Alumni Fellow

 

2007 Alumni Fellow

Dr. Brunt is the founder and owner of the Cat Hospital At Towson (CHAT) in Baltimore, Md., a feline exclusive veterinary hospital that she opened in 1984 which has a 23-member staff, including five veterinarians. In 2000 she opened a second clinic, the Cat Hospital Eastern Shore in Cordova, Md. Prior to opening her own practice, Dr. Brunt worked at the Cherry Hill Veterinary Hospital in Elkton, Md., for one year, and at the Anne Arundel Dog and Cat Hospital in Brooklyn Park, Md., for three years.

At the time Dr. Brunt opened her practice, it was the only feline specialty clinic in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Dr. Brunt said she has always had an affinity for cats, a species she believed was underserved at the time she opened CHAT. “At that time there were more dogs than cats in the U.S., and they definitely got less attention then,” she said. “We realize that they have different problems and different needs. And yes, one can make a living ‘just’ doing cats.”

She said cats can be a challenge when it comes to diagnosing disease. “They’re so subtle about their medical signs that when you make a diagnosis and treat it effectively, it’s a triumph and a really good feeling.”

Getting involved with feline humane projects has been important to Dr. Brunt. She has provided free medical help and boarding to abandoned cats, and in 1996 she founded Animal Relief Inc., which assists organizations in the healthcare of animals, felines in particular.

Dr. Brunt has always actively participated in professional associations, something she is adamant about. “These professional associations have allowed me to make ‘life friends’ – a network of colleagues who share professional and personal triumphs and challenges,” Dr. Brunt said.

She just completed a term as president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and is currently on the Leadership Identification Committee of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). She serves on a joint panel of the two organizations on small animal pain guidelines.

Since becoming a member in 1980, Dr. Brunt has held 13 different positions of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), including serving as its president in 1994. She is also a member of the Greater Baltimore Veterinary Medical Association (GBVMA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), where she served in the House of Delegates for eight years.

Dr. Brunt also has an interest in efforts to reach the public about feline issues through the media. She writes a column for the newsletter of the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and routinely contributes to Cat Watch and other feline publications. In 1997, Dr. Brunt was selected as one of Baltimore Magazine’s “top vets” and appeared on the magazine’s cover.

Dr. Brunt encourages veterinary students to stay curious and get involved. “In addition to the medicine, keep listening and communicating with your family and friends, clients and coworkers and the public in general,” she advises. “Get involved in associations and groups – professional, community or others that have a positive mission – and use them to help give your personal life balance.”