OKC Zoo Veterinary Technician Receives Life Time Achievement Award

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The Oklahoma City Zoo put out the following press release: 

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden has an elite veterinary care team committed to providing the best possible care to the Zoo’s entire animal family. Comprised of two veterinarians, a veterinary resident and four veterinary technicians, each of these outstanding women inspire those around them with their expertise and passion for what they do. Recently, one of our veterinary technicians, Elizabeth (Liz) McCrae, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT) conference.

McCrae joined the OKC Zoo team in 2009 and has been a resident veterinary technician for 13 years. In 2015, she earned specialty credentialing as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Zoo Medicine, or VTS Zoo, with the Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (NAVTA CVTS). McCrae is one of only a dozen zoo professionals in the world to have completed the requirements to hold this rare distinction. An active member of AZVT since 2006, McCrae currently serves as secretary on the AZVT Executive Board and has been instrumental in promoting the organization’s mission and growing their membership to over 700 individuals worldwide. She was recently named a member of the North American Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) Advisory Group where she provides valuable input on the disease from a technician’s perspective and manages an EEHV resource database to assist with other organizations dealing with EEHV cases in their elephants.

“Even though this is a lifetime achievement award, Liz is by no means done making an impact at the OKC Zoo,” said OKC Zoo’s Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino. “In just 13 years, she has helped to elevate our veterinary program and care to the highest level, and it comes as no surprise to us here at the Zoo that Liz is being recognized for all her hard work and dedication. We are infinitely grateful to Liz and are so proud of her for receiving such deserving recognition.”

McCrae enjoys the varying aspects of her work at the Zoo and the incredible opportunity to educate young minds about the amazing animals she cares for at the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital. She takes pride in being able to not only inspire the public to care about the natural world and the animals that we share it with, but also inspiring young conservationists and visitors to become veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Some of McCrae’s favorite animals to work with include Elok, the Zoo’s male Sumatran orangutan, and female Indian rhinoceros, Niki.

McCrae received a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the Ohio State University, worked for the Columbus Zoo as a seasonal zoo keeper, earned an associates’ degree of veterinary technology from Tulsa (OK) Community College and worked for the Tulsa Zoo as a registered veterinary technician for three years.

The Oklahoma City Zoo is in its winter hours and open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last entry at 4 p.m., and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through February 8, 2023. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular daytime admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay connected with the Zoo on FacebookTwitterInstagramLinktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo fans can support the OKC Zoo by becoming a ZOOfriends member. Starting at $45, memberships can be purchased at www.okczoo.org/membership and provide access to the OKC Zoo for an entire year plus, additional benefits and discounts. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.