Dr. Jessica Burkett

Owner, Veterinarian

Dr. Jessica Burkett is the veterinarian owner of West Street Veterinary Clinic. During her 19 years of veterinary experience, she worked in Maryland and California but for the majority of the 19 years, she has worked in Massachusetts, serving the clients and patients from Medfield and the surrounding areas. She has even started to see clients who were children coming to visits with their parents when she first met them, now grown and coming with their own pets.

After reverse commuting from Boston to Medfield for 8 years, Dr. Burkett and her husband moved to the area in 2008 to raise their family. Now her daughters are a bit older and in elementary school and Dr. Burkett is pursuing her life-long dream of veterinary clinic ownership. Along with her husband Rich and daughters Avery and Emerson, Dr. Burkett’s family consists of August and Hazel- two VERY active giant schnauzers, Raina- a hamster, and Sr. Bubbles- a rescue beta fish who has somehow required the most veterinary care of all the pets. Unfortunately, she has no cats because of a family member’s severe allergies.

When not at work Dr. Burkett tries to find the time for trail running with her dogs, classes at the gym, volunteering at her daughters’ school and reading. Dr. Burkett and her family often vacation in NH at the lakes and mountains where she grew up

Dr. Burkett performs all routine medical, dental and surgical care but also has a particular interest in behavioral medicine and training for both pets and their owners 🙂 to ensure the pets are both physically and emotionally healthy and to help stop undesired pet behaviors that damage the pet-owner bond.

Dr. Burkett is committed to continued education and professional growth and one of her favorite things about her job is the continual learning process. She is a member of multiple professional associations and utilizes their resources to continue to improve upon the care she offers her patients.

Education

• University of New Hampshire BS 1996
• Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine DVM, Cum Laude 2000

Professional Memberships and Certifications

• AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association
• AAHA American Animal Hospital Association
• MVMA Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association
• ABFP American Board Feline Practitioners
• AVSAB American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
• Fear Free certified
• USDA accredited
• Morris Animal Foundation Award of Excellence 2013

Dr. Victoria Ruocco

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Victoria Ruocco is thrilled to be joining West Street Veterinary Clinic as an associate veterinarian. She is originally from Medfield and has been working in private practice for 12 years, happy to be returning to the area she grew up in and knows so well.

Dr. Ruocco resides in Mendon with her husband Keegan, two very naughty cats – Autumn and Stevie, a Basset Hound – Bessie, and a bunny – Millie. All of them are rescues, most of which found their way to her. Although she does not see them as patients, she is passionate about horses and her lifelong dream is to have one (or more) of her own.

In her spare time, Dr. Ruocco enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family, friends, and pets. Some of her favorite activities are taking her cat for walks around the yard on a leash, practicing nose work with her hound, doing yoga, reading, and eating good food.

Dr. Ruocco knows that the most direct way to a healthy life is preventative medicine. She has a special interest in both dermatology and dentistry. She truly cherishes the human-animal bond, both with her own animals and those of her clients. She aims to make every visit, whether wellness or sick, as pleasant and stress-free as possible for each patient.

Education:

• University of Massachusetts, Amherst – BS 2006
• University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine – DVM 2010
• Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties – Rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery 2011- 2012

Professional organizations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association
• Fear-free certified

Dr. Elizabeth Eckhardt (formerly Gengo)

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Elizabeth has been in general practice since 2015 and is excited to join West Street Veterinary Clinic as an associate veterinarian!

Born and raised in Buffalo, she attended Syracuse University where she received her B.S. in 2011. She stayed in her home state of New York to complete and earn her DVM from Cornell.

She lives in Walpole with her husband, daughter, two dogs (Oscar and Nora), and two cats (Piper and Noodle). In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking.

Dr. Eckhardt (formerly Gengo) loves that veterinary medicine allows her the opportunity to be a “jack of all trades” and no two days are alike. She has a special interest in laparoscopic surgery.

Education:

• Syracuse University – BS 2011
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – 2015

Professional organizations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association

Dr. Nicole Santos

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Santos graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Biology from Connecticut College in 2007 and went on to earn her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 2011. A Massachusetts native, Dr. Santos has practiced in several general practices around the greater Boston area and is thrilled to have found her home at West Street Vet! Dr. Santos lives with her husband, two daughters, and three pets – her dog Jack, and two cats Will and Grace – all three of whom were adopted during veterinary school at OSU.

Fun fact: Jack was her very first solo surgery patient while in school! She neutered him through the school’s spay/neuter program, and he was just so cute she had to bring him home!

Dr. Santos takes a special interest in dentistry, soft tissue surgery and dermatology. She truly values the connections she forges with her clients and patients and enjoys being a part of their long-term care.

Education:

• Connecticut College, BS 2007
• The Ohio State University, DVM 2011

Professional organizations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association
• USDA Accredited