Embedded VSWs in Action: A Panel on the Private ER & Specialty VSW World (Panel): Room A

Veterinary Social Worker Chelsey Nisbet was SAGE Veterinary Center’s first-ever VSW and is based out of SAGE – Campbell in Campbell, CA. Chelsey is a master’s level social worker who has worked in the veterinary industry, helping both team members and clients, since 2019. Previously, Chelsey worked in county and state-level public human services agencies supporting children and families since 2009. Chelsey holds a master’s degree from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a grief support specialist certificate from University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Sandra Brackenridge, LCSW, BCD has been practicing Clinical Social Work since 1983 in various settings and in three states: Louisiana, Idaho, and Texas. She maintains a small private practice, and she supervises social workers for their clinical licensure. As Coordinator of Counseling Services at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine 1990-1994, she developed a social work internship, a pet loss counseling program, an animal-assisted therapy program, and a counseling service for veterinary students. This was one of the first counseling programs in a school of veterinary medicine, and the first program to offer all components. She left LSU to teach Social Work at Idaho State University from 1994-2008, and she continued as an Associate Professor of Social Work at Texas Woman’s University. She has published numerous articles, chapters, and two books. She served as Pet Loss Consultant for the Idaho and for the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundations. She created and supervised the veterinary social work program and internship at the Center for Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Care from 2013-2020. Sandra provides consultation to other practices who wish to develop a veterinary social work program. She presents locally and nationally about issues in the veterinary profession, wellness topics for veterinary professionals, implementation of a veterinary social work program in veterinary hospitals, suicide prevention and grief due to suicide for veterinary professionals. She teaches for the University of Tennessee’s certificate program in Veterinary Social Work. In October 2018 Sandra received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Taylor St. Onge, always knew she wanted to work in a helping profession, but wasn’t always quite sure what that would look like. Growing up in a house full of nurses, Taylor knew early on that path wasn’t for her. In college, Taylor discovered the holistic field of social work, and knew that was where her passion could find its home. Taylor attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and completed her internship at Seasons Hospice working to provide comfort and support to hospice patients and their families. Following this, Taylor finished her Master’s degree in Social Work, along with a Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care, also from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She completed a year long veterinary social work internship with Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists, and was hired on as a full-time veterinary social worker upon her graduation. Taylor has extensive experience dealing with grief and loss, quality of life discussions, emotionally charged situations, and associate wellness. Taylor joined Premier Veterinary Group in April of 2023. She currently lives in Milwaukee with her two cats, Basilton and Butters, and her dog, Bertie.

Neil Staplin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Milwaukee, WI. Neil graduated
with his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from UW-Whitewater, and his master’s in Social Work
from George Williams College in William’s Bay, WI. He began his career as an inpatient
therapist, conducting both individual and group therapy for folks navigating some of the most
challenging mental health problems. From there, Neil moved on to become a Veterinary Social
Worker with the WVRC network of ER and Specialty clinics in the Milwaukee area. Serving 3
hospitals and utilizing the knowledge and expertise gained from his time working in inpatient
psychiatric care, Neil built his VSW program from the ground up beginning in September of
2020. Now finishing his fourth year with WVRC in September, Neil has continued to dedicate his
career to the advancement of Veterinary Social Work, and the growth of the field as a whole
through advocacy, awareness, and program development.

Andrea Lindquist is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and joined VCA in 2021. Andrea received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in gerontology from CSU Fullerton and her Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in aging and families from CSU Long Beach. Her career spans over 25 years providing mental health services and counseling to adults and the elderly. Previously specializing in psychiatric, dementia, and caregiving issues, Andrea has worked in hospital and clinic settings and has held a private practice. Andrea has also been a lifelong animal enthusiast and volunteer for organizations such as the Delta Therapy Dog Program, Guide Dogs of America, and various horseback riding clubs for the disabled. She is thrilled to have an opportunity to blend her life-long love for animals with her passion for helping others in a professional capacity!