Hatter named Young Veterinarian of the Year
A Medicine Hat veterinarian was honoured last week with the Young Veterinarian of the Year Award at a conference in Edmonton.
“It’s very humbling for me,” said Dr. Andrea Storch, a vet at the Cypress View Veterinary Clinic. “Sometimes when you get nominated for something, you usually think about all the people out there that are just as good, if not better than you, that also deserve the award. So I was surprised that I won it for sure, but also very happy, too.”
The award is given to vets in practice for less than five years who have shown leadership in the industry. Storch was nominated, then the Alberta Veterinary Association chose her out of 567 candidates.
“It’s a really big honour to get such a big award,” said Storch. “Getting recognized for something that all veterinarians try to do, and strive towards, which is being leaders in their industry — I thought it was pretty cool to win.”
Storch says it is hard to explain why she thinks she won, but knows that putting extra time back into where she lives and works is something that will always be important.
“I don’t think the people who have won this award think they’re doing things different from other people in the industry,” she said. “I just take a lot of my extra time to do things in the community and for the association, than other people might. But I just think it’s important to stay progressive and be a part of things that you feel are positive.
“I also really believe in being a part of our medical association, so right from graduation I was a part of committees and participated in leadership week. I really encourage children and young women in the industry, and just being an advocate for our own clinic, I think, is key.”