Sydney Buckner has been recognized as the 2022 recipient of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Director’s Excellence Award in the student category.
Sydney Buckner, necropsy student assistant, accepts the Director’s Excellence Award from her nominator and supervisor, Aubrey Waggoner
Buckner has served as a student assistant in the necropsy section of TVMDL’s Canyon laboratory since 2021. Since joining the laboratory, Buckner has flourished in her skillset and become a vital member of the pathology team. In her role, she assists pathologists with necropsy examinations to ensure the process is efficient. Buckner is noted for her ability to read the pathologist’s next move, allowing for seamless, thorough evaluations.
“Sydney picked up on the routine of our two pathologists and quickly become a well-oiled machine,” Aubrey Waggoner, necropsy technician and Buckner’s nominator, said. “She knows our procedures in necropsy and is capable of running one of the biggest pieces of equipment in the building, the incinerator.”
Buckner soon gained additional responsibilities similar to that of a full-time employee. Though she is still a student, Buckner has become a trusted resource for her coworkers who often rely on her to prepare the necropsy suite prior to examinations and clean the suite following examinations. She is noted for her punctuality and ability to efficiently juggle the responsibilities of school, her job, and nationally recognized quartet group.
Buckner has expressed interest in becoming a pathologist. Due to this, she has shadowed TVMDL Assistant Agency Director for Pathology Dr. Gabriel Gomez on multiple necropsy examinations.
“Her interest in becoming a pathologist is evident on the necropsy floor,” Gomez said. “She asks thought provoking questions and is able to predict what I am thinking or need while doing necropsies. Sydney is a responsible, focused, serious, extremely smart student assistant who is passionate about pathology, diagnostics, and the field of veterinary medicine.”
Buckner is noted for her assistance during a recent equine necropsy she performed with Dr. Gomez. Part of the examination required Buckner to remove the horse’s spinal cord in multiple sections. While doing so, she discovered a tumor that assisted in the overall diagnosis.
“I am overjoyed she finds the job engaging and insightful,” Waggoner said. “Sydney is a tremendous asset to this agency and the embodiment of what the Director’s Excellence Award stands for.”