Lucy Hewitt recently received the Town N Country Team Value Award, an honor that reflects not only her work ethic but the heart she brings to our hospital. One of our core values is “TNC Values Team”, and Lucy lives that out every day.
Lucy joined TNC in the fall of 2021 as a Veterinary Assistant, when she was a student at Elon. From the beginning, she has approached every task with empathy and a calm presence. Whether she’s handling drop-off appointments or supporting our veterinarians through procedures, she helps both pets and people feel at ease. But her impact goes far beyond her job description.
Advocating for Her Team. One of the reasons Lucy was chosen for the Team Value Award is her commitment to supporting the mental health and well‑being of her coworkers. We value team, and so does Lucy! She believes deeply in advocating for employees, creating space for honest conversations, and making sure no one feels alone in the emotional weight that comes with veterinary work.That passion led her to be a part of Revamp, a group formed to identify areas where the TNC team could grow and make meaningful changes.
Revamp has suggested ways to strengthening communication within and between the various departments at Town N Country. For example, Slack messages only stayed on the app for 90 days, making it hard to keep track of important updates. Lucy helped champion the move to Slack Premium so information stays accessible. Lucy also helped create a Google suggestion form to gather ideas, concerns, and solutions, and began regular meetings with leadership to discuss patient care and workflow challenges.
Lucy is also a big believer in the power of play, saying that it signals psychological safety, helping people feel comfortable expressing themselves and preventing burnout. She’s also helping organize a paint-and-sip night, giving the team a chance to see each other out of work, as people, “not just coworkers in scrubs”.
In her words: “Our jobs are hard. We see people on the worst days of their lives, and we’re there for joyful beginnings and heartbreaking endings. We need joy on the hard days. We’re not machines. We need each other.” Lucy shows up for her team in those moments, offering a shoulder to cry on, a laugh when it’s needed most, and a reminder that no one carries the emotional load alone.
Looking Ahead. This August, Lucy will begin graduate school to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a path inspired by her time at Town N Country, which has been a stepping stone she never expected.
Her ability to communicate with clients, her commitment to high-quality medicine, and her instinct to walk alongside families *and* their pets are all qualities that will serve her well in her next chapter. We’re going to miss Lucy, but are excited to see what her future holds.
Lucy is a model of the core values we strive to live every day. The Team Value Award couldn’t be in better hands.
