Terri Bluhm, A.A.S.
Patient Care Coordinator, Oncology
I was raised in Greeley, Colorado by my paternal grandmother, who instilled in me not only a love of animals, but also a love of medicine. She earned her master’s degree in nursing and started a non-profit organization for in-home health care, the Rehabilitation and Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA), northern Colorado’s only non-profit, community-based home health care agency.
Our home was a very happy place to grow up. We had many different types of animals and I loved caring for them and taking them in for their yearly wellness visits. At 7 years old, I decided that I was wanted to work in veterinary medicine when I grew up.
After high school, I enrolled at the Bel-Rea Institute of Veterinary Technology in Denver, Colorado. After graduating and earning my certification in 2000, I spent several years working in general practice. I had developed a deep respect for the quality of medicine and excellent research practiced at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. I was very lucky to be offered a position with the Flint Animal Cancer Center in April of 2013. I still have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure I’m not dreaming, because this is an extraordinary place to work and learn.
I feel a deep connection with our patients and clients because cancer has touched my life in so many ways. Many people and pets I love have battled cancer. My paternal grandmother, who passed away from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, was a breast cancer survivor. My maternal grandmother died of lung cancer while surrounded by the people she loved. Most recently, I lost my very favorite dog after a short battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. Her name was Annie. She was the flower girl in my wedding and the scruffy blonde dog in the photo. I miss her very much.
Life has blessed me with so many wonderful people and opportunities. I am very happy to be living in Fort Collins with my amazing husband, Scott and our beautiful daughter, Sadie. We have a goofy standard poodle named Hank, a black cat named Banjo, a red eared slider turtle named Garcia and a sucker fish named Pickles. Being from Colorado, I’m glad that I have found my dream job so that I never have to leave the only place I have ever called home.