Meet Dr. Amanda Hampton

Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Amanda Hampton, and I am so excited to be joining the veterinary team at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic.

And I am so excited to meet you! Every person and pet has a different story with different needs. I look forward to getting to know you and finding out how I can best help you and your pet. Until then, here’s a little information for you about me.

My Path to Veterinary Medicine

I grew up in a small, rural community 2 hours west of Chicago, where I loved caring for my family’s personal cats and dogs. In high school, I started working as a paid kennel assistant at my hometown veterinary clinic, cleaning cages, learning about animal husbandry, and observing how the veterinary clinic operated.

That experience was so important and inspired me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I was recruited to swim at Western Illinois University, where I earned my undergraduate degree in biology and held part-time positions at a local veterinary clinic and grooming facility.

After undergrad, I was accepted into the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where I completed my doctorate. During my time at the college, I loved participating in intramural sports. I eventually met my future husband playing flag football and basketball.

Leading in Practice

After graduation, I started my professional career working at a nationwide corporate preventive care practice where I held roles as a veterinarian, lead doctor, and chief of staff. I loved building the team, creating a culture of safety, and engaging the team to share ideas to improve patient care.

In 2020, the team won the practice’s Chicagoland Veterinary Quality Team of the Year, which was a proud moment in my career.

Eventually, I wanted to further advance and diversify my medical, surgical, and leadership experiences. In 2023, I started a full-time position at a smaller corporate practice. I also started working as a relief veterinarian here at the Medical District clinic and started helping to build their new community outreach program.

Fast forward two years, and now I get to be with them (and you!) full time!

I am so excited to share my passion for the veterinary profession with the clinic and the community. I love being a veterinarian, I love teaching, and I love being able to expose students to this profession.

Access to Veterinary Medicine for All

Accessibility and exposure to the profession are important, and this mindset allows me to honor those who have taught me while giving back to the students who will become the future of veterinary medicine.

A large part of my recent volunteer work included building and co-leading the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA). The committee organizes veterinary student and veterinary professional networking and mentoring events and career fairs for high school students. (Check out the ISVMA “Veterinary Exploration Day” career fair held annually. This year it will be November 8 in Oakbrook, Illinois. Contact ISVMA for more information).

In 2022, the ISVMA DEI committee also helped facilitate transportation for Chicago area students to attend the annual Open House at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois. In addition to seeing all the exhibits available to the public, high school students attended a special Q&A with current veterinary students. This event has grown each year and now includes student access to the cultural houses on and tours of the main University campus through the Chicago Village Bus Program.

Ways to Get Involved

These outreach opportunities are an important part in expanding accessibility to care and to the profession. I look forward to seeing how our clinic’s community outreach team can continue to grow these efforts in the Chicago area.

If you are a high school student or guardian, career advisor, and/or community member who knows a student interested in the veterinary profession, please get in contact with us. Opportunities for high school students at our clinic include shadowing a clinician and attending our clinic’s open house for students in June. We also visit high schools to talk about the process of getting into veterinary and veterinary technician school.

Another plug: Vet Med Open House is open to everyone, family friendly, and lots of fun! And it’s free! We hope you get the opportunity to join the event in Urbana, Illinois, on Sunday, October 5.

Outside the Clinic

Outside of the veterinary clinic, I enjoy cooking, being outdoors, practicing yoga, going to Bulls games, and spending time with my family. I live on Chicago’s south side with my husband, who also a veterinarian; our 4-year-old daughter; and a senior Australian shepherd named Brickley.

I look forward to meeting you!

– Amanda Hampton, DVM (she/her/hers)