Dr. Anastasia Lucignani decided to become a veterinarian after watching her childhood dog Molly survive emergency surgery for a lacerated jugular vein, and she has carried that same intensity into a relief career built around choosing happiness. She worked her way up from shelter assistant to hospital receptionist to ICU technician before vet school, then taught at St. George's University before moving into relief work in the States. Her most memorable shift found her back at her old vet school clinic in Grenada, teaching students online through the island's first pandemic lockdown. This profile first ran on Relief Rover, the relief-vet community platform that joined Hound in 2023.

In Her Own Words

What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

"My childhood dog and sister, Molly, was hit by a car, a truck that didn't even stop. Her jugular vein was lacerated and bleeding out from the inside. My dad found the source and held it off until we rushed her to our local DVM, who performed a long, thorough, and I'm sure intense surgery. After many days of hospitalization, Molly came home a happy and healthy dog, and I knew I wanted to make a difference in other dogs' and families' lives like our vet did."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What states are you licensed in, or working toward?

"Arizona, Colorado, and Florida."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What roles have you had within the veterinary profession, and outside of it?

"My first job was at a pizza buffet, which was a great start to customer service, and delicious pizza. Soon after, I was lucky enough to start assisting under the DVMs at the local animal shelter. After that, I became a receptionist at a wonderful high volume GP and ER hospital that trained me as a technician, and then I moved on to work in the UF Small Animal Hospital ICU before getting accepted to vet school. As a DVM, I completed a specialty and ER internship for a year. I taught students at St. George's University, and then continued on to relief work in the States."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What made you switch to relief practice?

"Relief work gives me the adrenaline rush and learning experience I crave, and allows me to live with more flexibility and freedom to pursue my other endeavors."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?

"The challenge of working in different hospitals with different staff. I get to learn from so many others, bring what I learn to another team, reinforce the way I want to practice, and use the resources available to me wherever I am. It keeps me on my toes. There's also the ability to really help out when coverage is needed, and the flexibility to practice vet med and explore. Being mobile isn't for everyone, but it works for me."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet?

"The inability to follow through with cases, the difficulty in building lasting interpersonal relationships over time with staff and clients, and the lack of a routine schedule."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

How do you feel that relief practice supports the veterinary profession as a whole?

"Everything in life is constantly changing. When hospitals or staff have to alter their course, relief vets are always there to support whichever practice they can, so that our profession remains steady and animals and clients remain taken care of."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?

"Stethoscope, pen, name tag, phone, calculator, a light, and a smile."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What do you look for in practices when deciding to cover shifts for them?

"I mostly look for the chance to work there. However, I do prepare myself by checking whether they have specialists, a full staff, surgeries, and equipment."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet?

"Be open. Medicine, workflow, practice organization, even the music that's played, everything will be different at each place you go. Use it as a learning advantage, and persevere. The cases on the ER board will dwindle down eventually."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What is your most memorable relief job?

"This year, I returned to Grenada to work at my vet school clinic. Two weeks after starting, the pandemic took over and the island went into lockdown. While it changed the usual island way of life, I was able to teach and help students with clinical medicine in the new online version of vet school, as well as work cases that were special to such a small community. I felt like I really helped to make a difference."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What advice would you give new relief vets, or someone thinking about becoming one?

"You can love vet med and other things, it's okay. If you are flexible, mobile, and not tied down to any one location, then hop in a van or a plane and go work relief."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

How has the global pandemic affected your relief practice?

"The pandemic has reinforced the need to stay healthy and to practice good health around others. It has also added volume, the challenge of being unable to read your clients in the room, and having to rely on so much phone conversation."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?

"Everything. Mostly traveling, sailing, surfing, music, hiking, climbing, snowboarding, dancing, and befriending all dogs, which is very crucial."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani

Anything else you'd like to share?

"Vet med is a challenging cherry on top to the lives of those who choose it. Focus on the good, maintain your health, do the best you can, and choose happiness in all that you do."
Dr. Anastasia Lucignani