Barbie’s Neurology Journey: How a Cuban Immigrant Became a Veterinary Anesthesia Advocate

The hum of the MRI machine fills the room as Barbie Santiesteban carefully adjusts the positioning of Gizmo, a dachshund paralyzed from intervertebral disc disease. This scan marks a critical step before the dog undergoes a life-changing hemilaminectomy. As a Certified Veterinary Technician in neurology at Southeast Veterinary Neurology, Barbie has prepared hundreds of patients for complex surgeries, but she never takes these moments for granted.