Bridgewater, NJ – January 30, 2024. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) announced today that Sam Geiling, CVT, is the association’s 2023 Veterinary Technician of the Year.
NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year award is presented to a NAVTA member who has provided leadership and contributed to the association and the overall betterment of the Veterinary Technology profession.
Geiling is the Chief of Staff for Animal Policy Group and serves as Co-Chair of NAVTA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC). She is a credentialed veterinary technician with over 15 years of experience and holds an AAS in veterinary animal health technology from Central Carolina Community College.
“I am honored to be recognized as NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year,” Geiling said. “This past year has brought a lot of recognition for veterinary technicians, and I am proud to work closely with the Government Relations Committee to ensure vet tech leaders in every state have the tools they need to make advancements for the profession. I want to be clear that my leadership on the GRC is possible because of veterinary technician advocates who have come through the ranks before me, and many of them are continuing their advocacy journey alongside us. As the GRC knows well, I am an optimist, and I know the future of veterinary medicine is bright. Let’s continue to work together and ensure credentialed veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are elevated in every state.”
In nominating Sam, her colleague wrote:
Sam’s remarkable dedication, profound impact on the veterinary community, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of our profession make her an ideal candidate for this esteemed award.
Sam’s journey as a Navy veteran speaks to her strong sense of duty and service, qualities that she has seamlessly transferred to the field of veterinary technology. Her contributions to NAVTA have been nothing short of remarkable. Even before being officially recognized, Sam was already laboring diligently behind the scenes. In 2022, her exceptional efforts were acknowledged when she was appointed as Co-chair of NAVTA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC). Under her leadership, the GRC has achieved unprecedented success in a relatively short period.
One of the most impressive feats achieved by Sam and her GRC team is the mobilization of over 25 states to address vital issues. These include securing title protection in states where it was lacking, advocating for veterinary technician representation on the state board in Missouri, spearheading the creation of a state association in Connecticut, and providing vital support for Scope of Practice in Kentucky, among numerous other accomplishments. Sam’s leadership and determination have been instrumental in driving these initiatives to success, which has had a significant positive impact on our profession nationwide.
NAVTA congratulates its 2023 Veterinary Technician of the Year, Sam Geiling!
About NAVTA
NAVTA is a US-based not-for-profit membership community of more than 8,500 Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, and other veterinary support staff involved in veterinary care. NAVTA advances the profession of veterinary technology and veterinary nursing through its advocacy and awareness programs and by providing continuing professional development opportunities. NAVTA supports the veterinary technology and veterinary nursing profession with a host of programs and benefits, available at https://www.navta.net/membership/