Hello there, this is Joseph Koza, a vet tech by trade, animal caretaker by passion, and an outdoorsman by weekend. He lives in Wauconda, Illinois nearby his elderly parents.

Background:
Graduated from Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, IL

He was in the top 15% of his class and a member of the National Honor Society
While there he was a member of the Wrestling team.

He was also accredited as a soccer referee by the United States Soccer Federation and certified by the Illinois State Referee Committee and officiated games played by the Young Sportsmen’s Soccer League of Arlington Heights, IL.

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How Veterinarians Help Both Animals and People
By Joseph T. Koza

Pet owners have relied on the care and compassion of veterinarians for many years. These healthcare professionals are an important part of an animal’s wellbeing, and are highly trained to provide health and welfare support for many species, says Joseph T. Koza, a vet assistant from Wauconda, Illinois.
In fact, veterinarians stand as the only doctors with the education to protect both animal and human health. Veterinarians play many critical roles in modern society, including disease research, public health, and environmental protection functions.

Veterinarians: More than Pet Doctors

When most people think of veterinarians, they think of the clinical care these professionals provide for companion animals like dogs and cats. While this is a vital role for the veterinarian, the practice has grown over the years to encompass many aspects of animal and human health. Veterinarians can be found in such diverse areas of practice as:

Teaching and research
Regulatory medicine
Public health
Uniformed services
Agriculture
Food Safety and Quality

In the clinical arena, veterinarians may specialize in numerous disciplines. In private or corporate practices, vets may focus on providing care for traditional animals, or may include exotic pets like reptiles, birds, small mammals, and fish. Others may apply their training and experience in caring for farm animals such as horses, cattle, and pigs. The veterinary field is incredibly diverse, and the field is continually evolving.

Research and Regulation: Veterinary Contributions
Veterinarians can be found throughout the academic, industry, and government environments. Research veterinarians are responsible for developing new treatment protocols for animals as well as studying diseases that can be spread through animal-to-human contact.

Veterinarians in laboratories around the world have made incredible discoveries, including new drugs and biological products for both human and animal use. These vets often have additional training in pharmacology, pathology, or toxicology, giving them the tools they need to make groundbreaking research discoveries.

Research often leads to improved regulation, and the work that vets do is no exception. Employed by state and federal agencies, veterinarians are tasked with identifying disease vectors and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Food safety agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration have based their inspection and regulatory programs on the research conducted by animal health professionals.

Veterinary Work in the Uniformed Services
The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is responsible for the health and welfare of animals in military environments. This includes the pets of military members and their families, but goes far beyond this routine clinical role. Army vets care for the health of military working dogs, such as those used in emergency operations or for security. These professionals are also responsible for developing bioterrorism responses and communicable disease control programs, particularly those that involve zoonotic organisms.

Public Health and Food Safety

Veterinarians are a critical part of the public health landscape, helping to identify potential sources of disease while implementing protocols to stop the spread of pathogens. This protects the health of animals and humans alike. Some vets can even be found doing research on environmental issues such as how pesticides affect human and animal communities.

Research vets work closely with agricultural products producers, developing strategies that ensure the food safety throughout the production supply chain. By creating systems to protect animals at every stage of their lives, food safety and quality are improved. Veterinarians are an integral part of our country, performing duties and research that go far beyond the neighborhood pet clinic environment.