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LOU: Hi welcome to Greenfield Community College Survey of Health Careers. I'm Lou Peugh and
I'm here with Lisa Hoffmaster.
She is an animal physical therapist and rehabilitation expert. So you have a really interesting background
I understand. Why don't you tell us a little about your education?
LISA: I started off in Bachelor of Arts from Elmira College - Liberal Arts education and
then I went back to school for majoring in Theater. I do a lot of theater stuff, musical
theater. And I went to the University of Minnesota, got my Masters of Arts in Stage Movement at
Minnesota. Then I danced professionally and went to the University of Utah and Cal-Arts
where I got two MFAs in Dance. And I was a professional dancer for 35 years and had my
own company in Canada. And then I burned out and that's where I traveled around the world
for seven years and then came back to see my family-and decided to do physical therapy
'cause I had been working with dancers and their injuries. So then I wanted to go to
Physical Therapy school and as I said, I was -- they told me that - ah - I was too old
but Russell Sage wanted some returning students. I think we were the first lot to go through
and did, and so I majored in Dance injuries uhhh for my Physical Therapy, had my own business,
and then the animals called, and so then I went to Adirondack Community College in Canton
for my licensed Vet Tech degree. So I'm a licensed Vet Tech (pause) as well as a Physical
Therapist.
LOU: So how did that transition happen between doing Physical Therapy with people to animals?
LISA: Well I've always loved animals. I have a menagerie at home. And I knew that my, uh,
career with humans, as much as I loved it, was not quite satisfying for me. And I kept
treating my patients' animals when they brought them in. And I said "Oh! oh, I would love
to do this!" I love working with the animals, so then there was nothing available. There
still isn't anything really available for animal rehabilitation per se. So you have
to combine things. So that's what I did. I had the physical therapy and so I felt I needed
to go-I did not want to be a vet. Although now I - you know I - I almost am, but uhh,
that's why I went to licensed Vet Tech school. So that I could become, you know, almost equal.
I have more manual work because of my Physical Therapy, which has come in handy. And - and
then, licensed Vet Tech - because of my state licensing, I have to have the 'licensed Vet
Tech. I cannot practice on any animal - not even a flea - with my PT degree in New York
State or they will take it away and I will lose it forever. So you need to check that
whenever you're switching, just to make sure what the laws are in your state. So there
you go! So I'm a licensed Vet Tech. I get referrals from veterinarians and now I'm attending
Osteopathic school for equine and small animals.
LOU: Can I ask you two questions about that?
LISA: mh-hm [yes]
LOU: One is: was it difficult to be accepted by the local veterinary community? And if
so, how did you get referrals?
LISA: Umm, I got referrals essentially from my own vet and I worked in a veterinary clinic
and emergency clinic as well. And so they would let me work on the animals, I would
say "Oh! let me, let me do this. Let me do range of motion to this animal recovering
from surgery." They said "OK, that's fine" 'cause they knew me and I was a licensed Vet
Tech. For Animal Rehabilitation to be accepted in the veterinary field - I've been doing
it for 8 years now - When I started, there was basically nothing, so it was a new field.
So like anything, like alternative medicine in human medicine (which means Homeopathic,
Acupuncture, Chinese medicine) - a little leery and now it's becoming more of a mainstay
because the clients themselves ask, 'I want the dog (or) my horse to have some work done.
It needs it because it's been jumping so much or it has an injury.' So that's really changed
and it's coming about. I predict in another five years, it's going to be a really, really
mainstay in every veterinary clinic. And if they don't have it, they're foolish not to
have somebody on board who can do it. And a lot of vets are doing it now. They are going
and taking courses. I've taken the one that the Northeast Seminar at the University of
Tennessee. That's one and CRI, K9 rehabilitation Institute are the two major ones. But there
are a lot of minor ones and some are more accepted by Vets or by the medical field than
others because of their program.
LOU: And are you paid privately by clients or are you paid by the veterinary service
of the veterinary clinic?
LISA: Both. LOU: Both?
LISA: If I work in a Veterinary Clinic, I am independent now, but when I worked in veterinary
clinics, they paid me a salary and then if somebody wanted me to come out to their house,
they will pay me extra and see the animals in their homes. Which I think is much, much
better actually to be honest with you; unless they were recouping it in ICU or something
at the veterinary clinic.
