Staff Image
Kari Pettit
Medical Director

Dr. Pettit received her B.A. in Zoology in 1993 from the University of California. In 1998, she received her veterinary degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2007, she received her Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in Wildlife Health.

Dr. Pettit has been with Commack Animal Hospital since 2009. Prior to joing the staff at our hospital, she practiced veterinary medicine in the San Francisco Bay area, in many fields of shelter work, exotic animals and wildlife, small animal medicine and emergency/critical care work. She spends time between her veterinary practice work performing veterinary work at the marine mammal center and oil spill response unit, which led her to work as a veterinarian responding to the Cape Town, South Africa Treasure oil spill. She then moved to Botswana, where she co-founded the Lettotlo Animal Sanctuary, a wildlife conservation center. Dr. Pettit was also the Assistant Director of St. George's University School of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital, were she also ran a Surgical Laboratory for veterinary students. While in vet school, Dr. Pettit was the recipient of Geraldine Dodge Foundation Fellowship for her work in improving veterinary care for orphaned chimpanzees in Uganda.

Dr. Pettit's professional interests include surgery, geriatric patient care, emerging diseases and conservation medicine. When not working, she enjoys traveling and running on the beach with her dogs, Jack and Logan.

Veterinarians

Our veterinarians are a team of highly trained individuals dedicated to the health and well-being of your pets. Explore our veterinarians' biographies and learn about the individuals who make our hospital an excellent choice for your pet's care.