Dr. Heather Gerrish was born in Chicago and grew up outside of Richmond, Virginia. She has had a lifelong love of animals, and grew up with dogs of all sizes, including a beloved dachshund and Labrador retriever. She became enamored with cats after fostering a sweet but scrawny kitten who would become her permanent companion. She completed her undergraduate degree in music at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was on the equestrian team and volunteered at the animal shelter, then returned to Virginia to work in a small animal veterinary clinic. Dr. Gerrish spent a year volunteering with Iskashitaa Refugee Network in Tucson, Arizona, before going on to receive her DVM from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. 

She has special interests in behavior, feline medicine, and the human-animal bond. Dr. Gerrish was a recipient of the 2018 American Association of Feline Practitioners Student Award, and is a member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the American Veterinary Medical Association. She holds a Low Stress Handling–Silver certification and is a Level Three Fear Free Certified Professional. She is currently pursuing a residency in veterinary behavior under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Moffat, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at VCA Mesa Animal Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. 

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Gerrish enjoys singing, appreciating beauty in nature, and spending time with her husband and their miniature dachshund, Liffey, and the aforementioned domestic shorthair cat, Oscar. She loves cooking and baking for friends and family, meeting new people, and sharing her love of behavior to help promote wellbeing for animals and their human companions.