Hometown: New York City
Favorite Food: Anything vegan & gluten free
Dream Destination: Wherever there is magic
Dr. Debra Voulgaris is a native New Yorker who earned her Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and her Masters of Arts in Biological Anthropology from the City University of New York at Hunter College. She then went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Ross University in 2005, completing her final clinical year at Louisiana State University.
Dr. Voulgaris then went on to complete an anesthesia internship at the University of Georgia in 2006 and then went back to her New York City roots accepting a job in private practice in Brooklyn, NY. It was during that time that she became certified in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) in 2007. In 2008 she began a 3-year anesthesia residency at the University of Tennessee (UT) , where she participated in clinics and emergency medicine, teaching veterinary students, research, and participated in creating an integrative medicine department for both small and large animal patients at the University Hospital in Knoxville. In addition to her certifications in veterinary acupuncture, Dr. Voulgaris is also certified in Canine Rehabilitation (University of Tennessee), veterinary Tuina (Chi Institute), medical ozone therapy (American Academy of Ozonotherapy) and is currently working toward her certification in animal chiropractic certification through the Health Pioneers Institute. She is a graduate of the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy and has studied hyperbaric oxygen medicine with the Veterinary Hyperbaric Association. She has also studied Food Therapy, nutrigenomics and has professional interests in nutrition, chiropractic and applied kinesiology, oxygen utilization, mitochondrial and metabolic function, and longevity.
Dr. Voulgaris is and has been dedicated to patient advocacy and client education throughout her career. She feels that in order to give her patients the best possible outcome, and maximize their healing potential, it is important that pet guardians understand the medical issues affecting their pets' health. She has published peer-reviewed articles in Anesthesia and Analgesia, The Canadian Journal of Veterinary Medicine and The American Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Voulgaris has been an ethical vegan since 2011 and is dedicated to promoting kindness to all animals regardless of species. She continues to give lectures on veterinary pain management, acupuncture, rehabilitation, ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She recently started a podcast called ‘Vet in the City Pet Health Chat’, which is being listened to throughout the world, during which she educates about pet health, and empowers pet parents to make informed decisions on behalf of their animals' family members.