The best veterinarian in the nation is right in the North Penn area.
Dr. Joseph Rossi, who opened North Penn Animal Hospital in 1996, was awarded the inaugural Veterinarian of the Year honor by Westminster Kennel Club and Trupanion. Rossi accepted the award at last week’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
According to the article on Showsight Magazine online, the online award was created to honor and celebrate veterinarians who make a difference in pets’ lives. Westminster Kennel Club is donating $10,000 in the name of Dr. Rossi to the nonprofit MightyVet, which offers mental wellbeing and continuing education solutions to veterinarians, students, and veterinary technicians.
According to a 2019 study, veterinarians are twice as likely to commit suicide than the general population.
Veterinary care struck Rossi in the second grade when he cared for and raised orphaned robins. As Rossi, 59, told TODAY.com, in the sixth grade, he tried to get help for an injured chicken who was badly attacked by a raccoon, but no veterinarian would agree to treat the fowl.
So, with his mom as his aide, Rossi stitched the chicken’s wounds and saved its life.
“Ever since then, I said, ‘You know what? I’ll see anybody’s animal at any time,’” he told TODAY.
He went on to graduate from Delaware Valley College in Doylestown and garnered a veterinary degree from Ross University on the West Indies island of St. Kitts in 1987. He went on to complete clinical studies at Oklahoma State University and Ontario Veterinary College.
According to the Showsight report, Rossi completed an externship at Rochester Equine Clinic and focused on large animal care, surgery, and reproduction in his early career. Rossi is skilled in many surgical procedures, including orthopedic, soft tissue, reproduction, and dentistry on animals big and small.
In 2009, Rossi and his office began using stem cell therapy to treat osteo arthritis and IBS in animals, per the report.
Rossi told TODAY he credits his employees and team at his practice at 1200 Welsh Road, right across the border of Lansdale Borough, as the reason why he won the honor.
“Veterinary medicine isn’t my profession — it’s my life. Everything we do revolves around animals. At our practice, with my employees, it’s the same way,” he told TODAY. “Animals are their lives.”
Rossi told TODAY veterinary professionals face mental health challenges daily.
“We’re human, too,” Rossi told Jen Reeder of TODAY. “We all do the best we can. But it’s not like fixing a car. You look into [the animal’s] eyes and they get into your heart. And when it doesn’t go well, it’s horrible for the owner, but it’s horrible on us, too. We take it personally. We cry ourselves.”
Rossi, his wife Jill and their three children share their farm with more than 60 pets, including seven dogs, five cats, donkeys, horses, Scottish Highland cattle, and rescued chickens.
Rossi is no stranger to the Westminster Kennel Club – his own Norwich terrier named Doloris won best in breed at the 2020 dog show. Rossi’s other dogs include an Irish wolfhound named Big Al, a Jack Russell Terrier named Heidi Klum, and a Spinone Italiano called Tony the Spinone.
Regional finalists for Veterinarian of the Year included Dr. Ryan Carpenter in Grand Rapids, MI, Dr. Cindy Smith of Lakewood, WA, and Dr. Brian Jones of Oklahoma City, OK.
Patients and friends of Dr. Rossi left congratulatory messages on the North Penn Animal Hospital website.
“Congratulations Joe!” wrote Kathy Radde. “Pat McDevitt and I always knew you are the best. Thank you from all the MaPaw Rescue pups you have helped.”
“This is a well-deserved award. You show compassion when you walk in the exam room,” wrote Linda Mohr. “Your compassion is only surpassed by your talent. I am reminded of your talent every time I look at our dog Kiffle. By all rights she should not be with us, but she is and bouncing like Bouviers do. This is all thanks to you.”
Dr. Terry Ochterski, of Suburban Animal Centre in Maple Heights, OH, has known Rossi for years and said he is dedicated to his profession.
“He is extremely knowledgeable in the field of veterinary medicine. His knowledge is only surpassed by his compassion for the patients he treats on a daily basis. I can’t think of a better recipient for this award then Dr. Rossi. He is a true professional and I’m proud to call him a friend for so many years. Congratulations to him and the staff of his hospital,” wrote Ochterski on the article on the Showsight Magazine website.
North Penn Animal Hospital employs six veterinarians: Dr. Alex Bilello, Dr. Allison Volpe, Dr. Dana Hatfield, Dr. Dawn Goldacker, Dr. Lilliana Rosignoli, and Dr. Shaun Johnson. There is also a four-member management team, eight client care staff members, an office manager, 14 outpatient nurses (including Fairmount Fire Co. firefighter Tani Stout), six inpatient nurses, a pet care technician, and a pet groomer. It offers boarding services as well.
North Penn Animal Hospital is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call them at 215-855-5853.
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