Since starting as a kennel technician at Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates (BRVA) in Virginia in 2011, Derek has worked his way through nearly every role in the building. Today, as General Manager, he oversees a team of 13 DVMs and is focused on making BRVA one of the best hospitals on the East Coast.

His journey is a testament to what's possible when curiosity, commitment, and culture align.

1. Tell us about your career journey to Hospital Manager.

I started as a kennel technician in 2011 and quickly moved to treatment, operating as a recovery technician. I spent my summers and weekends working at BRVA while pursuing my Bachelor's degree.

After graduating in 2017, I took on a few different roles to support the hospital — lab technician, CSR, and eventually an administrative role as office assistant to the Hospital Manager. From there, I developed an interest in shoring up some of the lacking areas at BRVA. I worked largely on IT and HR, and with that focus, we were able to align with current HR standards and begin digitalizing the hospital.

In 2023, I took BRVA paper-lite and was given the role of interim Hospital Manager while Chris Dale-Margeson was on leave. After a long health battle and his eventual passing, I was given the opportunity to apply for the position permanently. Since then, I've been focused on NVA compliance, staff happiness and retention, and rebuilding the hospital in a post-COVID recovery period. I was recently given the title of General Manager after a particularly successful year of growth and DVM recruiting.

2. You've helped grow the doctor team at BRVA from 8 to 13 DVMs. What does your approach to recruitment and retention look like — and what do you think makes DVMs want to stay?

I have often said that getting doctors in the door is the hard part but once they've had the opportunity to meet our staff and see our passion, they all want to come to BRVA!

We had considerable difficulty recruiting at the beginning of my journey as Hospital Manager, but our focus on culture and staff satisfaction pays dividends in every aspect of the business. Our staff is happy and fulfilled, and in an industry that has historically struggled to provide those things, that stands out. When a DVM sees that their potential co-workers are excited to be at work, knowledgeable, and happy — they get excited to be a part of that team!

3. How would you describe your team and what makes the culture at BRVA special?

I would describe our team as deeply empathetic. Everyone in the veterinary field is here for the right reasons: compassion for animals and a desire to help. Our staff has learned to apply that compassion not only to their patients but to pet parents and to each other.

We follow a commitment to 'assume positive intent' and 'go to the source,' and it has been embraced by every member of our staff. We put barriers in the way of building resentment by having real-time resolutions to problems — and with that culture in place, our staff does most of the work of conflict resolution and offering grace to each other.

4. How has NVA supported your growth and development as a Hospital Manager?

I was incredibly well supported by Katrina Craig and Ben Hagen. Katrina has been my primary mentor and a full-time supporter of my growth. Beyond being a font of knowledge and good advice, she constantly provided me with additional avenues to improve myself and my education. Katrina has been the absolute key to my success at NVA and my growth as a Hospital Manager.

Ben Hagen also offered an incredible level of engagement — weekly touchbase meetings, frequent trips to BRVA, and a lot of high-level assistance with difficult conversations and moments where progress stalled. I am extremely excited to be back under Ben's umbrella in his new role as VP at NVA!

5. Looking ahead, what else are you hoping to achieve both personally and professionally?

Personally, I intend to never stop growing. I've had the privilege of being able to look back at myself every couple of years and say, 'Wow, I was dumb back then.' My goal is to never stop being able to say that!

Professionally, BRVA still has a lot of growth ahead. We have a Pet Resort to grow, a Blood Bank to develop, and a Treatment Department still hoping to get back to 24/7. I hope that we can make BRVA one of the best hospitals on the East Coast!