Dr. Deborah Mitchell earned her degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds joint Bachelors degrees in veterinary medicine and in biological sciences, as well as a Masters degree in field biology. In addition to being extremely skilled in small animal medicine, Dr. Mitchell is certified in veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, and Usui Reiki.  She is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), TCM Herbal Medicine, Homotoxicology, and Applied Kinesiology.

Dr. Mitchell is a recognized expert lecturer in veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and integrative small animal medicine.  She has presented over 480 scientific lectures to veterinary audiences  nationwide, on topics related to integrative medicine,  alternative medicine and veterinary practice management.

Dr. Mitchell's overall medical focus is wellness maintenance.  She practices integrative medicine - not holistic medicine.   This means that as appropriate, she combines  the best that her traditional Western medical training has to offer with the best of the alternative therapies in which she is trained.  This gives your pet more tools for healing - and for wellness maintenance.   For more information on the differences between integrative medicine and holistic medicine, click here.

Because Dr. Mitchell has a full patient and veterinary teaching schedule, she limits the number of new patients she sees, focusing new appointments exclusively on new pets of her existing clients and new clients who are referred by current clients.  Dr. Mitchell also remains available for integrative medical consultations, upon referral from your primary care (regular) veterinarian.  For referral patients, the integrative therapies she offers can greatly enhance the work that your primary care veterinarian is doing to keep your pet healthy and happy!

In addition to serving as our hospital's Medical Director and Practice Manager, Dr. Mitchell currently sees her patients at our hospital on all weekdays.  She is available by appointment only.

Dr. Mitchell is a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the Chicago Veterinary Manager's Group (CVMG), the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA), the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS), and the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association (VBMA).  She is a past member of the Board of Directors of AAVA and a current member of the Board of Directors of the AHVMA.

Dr. Mitchell  shares her home with her partner and a number of four-legged friends:   Emmett, Cairn Terrier Bettina, and Walter.   Her partner's two Dachshunds, Natascha and Nicholas, occasionally join the gang, much to Emmett's disgust!  Emmett is a rescued 13 year old Persian who was seized, along with dozens of other cats, as part of an area cruelty investigation in 2005.  Bettina was rescued from a puppy mill at age two in 2010.   And Walter, who was adopted from Homeward Bound in Indiana? None of us are sure about his origins or age, but we all agree that he is 100% loveable.  Walter and Bettina come to work with Dr. Mitchell every day, sometimes accompanied by Emmett, and would love to meet you!

Here is Dr. Mitchell's lecture and seminar schedule for 2012-2013 (subject to change).  For more information on any of the below seminars or organizations, click on the colored text:

February 2012:  Teaching Associate for the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society's acupuncture certification course for veterinarians, in Portland, Oregon.  Dr. Mitchell's teaching participation in the IVAS course attendance was made possible through the generosity of a Knollwood client who has contributed significant annual funding to benefit Knollwood as well as Dr. Mitchell's  continuing education since 2002.

 February 2012: Lecturing for The Western States Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas on veterinary acupuncture, TCM herbal applications, and integrative veterinary medicine. She will be teaching an acupuncture lab for veterinarians new to acupuncture, and she'll also have the opportunity to enjoy lectures given by a variety of other veterinary experts in their field at this meeting, just named the largest veterinary meeting in the world!

February 2012: Lecturing for The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Association/Midwestern States Veterinary Conference on integrative veterinary practice management, and the use of traditional Chinese medicine for common canine and feline health challenges. 

July 9-16, 2012: Lecturing for the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association annual meeting in Montreal, on integrative management of common health conditions in dogs and cats. 

September 6-12: Lecturing for the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, on veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, and traditional Chinese herbology.

February 2013: Lecturing for The Western States Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas on veterinary orthopedic manipulation and acupuncture, TCM herbal applications, and integrative veterinary medicine.

Dr. Mitchell lectured at the 1999 through 2011 American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association annual meetings,  the 2009 American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention, the 2009 & 2011 IVAS Congress on Veterinary Acupuncture ,  the 2004, 2007, and 2010 Wild West Veterinary Conference , The 2008 and 2010 The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Association/Midwestern States Veterinary Conference,  The North American Veterinary Conference in 2006 through 2010, the 2007 and 2008 Chicago Basic Traditional Chinese Herbal Course for Veterinarians, and innumerable state and regional veterinary meetings and conferences.