Banfield Pet Hospital Appoints Dr. Alea Harrison as Chief Medical Officer

With nearly 20 years of experience as a veterinarian, Dr. Harrison will support more than 3,600 Banfield veterinarians across the U.S. in delivering high-quality, preventive care to millions of pets every year

Vancouver, Wa. – January 16, 2024: Banfield Pet Hospital – the nation’s leading provider of preventive veterinary care and part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices – has named Dr. Alea Harrison chief medical officer (CMO) overseeing more than 3,600 veterinarians across the practice’s 1,000+ hospitals nationwide.

Dr. Harrison has been with Banfield for more than 17 years in progressive leadership roles, starting as a veterinarian in the practice’s hospitals to most recently serving as acting CMO after former Banfield CMO Dr. Molly McAllister was appointed CMO of Mars Veterinary Health.

“Having been with Banfield since the start of my veterinary journey, I have unique, first-hand insight into the practice’s ongoing commitment to high-quality preventive medicine and providing hospital teams with the right tools, resources, and development opportunities to thrive in their careers,” said Dr. Harrison. “As CMO, I look forward to leading with a strong hospital-centric focus, helping veterinary teams partner with clients to make informed, best-in-class treatment decisions that are rooted in the latest medical research.”

In her time at Banfield, Dr. Harrison has been instrumental in advancing key priorities to support Associates and pets with quality preventive care, including driving the continuous improvement of the practice’s industry-leading anesthesia standards and protocols, which are available to the veterinary profession on Banfield Exchange.

Throughout her career, Dr. Harrison has led with a passion for coaching and supporting doctors, promoting equity, inclusion & diversity within the veterinary profession, and giving back to pets and the people who love them. This includes being a board member of Banfield’s charitable arm, the Banfield Foundation, and being part of Banfield’s POWER Diversity Resource Group, focused on creating an engaging environment to attract, retain, and elevate Black talent. As a graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Harrison has served as a campus liaison for close to a decade and is also a board member for the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.

About Banfield Pet Hospital^®
Banfield Pet Hospital was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1955 and today is a pioneer in preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Mexico. More than 3,600 Banfield veterinarians are committed to providing high-quality veterinary care to over three million pets annually. Banfield collects data from each of these visits in the U.S.'s largest electronic veterinary health records system. Our goal is to be here for pets, people, and society. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices, Banfield is committed to its purpose — A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS^® — because pets make a better world for us. Press seeking additional information are invited to call the Media Hotline: (888) 355-0595.