DR. JOYCE ASHAMALLA is proud of how much Hinsdale Animal Hospital has grown in the 17 years she’s been at the helm. Her transformation of the long-standing veterinary practice includes moving it to a new state-of-the-art facility that offers many amenities—including doggie day care, boarding, and grooming services. A graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana, Dr. Ashamalla’s dedication and vision continue to elevate the standard of pet care.

What excites you most about the future of your industry? There is so much to be excited about in the future of veterinary medicine! There are so many innovative options of treatments out there that use new technology to help a myriad of conditions. They are coming up with ways to use immunotherapy to treat so many common issues such as allergies and arthritis. And, on a bigger scale, topics such as cancer treatments, gut microbiome, weight loss, anxiety management, and more have gained so much traction that they are applying our advances to the human side of medicine.

What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? Preventive health. I really want to focus on the benefits of keeping your pet at a healthy weight. Pet obesity is a major contributor to a lot of the problems we’re having to treat every day. Often, pet owners simply don’t even realize that their pet is at an unhealthy weight. I encourage evaluating your pet’s body condition score to get ahead of long-term conditions. Other preventive care measures include making sure your pets are on both heartworm and flea/tick prevention. These are such easy things to do and can prevent life-threatening illnesses. And we’ve come far in prevention as well. We even have options that can prevent parasites for a whole year without having to give monthly chews. No need to “remember” anything! They are always innovating and trying to make owner’s lives easier while providing safe, effective care for pets.

What do you do to recharge? Recharging is very important! Especially in an industry that suffers from compassion fatigue. Personally, traveling is my favorite way to unwind. Whether it’s a family vacation with our three kids, a trip with my husband, a family/friends reunion, or a ladies outing—this is what makes my heart happy.

For more information, visit hinsdaleanimalhospital.com and follow @hinsdaleanimalhospital on Instagram or on Facebook.