Spotlight: Stephanie Patterson, LVT

Today we are so excited to share the story of Stephanie Patterson, LVT, owner & founder of Surgipet, for Veterinary Practice Managers Week [woohoo emoji] GVTAA Board member Sophie had the pleasure of chatting with Stephanie at Surgipet to hear how an art major whose childhood aspiration was to become a vet, started as a kennel assistant and went on a 30+ year journey through the industry to open a non-profit veterinary clinic that offers affordable high-quality pet dentistry & non-routine surgery.

Stephanie pursued her passion for animals from private practice, both in rural communities and around the city of Atlanta, to animal welfare working for Project CatSnip and back again. But, like so many in our industry, she faced burnout. Feeling lost, out of touch with her passion for the field, overworked, and underappreciated - she made the hard decision. She quit. Leaving a job, a hospital, a team that had become a family - it’s devastating. When you commit so much of yourself, pour so much of your efforts, and dedicate so much of your time to seeing a team succeed it is truly heartbreaking to walk away. 

When asked what her advice would be for fellow veterinary technicians, she said “Find the part of your work that you love the most, focus on it, and if your job doesn’t provide it - leave.” Little did she know that walking away, closing that door, would then open so many possibilities. An old friend from Project Catsnip reached out and encouraged Stephanie to not give up on vet med. In a way that only old friends can, Stephanie found herself pushed back up on her feet. 

So what now? She took the time to re-focus and reflect on what was important. Serve the community, do the right thing, and do it well. What did the community need? Low cost vaccines, spays, and neuters were covered. But what about the other surgeries? Pyometras, stomatitis, amputations, mass removals, cystotomies, mastectomies, perineal urethrostomy, enucleation, etc. How many families had to make the impossible decision to spare their pet from pain, to say goodbye to their furry family member that was suffering, simply because the cost of surgery was so often astronomical? Time to do the right thing. The Patterson Foundation bloomed, and Surgipet began in Buford GA.

“We do not cut corners. We do everything right, and above that. We meet and exceed the gold standard” Stephanie shared, and the statement was evident throughout the facility - from the equipment, the team, and the animals post surgery resting peacefully thanks to multimodal pain management. Clients come from far & wide seeking Surgipet’s services and hundreds of pets are happy & healthy that may not have seen today otherwise.  

And it all started, with a major in art. 

“If you start in one place and end in another, that’s ok. It’s a journey” - Stephanie Patterson, LVT.

“Our mission at SurgiPet is to provide low-cost services that will aid in the prevention of pet suffering and economic euthanasia.  We believe that the human-animal bond should be preserved for all families including those experiencing economic hardship or limited income.  Because our services are limited, our costs for operation are limited allowing us to keep our prices affordable.  Our goal is to improve the health and longevity of pets that would otherwise go untreated.”