News Archives: Dr. Lana Delaney Fulfilled Her Passion
Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
.jpg&w=380)
Dr. Lana Delaney took a rather unusual path to becoming co-owner of an Equine Surgical and Ambulatory Clinic in Sherwood Park with her husband Dr. Ryan Shoemaker.
Delaney was always comfortable around horses, after all, she grew up running race horses with her family. Despite always knowing she wanted to work with animals her path to her current position wasn’t exactly straightforward.
Born and raised in Grande Prairie she started on her career path at GPRC in the Animal Health Technology program. In her two years at the College Delaney developed her interest in animal medicine and her technical skills.
With her love of horses, it is no wonder the memories that stand out for her are in large animal medicine with GPRC instructor Dr. Art Shatz.
“There were many great people at the College, but definitely Dr. Shatz and large animal medicine. Putting paravertebral blocks in a cow stands out in my memory,” says Delaney.
Delaney has run into a number of her instructors from her days at the GPRC, who have helped her along the way, including Dr. Keddie and Dr. McWatt from the North Peace Veterinary clinic. She’s grateful for all they have done for her and getting to work together as colleagues in recent years has been exciting.
Her time at GPRC wasn’t all classes and studying. Delaney has fond memories of spending time with her roommates and going to Happy Hour. The friendships and bonds she developed all those years ago have turned into lifelong friends and colleagues.
For Delaney GPRC was a great place to start her successful career. The College supported her to make the adjustment from high school and her life at home to the large classes of 360 people she would encounter in university. GPRC provided the opportunity to discover herself and her interests, and prepare herself for her future.
After she graduated from the two-year program at GPRC in 1991 she spent seven years in Edmonton and Humboldt, working as a registered veterinary technologist, then a feedlot rider and treater, then again as a technologist.
After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, Delaney stayed on to complete an internship in Large Animal Surgery.
It took time, and exploration, but Delaney now says, from her own experience, that everyone should “try to find a career or lifestyle that allows you to get up every morning, put a smile on your face, and try to make one other person smile too.”
To the future students at GPRC and students of animal science, she says, “When starting out as a career in animal science, it can turn into more than just a job, but a lifestyle. It can open so many doors for you if you are willing to fulfill your passion and reach out to those around you for sound advice.”
As for her own future, Delaney sees herself going to more horse shows with her daughter, and spending each day trying to make others smile along with her.
