Allison Recancoj advances veterinary care through leadership and resilience

Veterinary operations leader Allison Recancoj is being highlighted for a career that blends clinical skill, laboratory animal science, and team development. Her path reflects both the pressures facing women and Latina professionals in veterinary medicine and the role strong leadership plays in animal care.

Why it matters: - Allison Recancoj’s career shows how veterinary medicine depends on both clinical expertise and strong operations. - Her focus on mentorship and workflow improvement affects care quality, team stability, and training for future veterinary technicians. - Her story also reflects the barriers many women, younger professionals, and Latina leaders still face in the field.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Allison Michelle Recancoj, a veterinary medicine and animal health professional based in the Greater Portland Area. - Recancoj’s background spans clinical veterinary practice, laboratory animal science, and veterinary operations. - Her career path includes roles at Banfield Pet Hospital, Pet Care Animal Hospital, and Labcorp Early Drug Development. - The profile was published September 23, 2026. - More information is available through Allison Recancoj’s Influential Women profile.

The details: - Recancoj earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences with a minor in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. - She holds certifications as a Laboratory Animal Technologist, Laboratory Animal Technician, and Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician. - At Banfield Pet Hospital, she moved from a client-facing reception role into a veterinary assistant position. - At Pet Care Animal Hospital, she worked as a veterinary assistant and inventory manager, handling procurement, supply chain coordination, budgeting, and cost control. - At Labcorp Early Drug Development, she spent more than two and a half years in veterinary operations and advanced to Team Lead Veterinary Technician of Veterinary Operations. - In that role, she manages and mentors veterinary technicians, oversees training and onboarding, and works on workflow improvements. - Her technical duties include triaging complex cases, administering medications, performing surgical procedures, monitoring anesthesia and vital signs, conducting dental cleanings, and supporting diagnostic and laboratory procedures. - Recancoj has said veterinary medicine and laboratory research can be difficult, and she has considered leaving the profession at times. - She also said she has encountered questioning and disbelief tied to being young, Latina, and a woman in professional settings.

Between the lines: - Recancoj’s profile points to a broader shift in veterinary medicine: technical skill alone is not enough if teams lack support, training, and operational discipline. - Her emphasis on empathy in the workplace suggests that retention and performance in animal care may depend as much on culture as on credentials. - Her experience also underscores how representation can shape who is seen as belonging in leadership roles.

What's next: - Recancoj plans to keep building her career in veterinary operations and animal health. - She is focused on supporting the next generation of veterinary technicians and creating stronger, more collaborative teams. - Her longer-term goal is to help improve animal medicine and health through leadership that combines technical knowledge with compassion.

The bottom line: - Recancoj’s career is a case study in how veterinary leaders can combine hands-on care, operational management, and mentorship to improve outcomes for animals and the people who care for them.