YOUNGSVILLE  — After completing her education in animal medicine, Dr. Kasey Barber has returned to Sullivan County to work at the Youngsville Veterinary Clinic, an achievement that the 27-year old has been working towards for her entire lifetime. 

Barber grew up right down the road in White Sulfur Springs and said that Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski, the owner of the Clinic who she calls “Doc,” was her childhood veterinarian. When she was just a child, Barber used to run through the clinic’s door and tell Nebzydowski, “I’m gonna be a veterinarian!” He said, ‘Ok, keep your grades up.’” 

She heeded his advice because after graduating from Liberty High School in 2015, Barber completed a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from SUNY Oswego, a Master’s degree in Animal and Veterinary sciences from Clemson University and a doctorate from University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School. 

Barber has worked as a veterinarian at Youngsville Veterinary Clinic since last June, and throughout her education she has come back many times to work with “Doc” in the summers. Barber said the staff at the clinic is “part of my family,” and she is happy to be back in Sullivan County after living as a student in Philadelphia: “I much prefer living in the country and I really enjoy living here…this is my home.” 

Barber was candid about the challenges of medical school: “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It taxes you mentally, it taxes you physically; it’s tiring. But it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do… and at the end of the day it is the most rewarding thing that I’ve done.”

At Youngsville Veterinary Clinic, Barber does general check-up exams, wellness exams, and vaccinations for pets; “everything from their first visit to their last.” Barber said she does basic surgery, soft-tissue surgery, spays and neuters (which are the most common surgery at the clinic), and if there’s a procedure her team can’t do, they will try to find someone who can. 

A major challenge that Barber and other doctors face is the tendency to be hard on oneself when a solution can’t readily be found: “beating yourself up over a case when you can’t figure out what’s going on; it’s difficult because you don’t want to let your patient down … but I think it’s important for me and other doctors to understand that we can’t fix everything.” 

Barber said the most rewarding aspect of her job is the opportunity to educate those around her about how to take better care of their pets. Barber also enjoys the ability to encourage children who tell her they want to be a veterinarian; she said it brings her back to the memory of her own childhood when she told her family veterinarian (and new boss, Dr. Nebzydoski) the same thing. 

Dr. Kasey Barber is a compassionate, empathetic person and her love for animals is palpable. She has been a pet owner since she was a kid and currently has two dogs, two cats, and a pony. 

“I love cats and dogs, but as I worked more with dairy and beef cattle,” Barber said, “I learned to love them too.” 

If your pet or livestock needs medical attention, you can visit Youngsville Veterinary Clinic at 413 State Route 52, Youngsville, or call (845) 482-3330.