayne
WENDY - Bookkeeper, Receptionist, & Gopher
As the wife of Dr. Wayne, she has been in this from the beginning (August of 1980).
Thirty years ago when we first opened, we had only 2 employees – Wendy & Dr. Wayne. At that time, she simply did it all. There was no one else. She kids about it now, but she has no desire to return to those days.
Many of you may never have seen her. That is because, depending on where Countryside is in its history (or depending on whether or not we are short staffed), she may or may not be working as a receptionist in the front office. If she is not in the front office, then she is in the management office doing the bookkeeping.
When she is not in either one of these 2 offices, then she could be almost anywhere – in the hospital or out. This would be the time that she is wearing her ‘gopher’ hat. That is, she is ‘go-fer-ing’ – going for something (get it? - go for this, go for that). She just fills in when & where needed. Her car is always going somewhere to get something for the practice.
When she is not doing the above, she is also our substitute technician, purchasing agent, administrator, hospital manager, confessor, occasional hatchet person, errand girl, & maintenance supervisor.
Wendy enjoys life. Particularly she enjoys the gym, her 2 whippets, her Keurig coffee machine, and her new waist-high dog bathtub in basement for quick washes of dirty whippets. She enjoys volunteer work when time allows, and she likes helping people. She is gentle and kind.
TRACEY - Senior Receptionist
Tracey is our senior & ‘go to’ receptionist.
A receptionist in our place does all sorts of things. She answers the phone, assists the doctor, helps with animals, spends much time on the telephone with clients, and spends much time with clients in the front office. Her most important job is to talk to, discuss, explain, and help our clients on anything and everything. There are no silly questions at our place. All questions require a thoughtful & helpful answer.
She also cleans, walks animals, does tons of paperwork, opens the place in the morning, closes it up at night, does floors, fills out medical records, and much more. A receptionist at our place is never bored. Need a job?
