Penn Vet is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Brittany Watson as Director of Shelter Animal Medicine. She is devoted to the One Health mission of integrating various fields—medical, scientific, social, and environmental—for the benefit of animals and people.
In this role, Dr. Watson will develop a strategic vision for the future of the Penn Vet Shelter Animal Medicine Program, which provides support to the shelter community in the Philadelphia region and valuable training to students. She will maintain and enhance existing shelter relationships, forge new partnerships, teach veterinary students, and oversee the day-to-day management of the program.
Prior to joining Penn Vet, Watson served as Veterinary Director of Continuing Education Initiatives for the Charleston Animal Society (CAS) in South Carolina. During her tenure, she helped CAS achieve record live release, adoptions, and education programs in the state. She also regularly performed surgical procedures and documented cruelty cases.
In addition to being a Humane Alliance-trained shelter veterinarian, Watson has a special interest in teaching, humane education, the human-animal bond, and management/protocol development. She created the Veterinary Science Initiative, which uses veterinary medicine to connect high school students to science.
Watson has also served as a Native American Veterinary Services instructor, traveling to Native American reservations with students to perform basic animal care and to offer spay/neuter clinics.
Dr. Watson received her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in educational administration from the University of South Carolina School of Educational Leadership.
About the Penn Vet Shelter Animal Medicine Program Penn Vet has long been known as a provider of compassionate care and clinical expertise. In that tradition, the School established the Penn Vet Shelter Animal Medicine program in 2006 to provide clinical support and consultative services to regional shelters and the Greater Philadelphia community. The program has a meaningful impact on how many homeless animals are given quality care and placed into permanent homes. In addition, the Shelter Animal Medicine program provides valuable, hands-on education for Penn Vet students.
Penn Vet’s shelter partner facilities are the PSPCA, PAWS, Delaware County SPCA, Morris Animal Refuge, and the ACCT (Animal Care and Control Team) of Philadelphia. Through a working relationship with these shelters, Penn Vet successfully integrates clinical teaching and service to the animal welfare community, while strategically addressing shelter animal over-population issues.