LOU: Now you've talked about really loving working with animals. What do you see as the
differences between working with people and animals - other than, y'know, the obvious
one?
LISA: Well, there is something about the animals, their spirits, their umm, of course they cannot
tell you where they're painful. So you really have to be in tuned to the signs. I, to be
honest with you, they're much more grateful than humans, as regards, what type of work
you do. There are people who are grateful for what you do and accomplish for them but
overall the animals, I haven't met one or treated one that wasn't appreciative. And
you know it. That they know you're trying to help them and I think that's the clue.
I work in a rehab center right now per diem, human, and it's really, it is a challenge,
because sometimes those humans don't want to do, don't wanna' get up and walk and you
have to be that inspiration. I feel that the animals come half way. I'm there, they're
there. And we are there to help each other get well. And I'm an advocate for those animals.
Each and every one that I touch, that I come in contact with because they have no voice
like the humans do.
LOU: Now, ah, moments ago you were talking about studying Osteopathy. Do you want to
explain what that is and how you are using that in your practice?
LISA: So, how many know what Osteopathic/Osteopathy is?
AUDIENCE: It's the study of bones.
LISA: Right, osteo, yes, but it goes much more. It is more of a total body and it's
in human medicine too. It's a total body-treatment way of looking at the body - and I'm saying
through the movement of your cranium, your bones in your skull - how your viscera (meaning
all your internal organs) work. How your bones are aligning, coming together. It entails
nutrition, social, it is more of a complete holistic, holistic way of looking at the human
and the animals. Not just bits and parts like, in human medicine, maybe in PT, somebody comes
in with a shoulder now, we treat the shoulder. In Osteopathic work we look at the shoulder
and say, "Well, maybe something is being affected in the neck, and then down in the digestive
tract and that needs to be treated as well, in order for that shoulder to get better."
OK? So it's more of a complete - it entails a much more complete way of looking at a body
and treating a body. On and on... There you go.
So whatever applies to the animals - I'm studying with a fellow from Belgium, Yannick Flugan,
and he has treated the top equine, ah, horses, in the world cup, any of the Olympics, and
whatever I am learning there, I can apply to the small animals and to myself and my
human component. It's all the same.
LOU: And you are also working with horses now?
LISA: Yes.
LOU: Yes, well that's pretty exciting.
LISA: Yes, it is.
[LISA and LOU laugh.]
LOU: Are you doing a lot of traveling with your work?
LISA: Yes, I'm... I'm going down to um, sometimes I'll go down to Florida, work with people
down there and then obviously in New York State, Upstate New York, Cambridge area and
then I've been going down to Texas a lot ... and treating horses.
LOU: And will this be for, say, a polo team or for a farm or - ah, why would you be doing
the traveling?
LISA: I'm at 'The Whole Horse Clinic,' which is in San Marcos and people bring their horses
from all over to be treated there. So it's pretty exciting to see some, ah, being treated
with Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, Reiki, Massage - the whole gamut. Because they've
been caught in a fence and ah, shall I relate an incident? This fellow...
LOU: Oh, yeah...
LISA: ...that I worked with, five - four - five horses that I worked with that had their necks
totally luxated, you know what that means? Here is the skull, here is the, ah, head sitting
on the spine. They'd gotten into something where this happened. So number one, think
about where the spinal cord is going, like it has (chuckle)- and the neuro signs incredibly
- each of these horses did not have great neuro signs meaning, you know, total lameness
in front or something. But how do you get that head back onto the atlas? Without injuring
the spinal cord - causing immediate death? That's the challenge. And that's what Osteopathic
does, it's some manipulation of the bones to get them back into alignment, and so, what
this fellow did we had to traction the necks into a certain position and then put it back
in. Without injuring the spinal cord and every horse made it. Total recovery. So that's the
power of this. So there you go. It was, it was pretty amazing because everybody else
had written the horses off: the regular vets had written and said, "Put 'em down. There's
nothing you can do to help." And so, pretty amazing to see. So...
LOU: Now, are you creating your own program because, are there other people out there
doing what you're doing or are you pulling together the education that you need?
