Andrea Oncken

Traveling locum veterinary criticalist for various 24-hour multi-specialty veterinary hospitals. Cover critical care shifts for university teaching hospitals and several private practice hospitals. Responsibilities range from advanced medical and surgical management of emergent and critical patients to teaching veterinary interns, residents, and students in clinics and through case rounds.

• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Work effectively in fast-paced and dynamic environments.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Work well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Learn and adapt quickly to new technology and software applications.

Critical Care Specialist and Chief Innovation Officer at new start-up Veterinary Specialty Center in the Bay area. Worked as a veterinary specialist while helping implement new Standards of Practice and Medical Protocols for a successful start-up.

• Spearheaded development of innovative strategies to enhance product offerings.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement new technology solutions.
• Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Facilitated brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas and solutions.
• Fostered a culture of innovation through mentorship and training programs for staff.
• Fostered a culture of innovation by encouraging creative thinking among team members.

Spearheaded the establishment and implementation of medical standards and protocols for a cutting-edge 24-hour multi-specialty hospital, playing a pivotal role in its inception. Led the setup and management of the hospital's hemodialysis unit, optimizing the facility's capabilities for specialized treatments. Drove the application and acceptance process for recognition as a VECCS Certified Level I Facility as well as a Level II Trauma Center, underscoring the hospital's commitment to excellence in emergency and critical care.

• Provided guidance and education to emergency DVM's and technical staff, ensuring a high level of expertise in critical care practices.
• Spearheaded initiation of emergency and critical care services, as well as the establishment of the extracorporeal therapies department in the newly built hospital.
• Successfully obtained the esteemed designation of our hospital as a Level II Trauma Center, and accomplished the recognition of becoming a Level I VECCS Facility.
• Successfully established and managed a hemodialysis unit, contributing to enhanced patient care within the ICU.
• Actively participated in patient care within the ER & ICU and served on the on-call team for emergency surgeries and endoscopies, ensuring prompt and efficient medical interventions.
• Established and coordinated hospital-wide monthly Journal Club and topic rounds, fostering continuous learning and knowledge exchange among the medical professionals.

Served as a Full-time Critical Care Specialist and Medical Director at a bustling 24-hour multi-specialty hospital in the Seattle metro area, overseeing medical and surgical care for hospitalized and emergency patients. Managed the Extracorporeal Therapy Programs, ensuring the delivery of specialized therapies to patients in need. Led the Medical Safety Committee, overseeing the implementation of protocols to ensure the safety and effectiveness of patient care, fostering and environment of continuous improvement and best practices.

• Collaborated with Regional and National Corporate Management, actively contributing ideas and strategies to enhance medical practices not only within my hospital but also across all BluePearl hospitals, aiming for continuous growth and improvement.
• Provided direct supervision to the DVM team, ensuring the team's efficiency and effectiveness in delivering high-quality patient care.
• Developed and implemented hospital-wide medical policies and procedures, ensuring standardization and adherence to best practices across all medial activity with in the hospital.

Acted as Director of Intensive Care and Emergency Departments at a busy 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital, overseeing all aspects of medical care in the ICU and emergency department. Served as a full-time Critical Care Specialist, offering specialized care to critically ill patients requiring emergency services, ensuring adequate staffing and seamless patient care.

• Proved direct supervision to the emergency veterinary staff, ensuring high standards of medical care and patient safety.
• Shared on-call responsibilities for soft tissue emergency surgeries, contributing to timely and critical surgical interventions when required.
• Mentored rotating and surgical interns, residents, and student externs, imparting knowledge and guidance to the next generation of veterinary professionals.
• Supervised design and development of the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit in a new, state-of-the-art hospital.
• Contributed to the development of cutting-edge medical facilities and practices.

Medical Director and Critical Care Specialist at a large non-profit hospital in Portland, Oregon. Instrumental in growing DoveLewis from an emergency hospital into a 24-hour multi-specialty hospital with a training program for house-officers and a brand-new 2000 square-foot state of the art facility.

• Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance patient care quality and outcomes.
• Oversaw budget management, resource allocation, and operational efficiency within clinical departments.
• Mentored junior medical staff and house officers, fostering professional development and enhancing team performance.
• Collaborated with stakeholders to align organizational goals with patient-centered care initiatives.
• Supervised clinical staff, providing continuous professional development opportunities and training to maintain and strengthen competencies.
• Oversaw and developed clinical departments through hiring, training and evaluating staff.
• Developed quarterly and yearly objectives, goals and budgets in addition to devising suggestions to decrease spending.