Heather Long, a Rhode Island native, started working as a veterinary technician in 1995 in general practice.

In the year 2000, she followed her aspirations of becoming an emergency veterinary technician and joined the team at New England Animal Medical Center, then called Animal Emergency Center. She became a certified veterinary technician 2003.

In 2004, she relocated, leaving AEC, and spent a few years practicing as a head technician in general practice and exotic/wildlife medicine. She also welcomed her two daughters into the world.

Returning to emergency medicine in 2007, she spent the next 12 years building her career. She obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialist credential in emergency and critical care (VTS (ECC) in 2017. Over the course of her career, she became largely passionate about teaching veterinary medicine and sharing her skills and knowledge with technicians, interns and residents. She has taught advanced skills such as, ventilator nursing care, central line and female urinary catheter placement as well as Mila chest tube placement.

Heather was instrumental in building, designing and supervising the technician training program at her last hospital. In her role as the technician training supervisor, she presented training lectures and labs on subjects such as neonatal care, patient assessments, central and peripheral IV catheter care and placement, placing and managing feeding tubes, central and peripheral vascular cut down techniques, bandaging, CPR, continuous thoracic suctioning and client communications.

Heather has also lectured at the Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Symposium at the New England Institute of Technology on Tetanus.

In 2019, she returned to New England Animal Medical Center. She is the head technician trainer and ECC Liaison. She is currently building and supervising the technician training program.

In her free time, she spends as much time as possible with her now teenage daughters, family and animal family. She has three cats, a guinea pig and 10 chickens.