Faculty:

Lori Renda-Francis, MA, BBA, LVT, is a 1984 graduate of the Veterinary Technician Program at Macomb. She obtained her bachelors degree in business administration from Rochester College and a master's degree in education from Central Michigan University. She has been working in the veterinary technician program for over 22 years. In 1999 she accepted the position of Program Director. Lori is very active in the profession of veterinary technology. She is the past president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and the Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians (MAVT). She is currently serving as a board member of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). She is the first veterinary technician to serve on the AAHA board.

Julie Delauter, LVT, is a 1991 graduate of the program at Macomb Community College. She is a member of NAVTA and MAVT. Her experience includes thirteen years with Madison Veterinary Hospital where she worked as a clinical technician prior to becoming the hospital's Medical Services Manager. She also worked as a Veterinary Practice Manager at Advanced Pet Care of Oakland before joining the veterinary technician program team at Macomb Community College.

Adjunct Faculty:

Jerrod Notebaert, DVM, is a 1998 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Notebaert is a member of the MVMA, AVMA, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, and the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians. As the attending veterinarian, he cares for all of the program's animals, teaches the lab animal classes, and teaches the anesthesia lab classes. Dr. Notebaert continues to practice in Macomb County as an exotic and small animal veterinarian.

Stephen Steep, DVM, is a small animal veterinarian, who, along with his partner, owns two clinics - the East Detroit Animal Hospital and the Oxford Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Steep received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University. As a practicing veterinarian in the southeast Michigan area for 30 years, he has been active in organized veterinary medicine and is also a part time instructor in the Veterinary Technician program at Macomb Community College. As President of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Steep represents over 2000 doctors from all aspects of veterinary practice, including companion animal, food animal, equine, industry, research and government. 

William Frank, DVM, is a 1985 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Frank is the Medications Specialist for the office of the Racing Commissioner of Michigan. He teaches the large animal courses and also works in the equine industry. Dr. Frank has been an adjunct faculty in our program for over 15 years.

Dawn Guiles, LVT, is a graduate of Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program. She has recently rejoined our staff after a leave to raise her family. Dawn has been teaching in our program for over 15 years.

Samantha Johnsonbaugh, LVT, is a 2003 graduate of the Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program.  She joined our faculty in 2007 as an instructor in clinical pathology.  She also works full time at a small animal and exotic hospital in Clinton Township.

Lab Assistants:

Lynn Roland, LVT, is a 1988 graduate of the Veterinary Technician Program at Michigan State University. Lynn worked in private practice for 4 years and in an oncology research program at Henry Ford and William Beaumont Hospitals for 7 years. Most recently Lynn worked at Animal Cancer and Imaging Center in Rochester for 6 years before becoming the Full Time Lab Assistant in 2007. Lynn is a member of both NAVTA and MAVT.

Jennifer Smith, LVT, is a 1997 graduate of Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program. She joined our program in 1999 after working in a small animal practice. She has been an instructor, and was the Full Time Lab Assistant until 2006. She continues to be a valuable member of our team as a part time lab assistant. Jennifer is a member of both NAVTA and MAVT.

Rebecca Donahue, LVT, is a 2003 graduate of Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program. Rebecca is the large animal laboratory assistant.

Katherine Wood, LVT, is a 2007 graduate of Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program.  In Jan 2008 she joined the program's staff as a part-time Lab Assistant.  She is a member of both NAVTA and MAVT.

Tammy Ruemenapp, LVT, is a 2008 graduate of Macomb's Veterinary Technician Program.  She joined our team in the Summer of 2008 and is one of our part-time Lab Assistants.

Mascots:

Ringer is one of the Veterinary Technician Program mascots. Ringer was born in 2002. Ringer is very special; when she was just a few days old she became very ill after having surgery to remove her dewclaws. Her littermates remained healthy, but Ringer developed a localized infection at the site of the dewclaw removal. This infection quickly turned serious and she developed hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition marked by excessive accumulation of fluid and it can result in enlargement of the cranium and atrophy of the brain. The prognosis was not good, but with lots of care and love she pulled through. Today Ringer's number one job is to help relieve the day-to-day stresses of being a full time student. The students look forward to seeing her every day and having her present in most of their classes. Ringer entertains herself at the front of the lecture hall by playing with her toys and will make regular romps through the room to visit the students in their seats. When she is not in the lecture classes she can be found in the Teaching Hospital keeping an eye on things and sometimes causing mischief. 

Scrubs is another one of the program's mascots. She was brought to the program in 1998 when her mother abandoned her and her littermates. She has been "working" in the teaching hospital ever since. Her job is to give the students some stress-relief and to make students feel at home. Her favorite things to do are to "supervise" the students while they are in the lab and to sharpen her nails on our chairs.

Papaya is a crimson corn snake. She came to our program in the Summer of 2008.  Papaya is quiet, gentle, and loves to be held. As our reptile mascot she often goes with us to grade schools and high schools to educate students about animals and careers in veterinary medicine.

Snap & Crackle are cockatiels and they are the latest editions to our mascot roster. These cockatiels came to us in 2006 after being neglected and abandoned. They are now healthy, sassy, and love to make themselves heard. They offer the students a chance to get comfortable in the handling and care of birds.