About
Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Jody Downhill grew up surrounded by animals and the natural world. Her father, Lt. Col. Jack E. Downhill, was a WWII veteran and MIT-trained engineer, and her mother, Gwen Downhill, was from Ontario, Canada. Jody spent her childhood riding horses in the Portuguese Bend Pony Club, competing in hunter-jumper and three-day events, and developing the discipline that would later guide her veterinary career. After earning her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine, she went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University, completing her ECFVG internship at Oklahoma State University. Her early experiences as an emergency doctor at VCA Berwyn Animal Hospital prepared her for the long hours and emotional rewards of running her own practice. When she’s not at the clinic, Dr. Downhill enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and body surfing, and continues to share her life with a menagerie of beloved pets — dogs, cats, horses, birds, and even a guinea pig. For Dr. Downhill, veterinary medicine isn’t just a career — it’s a lifelong calling to serve, heal, and nurture the bond between animals and people.