LISA: There are other people out there who are doing what I'm doing. A lot of vets in
their own practices are starting rehab, is that what you're talking about?
LOU: Well, as a physical therapist, it sounds like you're really pulling from a lot of disciplines.
LISA: You bet. I think that's, that's, the clue to this career is uh, you just can't
go and take a course and hope to get the manual work at, you know, it's kind of constant educating.
Taking a massage course, Acupuncture, Homeopathic, naturopathic and drawing it all together.
I've been very fortunate to work with some pretty fabulous people and learning from them
to bring it in, what, I'm, I'm building a tool box and if I had to say anything to people
who are going into a medical field, you have to create your own tool box. Because you're
going to get a patient in nursing, say, recovering in ICU "Man, I can't get the IV in, so what
do I do? What, Oh! Maybe something is wrong with the arm and it needs to be re-adjusted
so that you can get it in and get the vascularization going." So there's, there's a lot of ways
to look at something and if you have tools to do it, it's phenomenal. And you can do
it as a nurse, as a massage therapist, you have that knowledge. And so, take everything.
I've taken every course I can. I've bought a book. That's half of it. I just go, "I've
gotta know about the feed, I've got to know about this, I've got to..." - so it - So I
created it and you know, ah, when are you gonna use this and then low-and-behold and
one day you go "Ohh! Man!" "Oh, yeah, the vestibular - OK, I get it. OK." And to help
that patient, that's your job. I want to help that patient get better!
LISA: And how'm I going to do this better? I need to know as much as I can. And right
now, I'm just in the learning stage. There is so much more. That's the glory of it all.
It never stops. And you may see a doctor do a maneuver and go "Holy! (gasp) Where did
you learn that? O, I don't know. He just told me to do that and that's what I did in PT
too. Why are you doing that? Where is the scientific data? I don't have it but I think
this will work and then it does, and the patient gets better. Isn't that the important thing?
So that's - there you go! (laugh)
LOU: Now, in addition to doing your own Continuing Ed for your own knowledge. What do you have
to do to maintain y our certification as a vet tech and as a PT?
LISA: OK, Physical Therapy in each state is different. Right now, New York State has just
passed a law, last year, that I have to take 30 hours of Continuing Ed within three years.
That's hard to do when you have taken everything. I think (chuckle) you know? (exhale) unless
they come up with some new things, and anything in animal rehab, you see in that state does
not count, cause they don't recognize that. So that's one thing, so each state is different.
But if I go into Vermont and I have a lic.- I have a license in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Vermont, I know doesn't have any CEs, no Continuing Ed. But I'm not sure about Massachusetts.
I don't know what they've done yet. So for my Licensed Vet Tech, I don't need any continuing
Ed in New York State. Now some places out West, you do. Vermont - No. Massachusetts
- I know that they're starting a Licensed Vet Tech that you need to be licensed in this
State to practice. They're getting that going. That's the last I heard. I read from my Vet
Tech. So, before you didn't have to be a licensed Vet Tech to work on an animal. So that's - those
are the guidelines right now, but each state is different. And that's the catch-all. I
think, I know somebody in New York State who moved from someplace South, came into New
York State, started uh animal rehab over in the West, got her license taken away. Because
she wasn't legal, you see, she'd ah, she probably just didn't check into it, thinking it is
the same from state to state and it's not. So you gotta' call your education department
and say, "what are the guidelines here?"
LOU: And, uh, um as a licensed Vet Tech, do you carry malpractice insurance, as nurses
do, as doctors do? LISA: Yes
LOU: ...as PTs?
LISA: mh-hm [yes].
LOU: OK.
LISA: Have to.
LOU: Yup
LOU and LISA: Yup.
LISA: Oh yes. In case that horse falls down or the animal... yes.
LOU: mh-hm [yes]. LISA: As a way of special - I can get it through
my PT, uh, and my licensed Vet Tech/Animal Rehab - they have a special licensing, you
know uh, insurance for it, that they've created. 'Cause I know it's difficult to get, in some
states. So they've created that. So...
LOU: So, should we open this up to the students (quiet laugh). Do we have any questions from
the audience? ...Yes?
AUDIENCE MEMBER 1: I just would like to encourage everybody that even if you are not considering
this as an occupation for yourself that you actually think about asking questions because
I think it'll help other folks who might not have thought of that question. And I do have
a question. LOU: Sure.
