The Heart Behind the Care

Aaron Inserra didn’t set out to spend his career in veterinary cardiology. But fifteen years into his role at UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego, it’s clear that cardiology is his calling.

Aaron is an Associate of Science and Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) who has been with the cardiology team since the early days of the center. Long before that, his path into veterinary medicine began somewhere else entirely.

“Originally, I wanted to work with exotic species, so I got my start working with primates as a student researcher at the University of Washington almost 20 years ago.”

That early curiosity for animals eventually led Aaron to veterinary medicine – and ultimately cardiology. Here in San Diego, that expertise couldn’t be more needed. “Cardiology is quite rare in this area of the state. San Diego has a lot of pets per capita, so the need for care far outstretches the available resources.”

It’s a gap that Aaron and the cardiology team work to close every single day. His role within the service is as expansive as the need itself. “I do a bit of everything for the service. I act as a liaison between care givers, family members, referring veterinarians, staff members and faculty. I also provide nursing care to both outpatient and inpatient pets. I order interventional supplies and help to maintain diagnostic equipment. We are a teaching hospital, so I also help to train and educate rotating students, interns and residents.”

That range of responsibility, from hands-on patient care to mentoring the next generation of veterinary professionals, reflects the culture of a team that sees its work as bigger than any single role. And for Aaron, the support of the wider community has made that work possible in ways he finds genuinely meaningful.

“We have a compassionate care fund that helps many patients every year get access to care that would normally not be available due to financial constraints. We have also benefited from donations that have allowed us to keep our diagnostic equipment on the cutting edge.”

Looking ahead to the opening of UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center, Aaron sees the expansion as a natural next chapter. One that will allow the team to do even more of what they do best. 

It will allow access to state-of-the-art veterinary medicine with one of the premier veterinary facilities in the country.”

And after 15 years of care and dedication, the best is still to come!