Vet Tech Associate First in Ohio to Get Dental Specialty

Kelly Vearil (right) works with a patient (photo courtesy of UCBA Vet Tech)

Kelly Vearil, a Senior Lab Associate in the UCBA Veterinary Technology Deparment, became the first person in Ohio to earn a Veterinary Technology Specialty (VTS) in dentistry.  

Vearil is one of only a few Vet Tech professionals who were eligible to partake in a national board exam this year.  Usually only about three or four participants pass the exam. 

To qualify for the eight hour exam, one has to go through a two-year mentorship with a specialist in the field, followed by 40 more hours of continuing education, and then go over a "credentials packet," which requires five case studies and 50 case logs and radiographs. 

 “The students are my motivation,” said Vearil.  “I hope this helps me teach these students more about animals and hope to expand and teach nationwide.”  Vearil said she had been selected to speak at the National Dental Forum in Atlanta, Georgia, and is working on essays for Vet Tech journals. 

Vearil is in her seventh year of teaching after graduating from the UCBA program in 1997.  

“I love being in Vet Tech.  I’ve always wanted to teach,” she said.  “With this certificate I hope to gain more knowledge, and the more knowledge I have, the more I can give to the students.” 

Vearil also mentioned about how she enjoys having a more one-on-one lab experience with students, as it allows her to become more involved with them.  

She is also part of a non-profit organization called Pets in Need of Greater Cincinnati.  “This group allows lower income pet owners to get proper medical and dental treatment for their pets,” she explained.  “I hope that this helps me be able to teach nationwide.  As of right now I’ll continue teaching here at UCBA and help the students I have.”