Veterinarian Overview
Dr. Ava Ackerman attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for both undergraduate studies and veterinary school. During school, she worked three summers at the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago. While in veterinary school, she had externships at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and two different exotic pet clinics in the Chicago area. After receiving her DVM degree in 1993, Dr. Ackerman continued her focus on exotic animals by working at a Madison, Wisconsin veterinary practice where exotic pets made up over half the patients. Moving west, she joined the Belmont Pet Hospital in January of 1997. Dr. Ackerman describes herself as an old fashioned family doctor. She is happy to see all animal species including dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, and ferrets. She knows that all pets, big or small, are important members of the family and deserve the best quality care. Dr. Ackerman is married with two children and one very demanding rabbit. Despite living in California for 18 years, she is still a Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks fan. Once an avid horseback rider, she now enjoys treks in the Sierras, trips back to Chicago, and spending time with family.
