Vet realizes dream of owning pet hospital
As a child Hope Jankunas cared for her family’s pet cats.
She took the lead when the cats were brought to the veterinarian, speaking directly with the doctor about whatever ailed them. She also befriended stray cats and dogs, and as a high school teen in Elmont, Nassau County, volunteered at a local animal hospital, cleaning kennel cages.
“I’ve always been in love with animals,” said Jankunas, veterinarian practice owner of Companion Pet Hospital of Fishkill.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 70,300 veterinarians are employed in the country with the figure expected to hit 78,700 in 2022 from increasing interest in pet care and advancements in available services.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies at Boston College, Jankunas went to work as a veterinarian technician in Bayside, Queens County. To work as a vet, however, she needed to continue her education. She moved to Florida with the intent of becoming a resident there before applying to her school of choice, the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, and began working at the school as a veterinarian technician, working with large and small animals in the surgery department while taking pre-requisite classes for anticipated coursework.
“Basically, I was working on my application to vet school, getting experience with large animals and continuing my experience with small animals,” she said.
Two years later, Jankunas was admitted to the school, whereupon she moved into clinical pathology at work, since the hours spent processing lab samples were a better fit for her class schedule. After graduating, she did a one-year residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City then worked for about three years as one of five veterinarians at the Center for Veterinary Care in Manhattan.
“It was great being a vet and having the mentorship for a couple of years but, ultimately, I wanted to be my own boss,” she said.
She moved to the Middlehope Veterinary Hospital in Newburgh, Orange County, a position that put her near her boyfriend (now husband), Jeremy Frederick, an equine veterinary medical specialist in Millbrook.
“I still wanted to make new protocols,” Jankunas said of her work. “I worked on establishing different ways of doing things. They were open to my suggestion and they put some ideas in practice but not everything.”
Three years later she learned the owners of the Companion Pet Hospital in Fishkill were nearing retirement, with Jankunas buying the practice in December 2014. Now she’d like to establish relationships with local animal welfare and rescue groups.
“When I arrived at my vet school it was 80 percent women,” Jankunas said. “But there are not 80 percent of vet practices that are owned by women.”
Frederick said his wife has worked hard to realize her dream of owning a vet practice and is passionate about providing a high standard of services and care.
“She’s always been one of those people that wants to do things the best way she can,” he said.
Karen Maserjian Shan is a freelance writer: mkshan@optonline.net
Young Professional profile
Hope Jankunas
Age: 35
Title: Veterinarian practice owner, Companion Pet Hospital of Fishkill
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies, Boston College; veterinary degree, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Professional affiliations: American Veterinary Medical Association, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, American Animal Hospital Association, American Association of Feline Practitioners, provisional member of the Junior League of Poughkeepsie
Residence: Hopewell Junction
Information:www.companionpethospital.com/