
Start Your Veterinary Journey with Vetward
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If your child is considering a future in veterinary medicine, Vetward classes can give them a valuable advantage.
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- Entry-level opportunities are limited, early experience can make a big difference.
- Vetward helps students stand out by teaching real, hands-on veterinary skills.
- Participants learn genuine technical skills that can be confidently listed on applications and demonstrated in future education or career opportunities.
- Vetward gives students the chance to develop practical skills, explore their interests, and stand out when it’s time to take the next step.
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Real skills. Real experience. Real advantage.

- Thinking about becoming a veterinarian or vet tech?
- Curious about science or medicine?
- An animal lover?
- Looking to learn new hands-on skills?
- Interested in trying something new?
* Age exceptions may be made for 10 or 11 year olds on individual basis
Are you 12-18 years old* and:
Then Vetward is for you!
Testimonials

“This program is so amazing for kids!”

“My daughter loves your classes and can't wait to take the next one!”
Vetward: Moving toward a veterinary life

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
- H. Keller
Our Mission


We offer an early start into veterinary science by providing a unique opportunity for those interested in veterinary medicine or animal care to engage in real-world, hands-on instruction and skill-building that they might typically be too young to experience. We start with beginning fundamental skills and build on that with each level teaching progressively more difficult skills. Our goal is to provide a real advantage to those interested in the competitive veterinary field.
Our Story
With many years of veterinary experience, owner Dr. Kelly Stern has met countless kids and teens who are very interested in veterinary medicine but have limited opportunities to get involved due to their age.
Several years ago, she began developing a unique idea to provide the opportunity for young people to get an early start in the veterinary field. When starting anything new, there is always the temptation to wait until everything is perfect to start, but the truth is that the perfect time will likely never come. Furthermore, her life experiences have shown that kids are usually capable of more than most people give them credit for; and that you should never let fear hold you back from doing hard things. So, in 2025, she decided to launch this venture in Upstate South Carolina.
She plans to consistently add material, content, and services with ambitious future expansion plans. The goal is to offer serious instruction and hands-on practice in real veterinary skills to young animal lovers with each level of classes teaching progressively more difficult skills. These skills will provide a real and unique advantage to those hoping to get into the competitive veterinary field. If this sounds like you, come give it a try!

What Makes Us Special

Hands-On

Real Skills

Small Classes

Some examples of course material:
​- Proper animal restraint methods (how to safely hold an animal for different procedures)
- Assessing vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, hydration)
- Basic use of stethoscope
- Bandaging techniques
- Administering medications
- Performing basic diagnostic tests
- Making and reading microscope samples
- Wound care
- Positioning for radiographs (xrays)
- Suture techniques
- Venipuncture (drawing blood)
- Placing IV catheters
- Anatomy
- Pharmaceutical math (how to calculate medications)
- Vet career options and requirements
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Current Courses
Beginning Fundamentals Course


Skills Learned:
- How to approach animals safely
- Proper restraint (how to safely hold animals for procedures)
- Basic use of stethoscope
- How to assess vital signs
- Bandaging techniques
- Syringe handling
** All students must start with this course first **
** Must be 12-18 or contact for exception**
Level 2 Classes:
Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class
Suture Lab (Level 2)


New Skills Learned:
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​- Intro to basic surgical equipment
- Holding instruments correctly​
- Opening and closing needle driver smoothly​
- Basic suturing techniques and do's/don'ts​
- Inserting and extracting needle smoothly
- How to follow suture pattern diagrams​
- Making square knot and surgeon's knot​
- Basic interrupted and continuous suture patterns​
All students get their own suture pad, basic suture instrument kit and practice suture to keep
Level 2 Capstone




*Must have taken all Level 2 classes prior to taking this class*
New Skills Learned:
- Taking history
- Flow of typical vet appointment
- Reading and using veterinary records
- Presenting vet information​
Level 2 skills tested with mock cases:
Each student will have an individual mock case and will have to:​
- Take a history
- Use and record vet record
- Take vital signs and document
- Present case
- Restrain for exam
- Suggest diagnostic tests from past Level 2 classes
- Perform diagnostic tests
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**Performance in this class will indicate if the student is ready to move on to Level 3 classes (pass/fail)**​​​
Level 3 Courses Coming Soon!!
**Must have passed Level 2 Capstone to take Level 3 classes**
Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class
Upcoming Courses
Injection Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:

- Locations for injections
- Reconstituting medication​
- Drawing up injectable medications
- Syringe measurement
- Basic drug math
- Practice giving injections using models
Blood Draw Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:

- Anatomical locations for IV blood draws
- Restraint for different locations
- Practice drawing simulated blood on models
- Using blood tubes
IV Catheter Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:

- Anatomical locations for IV catheters
- Restraint for different locations
- Preparing for placing IV catheter on small animals
- Practice placing IV catheters on models
Stay tuned - More to come!

"Life experience is what defines our character." - N. Schulman

"In life, we only regret the chances we didn't take." - L. Carroll

"Confidence comes from being prepared." - J. Wooden

"Life experience is what defines our character." - N. Schulman