Kathleen Elstrott Achord, DVM
Photo Credit: Phillip Cowart
Dr. Kathleen Elstrott is a home-grown girl from Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Her parents are both from New Orleans and met at Southeastern University in Hammond. After marrying and moving back to New Orleans, Tangipahoa Parish was calling them home and they listened. Dr. Kat considers herself lucky to have been raised in Ponchatoula. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School and Ponchatoula High School. She graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 2003. Dr. Kat continued her education earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in 2007, and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She served in the US Army Veterinary Corps for 3 years, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida.
Dr. Kat returned home to Ponchatoula in 2014 after her time with the US Army Veterinary Corps. She was able to purchase the house next door to her parents’ home and served on the staff at a local veterinary hospital for several years. She married Jason P. Achord in 2017, and their life is filled with Jeeps, traveling, and too many cats and dogs to mention.
Currently, Dr. Kat is the Director of Kat Vet Spay Neuter & Rescue, she is the shelter veterinarian for Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, and the program director for Northshore Technical Community College's Veterinary Technology Program. She has special interests in surgery, dental care, and heartworm treatment. Dr. Kat established Kat Vet, an animal rescue service that promotes spaying and neutering, adoption, and fostering, because of the overwhelming numbers of unwanted cats and dogs in Tangipahoa Parish. She hopes to eliminate the countless number of starving, abandoned strays by offering low cost spays and neuters, preventive medicine, and pet support resources to the surrounding area.
Dr. Kat is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the American Heartworm Society, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and the Florida Parishes Veterinary Medical Association. She also was part of the LVMA Power of 10 Class of 2017 and will serve as President of the LVMA in 2022.
Locally, Dr. Kat is a member of the Ponchatoula Rotary Club, the Ponchatoula American Legion, Tangipahoa Professional Women, and the Junior Auxiliary of Tangipahoa.
Click here to read the Tangi Lifestyles article about Dr. Kat!
Caitlin Romero
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