Grad Student Brings Vet Tech Expertise To Lone Star College

June 20, 2011
SHSU Media Contact: Meredith Mohr

Brod and Lone Star College veterinary technology students change the bandage on a bovine calf's head in a demonstration of wound care at the LSC-Tomball campus. —Submitted photos

With her veterinary roots beginning in high school when she raised lambs for FFA, Sam Houston State University biology graduate student Joyce Brod had a vested interest in the field of veterinary medicine long before she joined the staff at Lone Star College.

Brod, a 20-year Lone Star College faculty member and a registered vet technician, was named director of Lone Star College’s Veterinary Technology program earlier this year. She is the first RVT chosen to lead such a program in Texas.

“Joyce is a pleasurable and intelligent student. More than that, she is intuitive and self-starting,” Jack Turner, said, director of Sam Houston State University’s Office of Medical and Allied Health Programs and Brod’s thesis director. “It is good to see her talents being recognized by Lone Star College. She is an inspiration to her students and her success brings great honor to Lone Star and the veterinary technology program there.”

After attending Sul Ross State University, Brod earned a two-year vet tech associate’s degree and continued on to a bachelor’s degree. During her studies, Brod was an intern for the same veterinarian that had treated one of her lambs in high school.

“My interest in veterinary medicine became real when one of my lambs developed a disease called enterotoxemia,” Brod said. “My agriculture teacher, Mr. Sheram, and I took him to a veterinary hospital that worked with the FFA clubs in an emergency late one night. I was amazed at what the veterinarian was doing to treat my lamb with an IV, catheter, fluids and medication. The image of the veterinarian doing everything he could to save the lamb stayed with me.”

While working at that veterinary office, Brod said she developed an interest in avian medicine, cytology and dentistry, skills that she still uses today in her teaching.

“An RVT is similar to a human nurse, performing similar tasks, but on a variety of animal species,” Brod said. “Employment opportunities for RTVs include veterinary clinics and hospitals, research facilities, zoos, government agencies, pharmaceutical industries, and teaching.”

When her family moved to Harris County in 1989, Brod applied to become a staff member at Lone Star College – Tomball in their new veterinary technology program. She was selected by George W. Younger to become the RVT for the program and since has been promoted to the faculty and now director.

Brod’s responsibilities as director include supervising a major expansion of the veterinary tech program through the construction of a 20,000-square-foot small animal and exotics facility to complement the college’s current large animal facility. This facility will have a 120-seat teaching theater, housing areas for avian, reptiles and small mammals as well as a feline ward and indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs.

“The completion of this modern state-of-the-art facility will allow us to increase the number of students accepted to the program each year,” Brod said.

Currently, Brod is completing her master’s degree in SHSU’s department of biological sciences. She began her graduate work in 2008 and hopes to graduate in December 2011.

After graduation, she will continue her present position. Her biology degree will enhance the courses she teaches now as well as allow her to teach biology if the need arises, she said.

“Coming back into the classroom as a student was a little intimidating at first but the other students were very welcoming and accepting,” Brod said.

More than that, Brod said she counts the faculty at Lone Star and SHSU as some of her greatest supporters in not only her journey as a student, but also her journey to becoming the director of the vet tech program.

“The biology department professors are challenging and provide a great learning environment, “ Brod said. “My thesis director, Dr. Jack Turner, in concert with thesis committee members Drs. Tamara Cook and Diana Neudorf, has been very supportive and always willing to listen and provide research advice. The flexibility, encouragement and support from everyone at LSC-Tomball and Sam Houston have been instrumental in my success.”

SHSU’s Medical and Allied Health programs prepare students through the prerequisites guide for future studies in medical, dental, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, podiatry and veterinary fields.

For more information, call 936.294.2300.

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