AUDIENCE MEMBER 1: Could you tell us what is the biggest and the smallest animal that
you've worked with? LISA: Uh, the biggest is ah, is a Belgian
Horse and the smallest is a,... Oh boy, a parakeet.
AUDIENCE MEMBER 1: Ah-ah, can you say a little bit about what you did with the parakeet?
LISA: Ah, it had a wing injury in the veterinary clinic and uh, so, they - we had to bandage
it and then keep the range of motion going. So we did. And that's how we -- just very
small, it's a just tiny, tiny. And then a, oh, Ferrit, and then the next will be a cat,
oh, and we did a deer. We did a goose. So, (laugh) you never know, and I've been -- and
I don't know why I've gotten a reputation from working with alpacas and llamas, but
there you go. It's a big, um, trade in my area, so... some of them have gotten -- when
they're born, their necks have gotten crunched, so you need to work on them and they've made
it through. So there you go.
LOU: I have a follow-up, you know, that's a, those are a lot of skeletons and a lot
of bodies to be knowledgeable about. Now, are you always going back to the electronic
resources or to your books to sort of check out what you're doing?
LISA: I tend to be a book person, I'm not, because I didn't grow up in the computer era,
so I have tons -- my library is quite extensive. Or I'll, you know, call somebody and say "what
do you suggest, you got, you know." Basically, I'll have, I'll go back to my books all the
time and refer back. Cause I'll forget how uh, a suture is, in the skull, or exactly
where it might go or uh small bone in a foot or something, so I will absolutely have to
go back and refer. Or somebody will name a disease and I'll go "Oh, man" and I should
know this so I'll have to go back, look it up and go "Oh, yeah, OK."
LOU: Questions, Yes? AUDIENCE MEMBER 2: What species of animal
has been your favorite to work with?
LISA: They're all so, you know, different. I started off with small animal-dog and cat.
And I love them. Um. And then I started working on horses, out of my own fear because a horse
had ridden, had ridden away with me and I didn't ever want to touch a horse in my life.
And it just so happened that this fellow that I wanted to study with worked with horses
and I said I better do something, so I started working with the horses and I LOVED them.
I have two of my own now. And ah, there is something very special about them. And let
me tell, um, uh, you know, you go, "Oh, dogs could be vicious and they're angry and the
horses can be..." - they're usually trying to tell you that they are not comfortable.
They're in pain and that's the same way with humans, too. If they don't, you know "Oh,
I'm fine" (acting) you know. And you watch them and that's when their behavior changes,
is that they're, they're, in pain. They are trying to tell you something. "I'm not comfortable."
So something is wrong. So keep that in mind when you look at somebody. They're not going
to tell you. Just as an aside. ...Yes?
AUDIENCE MEMBER 3: Just wondering about exotic animals. Do people have large animals, like
elephants?
LISA: Oh, yes. I mean, that's a whole other field now, you know. I, I'd love to do that
for a year, is work in a zoo, and I have gone through the zoo down in Orlando and they did
a backstage-type thing and what they do, and oh, I think it's fascinating. Yes, lizards,
snakes, every kind of being. AUDIENCE MEMBER 3: And do they do the physical
therapy with those animals ever?
LISA: Oh, yes, and wildlife rehabilitation is a whole other area - OK? And you have to
be licensed -- in New York State. You have to be licensed in order to treat - to treat,
like, hawks, bald eagles, OK? Squirrels, raccoons, because they, they, if you have them, they're
illegal to keep them as pets. OK? But oh, it's a fascinating field I LOVED going through
and watching the Vets. They had to you know, repair a leg, uh, you know, it's fabulous.
It's fabulous and some of the things you do in human Physical Therapy, they're doing on
an elephant. You know, you go "holy - (small laugh) OK." But that's a, that's another area.
And you have to be a Vet Tech, OK? - To do that in a zoo. That was, uh, I would, I would
love to at least, you know, be in there with the lions and the tigers (laughing) "open
your mouth" so there you go. Does that answer the question? OK?
LOU: Other questions? (pause, look at the audience) I have a follow-up then, um, which
is, what do you think are some of the biggest challenges for students who are considering
your field, well I mean, you field is pretty broad at this point but physical therapy,
Vet Tech work, um.
