Elise Westervelt, DVM Neurology Resident
Dr. Elise Westervelt is a Veterinary Neurology Resident at Southeast Veterinary Neurology, where she brings a deep commitment to patient care, academic excellence, and scientific inquiry. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2024, where she served as Class Vice President and received both the Harold Wetterberg Scholarship and the Dr. George P. Faddoul Award in recognition of her leadership and academic achievement.
Dr. Westervelt graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and English. Her diverse background in research includes work on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in shorebirds in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, as well as molecular biology research in DNA damage tolerance pathways.
Prior to joining Southeast Veterinary Neurology, Dr. Westervelt completed a rigorous small animal rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey. There, she gained extensive experience managing emergency, surgical, and internal medicine cases, and worked closely with board-certified neurologists on advanced diagnostics, consultations, and neurosurgical procedures.
Her clinical background is complemented by hands-on experience in wildlife medicine, small animal surgery, and client education. She has worked in multiple veterinary settings including Tufts Wildlife Clinic, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, and the Franklin Park Zoo, and has been involved in animal welfare and community outreach for over a decade.
Dr. Westervelt’s professional interests include neurosurgery, neuroimaging, and critical care. She is passionate about improving the quality of life for pets with neurological disease and brings empathy, precision, and curiosity to every patient she treats.
Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys wildlife conservation, cooking, and hiking.
