Dr. Patti Iampietro, Veterinarian
Dr. Patti Iampietro was born near Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has wanted to be a vet ever since she was a little girl and fell in love with a bunny that she adopted from her neighbors. The bunny would follow Patti around and would come when she called his name. Her love of animals grew from there.
Dr. Patti graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in animal bioscience in 1989. She spent the next five years at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating from veterinary school in 1993 and completing her rotating internship in small-animal medicine and surgery in 1994. In 1996, she joined the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. She has spent the majority of her career in emergency medicine and surgery, and has also assisted in management.
Before coming to Best Friends, Dr. Patti volunteered her time in animal shelters and nonprofit hospitals, and also assisted in the Hurricane Katrina animal-relief efforts. After the Katrina experience, Dr. Patti decided that she wanted to help needy animals on a larger scale and, with her background, felt that she could help provide quality care. She chose Best Friends because of its reputation, mission to help animals and people, and because it is a group of people whose goals and ideals are similar to her own.
In her downtime, Dr. Patti enjoys reading and working in the garden. She is also a recreational tri-athlete and very much likes any activity outdoors. Some of her favorite times, however, are spent with her truly best friends, Bacci, Bently and Wilson. Bacci is a crazy, high-energy, mixed-breed dog rescued in her work as an emergency vet 11 years ago. She is Dr. Patti's companion on many hiking and camping trips, and is her favorite running partner.
Both Bently and Wilson were rescues who came to Best Friends; Dr. Patti played a big part in their treatment and rehabilitation. They have become fast friends and are almost permanent fixtures curled up together on the bed. Since both are black, it is tough to see where one ends and the other begins!