LISA: I think, um, the things that stick out, and this is Nursing too, cause I, I know it's
a, as rigorous. You get into the program and I won't lie to you, it's tough. You have no
other life except that, because you put down one book and you pick up another. And you
have an exam. And it's sciences. And it's memorizing 'til, I mean --I think I had three
meltdowns in PT school, throwing my books across the room saying, "I can't do this!"
But keeping in mind what you want to do. I said I wanted to treat dancers and their injuries.
I have got to get through this program. I've got to do this. Also, with licensed Vet Tech,
same thing, the amount of info in two years was mind boggling to me. And thank God, I
had gone through PT school. To get the discipline to do it. Do not give up. Because there are
going to be times when you're gonna go "Why am I doing this?" Then search your soul and
go "why AM I doing - because I wanna help people. I want to be in the ER. I want to
be in the surgery. I wanna work with kids." THAT's what you want to keep. Go out and take
a deep breath then go back in. Because it is rigorous. Nursing, OT, PT, PTA, OTA. It
is not easy. It is very demanding. It isn't huh, you know (tongue snap) -- I don't know,
it's not like my theater, OK?! (laughter) Yeah.
***JAN LUZZI (FACULTY): So, like with any big goal in life, um, when there's a lot of
preparation toward that goal and sometimes you know, what I hear you talking about is
the -- sometimes getting lost in all of the preparation. So I'm wondering how did you
keep yourself, in those moments when the work, uh, almost made you lose sight of why you
were doing it and I think it's a question that we all, we ask ourselves sometimes, especially
perhaps students who had goals that have not, you, have not achieved them, yet and they're
out there in the distance and in the meantime they've had to do -
LISA: Exactly.
JAN LUZZI: -- what sometimes appears mundane and ordinary --
LISA: (interject) Right.
JAN LUZZI: -- and boring --
LISA: Right.
JAN LUZZI: -- and hard. How did you keep yourself on task?
LISA: Um, I kept reminding myself why I wanted to do it. And also, I had um, Doctor Loomis
at, uh, Canton, whom I owe a great deal to because when I went in and said "I'm quitting,
I'm outta' here, I'm back home." And she said "Oh, no you're not, because you've got the
potential and you need to work on it. And don't be afraid. And do it. And don't be,
and maybe you're not going to be the A-plus." I wasn't the A-plus/A-student. I was right
in the middle or down there in the C department, but I passed! And that's the important thing.
Give me the ticket and then you have all those options, to go into a hospital, maybe you
don't like OB/GYN or massaging this and that, maybe you want to get into lymph edema control
or you find that niche, OK? But THAT field gives you the opportunity to and you've got
to keep that in mind - that's what I - and once you make it through, nobody can take
it away from you. Got it?
LISA: That's the thing. And if you - ah - go out and cry. I cried, I screamed and, and
then Doctor Loomis, and I went in and she says "Nope, what are you having a problem
with, we'll help you with it." They'll find help for you. I'm terrible at Math. Uhg! Blah!
And guess what? I had to do it -- made it through because there were people there who
helped me. And always look for help. Don't say, "I'm just not good enough." Yes, you
are! You have something to offer that field. You may not know it. What area it is. It'll
show you. You'll get into one,.. "Oh, could you, could you do a weekend shift in the um,
in the O.R.s?" "Oh, gosh, yes! I don't want it, I hate blood. OK I'll do it and there
you are, and you're fascinated by what the doctor's doing and helping him. Then you become
surgical nurse or something, do you know -- see what I'm saying? You don't ever know, and
take those - take those opportunities. It'll lead you to - maybe not be a nurse on the
floor but maybe a nurse someplace else. Maybe a nurse over in Africa. Over on an island.
You're it! Taking care of somebody on an island. They don't have anything else. So that's what
I'm saying to you. It isn't so - just get through the course work. And some of it you'll
love, and some of it you'll just go "oh, oh my gosh! What's this got to do with it?" And
then with times "What does this got to do with what I eventually want to do?" Well,
you've got to do it to get the ticket. And get licensed - that's all. And once you get
it, then you have the freedom to go anywhere.