Bio

Dr. Caroline Whittaker grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago. After veterinary school took her to New York, she and her wife recently moved back to the city, and she's excited to be home in the Midwest. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.

Veterinary medicine wasn't originally on Dr. Whittaker's radar. She began college planning to pursue a career in business or tech, but found herself craving deeper personal relationships and impact than a career in code could offer. It was her hamster, Curtis, who changed everything. When Curtis fell ill during her freshman year, a visit to the University of Illinois Teaching Hospital introduced her to the compassion and expertise of a veterinary team in action, and she knew right away she'd found her calling.

Dr. Whittaker's favorite part of the job is building meaningful relationships with pet parents and partnering with them to support their pets' health and happiness. Client education and evidence-based medicine are central to her approach, and she loves empowering owners to make informed decisions for their pets. Her professional interests include behavioral medicine, dermatology, and soft tissue surgery.

At home, Dr. Whittaker is a self-described "huge golden lover"; she shares her life with her golden retriever, Chance, and two Ragdoll cats, Elton and Puff. She loves anything involving water (a passion Chance shares!), considers herself a foodie always on the hunt for a new favorite restaurant, and enjoys cooking, reading, and puzzles in her downtime.

Education & Training

• Bachelor of Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University

• Fear Free Certified Veterinarian

• Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Professional

Professional Affiliations

• American Veterinary Medical Association

• Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association

• USDA Accredited