Meet Daniel Fissel, Clinical Skills Technician

Daniel Fissel, Small Animal Internal Medicine Service, Certified Veterinary Technician, Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals

Describe what you do at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals.
I work in the Internal Medicine Department as a Certified Veterinary Technician with the state of Massachusetts and as a Clinical Skills Technician at Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

I help run the Internal Medicine technician appointments to follow up with the patient’s care after initial diagnosis and workup. I also work with our students in an optional week-long elective course. The students practice their hands-on skills one-on-one with an experienced technician in the course. We are able to ensure the patients get the care, treatments, and advice that they need to continue managing their health, and our students build their experience with patients and owners.

What brings a smile and inspires you daily?
I have made a lot of good connections with the students who have come through for their elective. I love seeing them around the hospital and finding out what they are learning.

Describe one of your favorite experiences at Foster Hospital.
I have a patient, Lainie, who LOVES me and goes bonkers for me every time she sees me coming in the lobby. We are clearly best friends. Her mom has even sent me pics and updates just to say hi, which means a lot.   

Define what success means to you, to your service/department team, your patients and owners, and to the hospital.
To me, success at a hospital means that all parties are taken care of: pets, clients, and team members. I think that we should be continuously striving to make sure that everyone feels supported and that the pets are getting top notch care. 

Who has had the greatest impact on you professionally or is your personal inspiration? 
A teacher from my high school, Frank, was instrumental in me becoming a technician. He ran a program at our school that had over 100 snakes, lizards, and amphibians as well as some exotic insects and arachnids. In this program, he really encouraged me to pursue something animal related with my life.