Veterinary Technicians and Nurses
Veterinary Nurse and Receptionist Nancy Betances has been with East Side Animal Hospital since July of 2000, but has worked in the pet care field since 1998. Her primary duties include client support, assisting during exams and surgeries, and performing dental work.
Asked what makes her unique in her work Nancy says, "My smile and bubbly attitude, which has been easy to have over the years because we are a family here at East Side."
Her home is also a busy one with pets as she has two Mini Pinschers, two Chihuahuas, a Rottweiler, and one cat. Nancy says she spends her free time painting, gardening, and being with her family.
Veterinary Technician Laurie Hart has been with East Side Animal Hospital since August of 2009. She has an Associate’s Degree from LaGuardia Community College and is licensed as a Veterinary Technician in New York State. Her primary duties include patient treatments, assisting during surgeries and exams, taking radiographs, managing inventory, client education, intern training, lab tests, and filling prescriptions.
Laurie is also a former intern here at East Side and says, "The staff is like one big family here and I received so much support and patience while completing my internship. Working here also means I get to know many of our clients and their pets, which has been great. However, what really makes my work worthwhile is being part of our many success stories."
At home, Laurie has a domestic shorthair cat named Miss Kitty and a Pitbull mix named Kingsley. She is also very active in a number of animal and wildlife aid organizations, which includes the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which advocates for non-animal research techniques, as well as United Animal Nations and the World Wildlife Fund.
With her free time, Laurie likes to be with her family, hike, bike, play music, take photos, and travel whenever possible.
Licensed Veterinary Technician Deena Miller has been with East Side Animal Hospital since June of 2006. Her primary duties include providing treatments, anesthetic monitoring, dental cleanings, and medical records management.
Deena says that East Side is a unique working environment because, "We are a family that works together in a fashion that isn’t often found in hospital environments. We never individually take on specific tasks, but are helping one and another always. If I have a free hand, it’s yours."
She has pets of her own, which include an orange Tabby named Tommi Dean, Pitbull named Kilo, and a Yorkiepoo named Buddy Lee. Her hobbies include cooking, snowboarding and swimming.
Veterinary Nurse Michael Falconer has been with East Side Animal Hospital since January of 2002. His responsibilities include general animal care and administering medications. He also has developed an expertise in handling particularly nervous pets.
For Michael, describing what he likes most about his work is easy, "Having coworkers that love what they do just as much as I do."
Michael has a Jack Russell Terrier at home named Gromit and enjoys working out at the gym, playing soccer, cricket and darts.
Veterinary Nurse Manuel Gonzalez has been with East Side Animal Hospital since August of 2000, but began his career in animal care in 1984. His duties include assisting the doctors, taking X-rays, placing catheters, and more. He also has an Associate’s Degree in Art.
Asked what he likes most about his job, Manuel says that working in a practice that treats such a large variety of illnesses helps foster tighter relationships among coworkers, clients and their pets. "I realize that it’s not the size of the hospital, but the love and compassion this hospital gives to its patients and their owners," he says. "I love the closeness that we all share and when the clients thank me for making their loved ones better."
Manuel has a Chihuahua named Nino and enjoys photography, nature walks, traveling and spending time with his family.