Celebrating Amy Rodriguez: Three decades of excellent patient care and championing people
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For many across the Veterinary Health System, it is hard to imagine VHS Clinical Care or the anesthesia service without Amy Rodriguez.
For nearly three decades, Rodriguez has been a consistent presence in the hospital, caring for patients, supporting colleagues, and helping guide the anesthesia service through growth and change. As a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia and analgesia, she built a reputation for clinical excellence, but those who know her best say her greatest impact can be found in the people she mentored and the culture she helped create.
As she retires from the Veterinary Health System and her position as anesthesia core manager, colleagues reflect on a career that touched nearly every corner of clinical care.
“I didn’t think the day would come that I would still be here without her,” said Dr. Khursheed Mama, clinical sciences department head and veterinary anesthesiologist, who worked alongside Amy for 28 years. “It feels like a huge sense of loss, as she was an excellent anesthetist, helped navigate people and situational challenges, dedicated herself to maintaining a high standard of patient care, and supported her team.”
A foundation in excellent patient care
At the center of Rodriguez’s career was a simple focus: doing what was best for the patient.
As a veterinary technician specialist, she combined expertise, efficiency, and compassion in a way that earned colleagues’ respect across services and species. Her commitment to animal well-being set a high standard for those around her and helped keep patient care at the center of every decision.
“Her care for patients was exceptional, among the best I have worked with,” said Mama.
That commitment never changed, whether Rodriguez cared for a patient herself or helped lead the anesthesia team.
“Amy never lost sight of why we are here: our patients,” said Andrea Kessens, newly appointed anesthesia core manager. “She consistently advocated for high-quality care and helped foster an environment where patient care remained at the center of every decision.”
Investing in people
While Rodriguez is known for her clinical expertise, her impact on the people around her also characterized her career.
Over the years, she became a trusted mentor, advisor, and advocate for countless team members.
“Amy invested in people,” said Kessens. “She encouraged growth, challenged individuals to reach their potential, and supported them along the way. Many of us are better leaders and teammates because of her guidance and example.”
That investment helped shape careers across the hospital and created opportunities for others to grow into leadership roles of their own.
“She is also the reason I knew early on that I wanted my career at CSU to be my end game,” said Kessens.
Her leadership style earned her team’s respect because she never asked others to do something she wouldn’t do herself.
“She leads by example,” said Dr. Pedro Boscan, professor and veterinary anesthesiologist. “She takes the brunt for the team often, which has generated enormous trust and dedication by the people she oversees.”
As a supervisor, she helped navigate staffing shortages, onboarded new team members, and supported her team through significant growth and change.
Building a lasting culture
Retirement marks the close of an important chapter, but Rodriguez’s influence will continue to be felt throughout the hospital every day.
“Amy was a team member who believed in service and supporting other teams and tried to find solutions through conflicts, as often arise when you are a service being sourced by many,” said Mama.
Those efforts helped create a culture where people felt supported, valued, and connected to a shared purpose.
“Amy helped shape the culture of the hospital through her leadership and commitment to excellence,” said Kessens. “Her influence can be seen in the standards we uphold, the way our team works together, and the focus on providing the best possible care.”