Dr. Hope Chisnell
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
Dr. Hope Chisnell is a board-certified veterinary surgeon serving the greater Pittsburgh area. Based in Wexford, she provides mobile surgical services to general practice and emergency veterinary hospitals across the region, delivering expert care directly within the practices that know their patients best.
Biography
Dr. Chisnell grew up near Tappan Lake, Ohio, but spent many weekends as a child visiting family in Pittsburgh. She graduated summa cum laude from College of Wooster, with a BA in Biology. After undergrad she went straight into veterinary school at The Ohio State University, graduating in 2010.
Dr. Chisnell moved to Pittsburgh to complete a small animal rotating internship in 2010. She became the first resident at PVSEC in 2011, and finished a three-year small animal surgical residency in 2014. She was hired as an associate surgeon directly following this residency and has been practicing at this hospital for almost 15 years. She has a diverse experience in soft tissue, orthopedic and neurologic surgeries, but has particularly enjoyed the challenges of trauma/emergency surgeries, wound management and urogenital surgeries. Dr. Chisnell has had an active role in the rotating internship, surgical internship and surgical residency programs, serving as a house officer advisor and an internship committee member since 2015.
CV
-
2025 – Joined MOVES as a Mobile Surgeon
-
2014–2025 – Associate Surgeon with Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (PVSEC) / BluePearl Pittsburgh North
-
2015 – Achieved Board Certification with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons
-
2014 – Completed Residency in Small Animal Surgery
-
2011 – Completed Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center
-
2010 – Graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
-
2006 – Graduated from College of Wooster
Arrufat K, Chisnell H “Use of a bipolar vessel-sealing device in 27 canine limb amputations” Can Vet J. 2024 Dec; 65(12):1260-1267
Send a Message to Dr. Hope Chisnell
What is a board-certified veterinary surgeon?
Like most health care fields, the veterinary profession has become multi-tiered. Veterinarians may now specialize in various disciplines (including surgery), as recognized by the AVMA’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS). The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) is the AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery.
If your animal develops a problem or injury requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary surgeon.
A veterinary surgeon has undergone additional training after veterinary school in order to become a specialist. This training consists of a minimum of a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program that meets guidelines established by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
During the residency there are specific training and caseload requirements that must be met. In addition to these requirements, applicants must perform research that is published in a scientific journal and then pass a rigorous examination.
Adapated from “What is a Veterinary Surgeon?” on acvs.org.