EP01 Meet the Team - Virginia Corrigan

 

Director of Appalachian State University's online Veterinary Technology degree program, Dr. Virginia Corrigan joins University Communication's Dave Blanks on the first ever episode of Vet Tech Talk! Dave and Virginia discuss the new program at App State. Virginia shares the journey that has lead her to this position as well as some of her most meaningful moments during her time as a veterinary professional. 

 

Transcript: 

Dave Blanks:

This is Vet Tech Talk, a podcast about Appalachian State University's online four year bachelor of science in veterinary technology degree program. In this first episode, we'll get to know the professionals who run the program here at App State, we'll learn about their lives and the paths that have led them to our university, we'll learn all about the animals in their lives as well. I'm your host, Dave Blanks. Am I an expert in veterinary technology? No, I certainly am not, but not to worry. Our first guest most assuredly, is. Dr. Virginia Corrigan, who's a director of veterinary technology degree program here at Appalachian State. On this first episode, Dr. Corrigan shares her journey from a little girl who loved cats and horses to a doctor of veterinary medicine running this program. You'll learn more about the program, you'll find out what veterinary nursing is and where the program can take you. Also, the important role that wellbeing plays in the field. Now, here's my conversation with Dr. Corrigan. Hello, Virginia. How are you?

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

Hello, I am very well today. Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

Excellent. So you found the place.

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

I found it.

Dave Blanks:

I'm glad. Yeah. Thank you for joining us today to talk about the new veterinary technology program at Appalachian State. We're going to discuss the program, we are going to get to know a little bit about who you are. And this is the first of our podcast about the veterinary technology program. We're going to meet a lot of people, but you're starting us out. Why are you starting us out? Because...

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

I'm the program director for veterinary technology. I imagine that is why you asked me to come.

Dave Blanks:

You're correct. Yeah. So we thought we'd start it out with you. Can you tell us who are you as it pertains to veterinary medicine? And I would like to know also about the animals that are in your life.

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

Absolutely. Happy to share. I think who I am and veterinary medicine are very intertwined I would say, because I am a classic veterinarian. I wanted to be a vet from the time I was six years old. I grew up with animals, specifically cats, and then I also had a fascination with horses. For better or worse, my mom led me down the path and she let me ride my first horse when I was six and I was absolutely hooked. And I rode horses growing up and I competed and I lived at the barn. I was one of those girls. And so it was always my manifest destiny to become a veterinarian because I just loved animals.

Dave Blanks:

Nice.

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

Still do.

Dave Blanks:

So what animals are in your life right now? What are the animals that are a part of your life? Do you have a horse now?

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

The funny thing about that, is I went to vet school and I told myself I was going to be an equine veterinarian, because I loved horses so much and I do not have a horse.

Dave Blanks:

Oh, wow.

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

I never have.

Dave Blanks:

What?

Dr. Virginia Corrigan:

Because it turns out that horses are really expensive creatures. They are beautiful and I love them dearly. The animals that currently share my life with me, two dogs and two cats. I have a very, very sweet, best dog in the whole wide world named Yogi. He's an almost 14 year old Golden Retriever. He has spent his life as a therapy dog. So he used to come to work with me in my previous job and he worked with students on the campus at Virginia Tech. And so he's just the sweetest dog. Now, he's happily retired and our part-time nanny should we say, to our three little kids.

            Then, I have a seven year old Golden Retriever named Tucker who actually was training to be a service dog and I was his puppy trainer. And no fault of my own, I will say, he did not make it all the way through the training. He's very, ve