Dr. Bart Iaia has spent over three decades bridging the gap between conventional and complementary veterinary medicine.

As the Managing Veterinarian at PetZen Animal Wellness in Washington State and the newly elected President of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), Dr. Iaia brings a unique blend of traditional dental expertise and Eastern medicine philosophies to every patient he treats.

We asked Dr. Iaia 12 rapid-fire questions about his approach to integrative medicine and what continues to drive his passion for veterinary care.

Coffee ☕ or tea 🍵? Coffee in the morning to be able to get going, tea the rest of my day to support my overall mindset.

Acupuncture or herbal medicine 🌿? Both. My mentors have taught me that acupuncture and herbs together are complementary in that the herbs allow better long-term management.

Dogs 🐕 or cats 🐈? 7 months ago, dogs all the way until this little sickly orphan kitty presented herself on our doorstep and has worked her way into the dog hierarchy of our household.

Western medicine 🏥 or Eastern medicine ☯️? I feel that an integrative practitioner, one that blends the two modalities, gives unique insight into overall patient care. There are times when Western medicine hits a ceiling and by adding in Eastern medicine, a better outcome is achieved. Conversely, there are times when Western medicine is superior.

Butterfly garden 🦋 or vegetable garden 🥕? Butterfly garden to look at and veggie garden to admire my progress in tomato growing. I just planted a wildflower garden this year to attract the pollinators next to the vegetable garden.

Lomi Lomi massage or traditional acupuncture techniques? Depends on the case and the outcome and how things are progressing. Lomi Lomi is good for muscle spasms and old dog that has generalized stiffness. Acupuncture is more appropriate for acute pain conditions.

Solo practice 🏥 or multi-doctor clinic 👥? Multi-doctor clinic so that I can bounce ideas off of my colleagues.

Learning a new language 🗣️ or learning a new instrument 🎹? Instrument. Where would we be today if the 80’s style new wave never happened?

Hosting community wellness events 🎪 or one-on-one client education 💬? I prefer one-on-one client education in the room getting to learn about the pet and the client. Community events are needed however to get a broad outreach into the community. We gain new clients every time we attend the local pet fair in our community.

Beach vacation 🏖️ or mountain retreat ⛰️? Beach all the way.

Learning 📚 or mentoring 🎓? I see them as interconnected. The more you learn and gain experience and hopefully develop emotional intelligence, the more you can mentor and support your team around you.

Superhero movies 🦸 or nature documentaries 🌍? Superhero movies that also incorporate Star Trek.

More about Dr. Iaia:

Dr. Bart Iaia is a 1992 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. His professional interests include dentistry and food therapy. Dr. Iaia also has interests in complementary medicine and has completed courses in Lomilomi. He is a certified acupuncturist from both the Chi Institute and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. He has had extensive Chinese Herb training through A Time to Heal. He is also a fellow of the American Association of Veterinary Acupuncture (FAAVA). Dr. Bart enjoys spending time with his wife Denise, their daughters Brie and Gianna, and the household pets. “I have always admired Veterinary Medicine. It truly is a profession that allows one to practice all aspects of medicine.”