Instructor Spotlight: Helen DeWitt

MK Education is proud to announce this month’s “Instructor Spotlight,” Helen DeWitt. She is a passionate, dynamic veterinary technician who has been teaching the veterinary assistant training program at the College of Lake County with us for over two years. Helen has received positive feedback from her students, who enjoy her enthusiasm and are grateful for the earnest care she has for the success of each of her students. I was able to get the opportunity to ask Helen some questions about her work and experiences.

So Helen, what made you want to become a veterinary technician?

For as long as I (and family members) can remember, I was attracted to animals. I loved being around them and helping anything that was injured, scared or in need of a home. So, it seemed like a natural progression once I got into school to follow a science curriculum. I originally thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but about the time I was graduating from high school a new veterinary career was starting. That was the study of veterinary technology. Once I found out about this aspect, I never looked back. The technical side of veterinary medicine was what really interested me. I started working at an animal hospital when I was a sophomore in high school on Saturdays and filled in during the week on summer break. I continued working for animal hospitals until I went away to tech school in Colorado. I graduated from Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs Colorado with my degree in veterinary technology in 1979. I have worked for 2 small animal hospitals during that time. In 1993 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree while still working full time. I was attracted to teaching due to my years of experience and desire to share this wonderful profession with others who want to make veterinary medicine a career.

What do you enjoy most about teaching for MK Education?

The freedom to mold and expand the program to make it the most beneficial for the students. And wonderful the support I get from the MK staff.

What do the students enjoy most about taking the class?

They enjoy the learning environment. They enjoy the learning environment. They like being able to see and experience things that they never realized were taking place in a veterinary practice, learning about externships, the hands on work, the challenging material, useful information and working with animals!

Can you tell me any hobbies/fun facts about you? I enjoy bird-watching and bicycling, I especially like to combine the two. There's nothing like going for a long bike ride and just enjoying the day, nature, and all the beautiful birds. Gardening is also a great way to forget about everything while attempting to make my property attractive to wildlife.

Another passion I have is traveling. I love to go on nature based trips and learn about that specific area's enviornment. I spent a week in Denali National Park in Alaska doing different nature based activities each day. I have even traveled to the arctic, just for the weekend, to photgraph polar bears! That was an awesome, once in a lifetime trip!

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