Vice President - President Elect
Melissa Burgess, MS, LVT
Melissa Burgess lives outside of Benton, Kentucky, in the area known as Sharpe. She attended Murray State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Animal Health Technology/Pre-Vet in 1998. At this time, she became employed at Reidland Veterinary Clinic under the supervision of Dr. Abram Allen. This started her on her pathway to new experiences in several small animal clinic settings and over 19 years in the veterinary field. She continued her education and graduated from Murray State University in 2000 with a Master of Science in Agriculture with a focus in agricultural business.In 2002, her family was transferred due to her spouse’s work to Collinsville, IL. She found employment at the Animal Emergency Center as a veterinary technician, moonlighting at veterinary reference lab as a laboratory technician. It was here that she renewed her passion for blood smears and agar plates. It also allowed her to see and learn about several emergency treatment options. In 2003, her spouse was transferred again to Lexington, KY. This brought her back to her home state where she became employed as the lead veterinary technician at Beaumont Veterinary Centre. While at this clinic, she was responsible for developing a heartworm treatment protocol as Hurricane Katrina refugees brought positive dogs into a location that had previously not been seeing very many positive heartworm tests. She was also responsible for training all new employees, and performed all dentals. In 2009, she returned home to help with ailing parents, and found employment as lead technician at Companion Animal Hospital in Benton, KY. Having become a single parent to her two children at this time, and needing medical insurance, she started a part time job at CVS as a pharmacy technician. Through her medical background as a veterinary technician, and self-study she became a certified pharmacy technician in 2011. She is currently employed as the pharmacy technology program coordinator at West Kentucky Community College. However, she maintains a part-time position at Companion Animal Hospital because animals are, and forever will be, her true-life passion.
