On the Front Lines of Animal Heart Care

Tufts Now All Stories

Kristen Antoon, a veterinary technician at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals, a year ago became the 20th certified veterinary technician specialist in cardiology in the United States. Her responsibilities include working with clients and their pets and conducting baseline evaluations such as electrocardiograms (ECGs), which can reveal any irregularities in heartbeats, as well as assisting with and performing echocardiograms and non-invasive blood pressure and cardiac catheter procedures.A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in animal science, she joined the ICU team at Tufts in 2007, after working as an ICU and cardiology veterinary technician at Angell Animal Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. While working in the ICU, she developed a passion for cardiology, and joined the Tufts cardiology team in 2012. In 2015, she started the application process to become a veterinary technician specialist in cardiology, a specialty recognized by the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians.  
Emily Tompkins Karlin, V08, a resident in cardiology, praised Antoon as someone who pays “remarkable attention to patient care,” she said. “She is so dedicated to the health and overall well-being of our patients, and consistently goes above and beyond for them.”
Recently, Antoon talked with Tufts Now about her work and how she’s inspiring other veterinary technicians to also aim high.
Tufts Now: What kind of work did you do when you first came?
Kristen Antoon: I was in intensive care, but when a job opened up in the cardiology department, I applied. The heart is a very complicated organ to understand, but I wanted a challenge. While the ICU is an environment of hustle and bustle, in cardiology we have a chance to get to know the client and the patient—to establish a relationship. I like being able to talk to the owners and be a resource for them. I have ...

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