Meet Melissa: Once a Vet Tech, Now a Hospital Manager
December 16, 2019
Melissa is the hospital manager at Barnstable Animal Hospital.
I was born and raised in Heredia, Costa Rica, and in 2001, my family moved to Yarmouthport, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. When we moved to America, I was 15, and the experience was definitely a culture shock. Dealing with the language barrier was extremely difficult and, because I was the only one in my family who spoke any English, I had to translate for my parents. At that age, it was a huge responsibility that forced me to grow up faster.
Although I was sad after leaving everyone I knew behind, things got easier once I started high school and got used to life down the Cape. Growing up, I loved going to the beach, and it's still one of my favorite pastimes. During the summer, Mayflower Beach in Dennis is my favorite place to be.
Working in the veterinary field has been a dream of mine since I was in third grade. My uncle was a biologist, and while helping him take care of the animals, I realized how much I loved it. After graduating from Cape Cod Community College in 2010, I worked as an animal caretaker at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) on Cape Cod for several years. In 2015, I joined Barnstable Animal Hospital as a veterinary technician and front desk supervisor.
After working at Barnstable for a few years, I was promoted to hospital manager. It was a huge goal of mine, and I plan to work my hardest to continue making my team and our clients happy. To me, working for VetCor means working with family. The company truly cares for their employees. They offer so many resources for betterment, and I feel fortunate to have been able to make the most of my time here.
In addition to my promotion, I’ve also recently fulfilled my lifelong dream of purchasing my own home. Since my home needed a lot of work, the process has been both exciting and challenging, but the renovations have been coming along nicely. So far, it’s been wonderful to watch my 5-year-old daughter grow up in our new place, and we’re happily enjoying the holiday season with Moet, our beloved 11-year-old pit bull. Since our house has cathedral ceilings, we made sure to pick out the biggest Christmas tree we could find this year!
Back in Costa Rica, it's customary to have a big family dinner on Christmas Eve, so my family continues to keep that tradition alive. This year, I get host dinner in my own home, and I’m looking forward to spending that time with the people I love most.
