Learning never stops for Dr. Katherine Wheeler, managing veterinarian at Back Bay Veterinary Clinic in Boston. From switching careers in 2011 to follow her passion for veterinary care to being recognized as the 2025 Trupanion U.S. Northeast Veterinarian of the Year, Dr. Wheeler has built her career on curiosity and continuous learning.

We asked Dr. Wheeler nine rapid-fire questions about what continues to fuel her curiosity in veterinary medicine and what motivates her both in and out of the clinic.

Teaching or learning 📚?

It’s a toss-up—mentoring others is deeply rewarding, but veterinary medicine always has new puzzles and skills to explore, so learning edges out.

Birds 🦜 or lizards 🦎?

Birds—tiny engineers with bold colors, acrobatics, and a killer soundtrack.

Surgery techniques or diagnostic skills 🔍?

I love the puzzle of diagnostics, but surgery has my heart—the hands-on problem solving and the reward of seeing a solution take shape in real time.

Gardening 🌱 or painting 🎨?

Gardening! My raised beds took a hit since having kids, but this spring my two girls each claimed a bed. Now harvesting tomatoes, arranging flowers, and pulling weeds is a family affair.

Internal medicine or emergency cases 🚨?

Internal medicine—I love getting to know patients over time, watching small wins add up, and partnering with their owners throughout their care.

Puppies 🐶 or kittens 🐱?

I love puppies, but kittens win—tiny forces of chaos, curiosity, mischief, and cuteness.

Colorado College or Tufts University 🎓?

Don’t make me pick! CC was exactly what I needed at the time—liberal arts, the Rocky Mountains, and a culture that encouraged independence and creativity. Tufts gave me the chance to follow my passion alongside like-minded students and amazing faculty. I feel incredibly lucky to have both as my alma maters.

Candy 🍭 or ice cream 🍦?

Mint chocolate chip ice cream. Joy in a bowl.

Wine 🍷 or cheese 🧀?

Yes and yes. Thank you.

More about Dr. Wheeler:

Dr. Katherine Wheeler is from Cambridge, MA. She completed her undergraduate degree at Colorado College and graduated from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, earning the Academic Achievement Award and admission into the international veterinary honor society, Phi Zeta. After veterinary school, Dr. Wheeler completed a community medicine small animal rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center. Her interests include surgery (soft tissue and select orthopedic procedures), ultrasonography, and internal medicine.

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