A licensed veterinary technician since 2012, Forrest Brandenburg joined
Pet Specialists of Austin (PSA), a Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner, in 2018 as a member of the oncology team.
Within a month, Forrest was promoted to Lead Technician for oncology, guiding the team with his thoughtful leadership style, attention to detail, and appetite for teaching and learning.
Forrest is quick to emphasize the need for robust training for the safety of the pet, the client, and the veterinary team.
“In oncology, one missed decimal can mean death – and I don’t say that to incite fear, but so that there’s a healthy respect of the chemicals and agents we’re working with.”
He also works tirelessly to ensure his team, the majority of whom were new to oncology when they came on board, has the proper knowledge and training to succeed.
“Starting from the ground up, I knew that I was cultivating a brand-new garden from the seeds. And to do that, I had to really nurture the soil and get it fertilized.”
That included developing SOPs for every role, taking the time to solidify training for team members by asking them to walk him through their process or approach to a given issue, finding ways to make learning fun, and getting creative to accommodate everyone’s different abilities and learning styles.
“Laurie Rodriguez, the most amazing animal care attendant I’ve ever worked with, joined us in 2021. She only speaks American Sign Language (ASL), so we had to really collaborate as a team to find out what fits for us – which in many ways has made us a more solid team overall.”
They implemented a number of different techniques to start, including using a writing tablet, a video relay interpreter, and in-person interpreters. When Laurie expressed that she preferred to use ASL, they set to work training and educating the team.
First, Laurie created a reference sheet with the corresponding ASL sign for each letter in the alphabet, which team members printed and kept at their desks. She also gave each team member their own special sign name and took the time to explain the do’s and don’ts of deaf culture, so that everyone felt comfortable.
At the end of the day, much of the team’s communication happens through their own version of signs and gestures – just one of the many ways the PSA oncology team has worked together to create an environment of collaboration, learning, and reciprocity.
“I’m a big believer in learning by seeing and doing — and also learning by having others teach,” shares Forrest.
We can’t wait to see what this incredible team achieves as they continue learning and growing together!
