Dr. Barry Lissman

Dr. Barry Lissman received his veterinary medical degree from Cornell University in 1977. Upon graduation he began work as a small animal practitioner and is presently the co-owner of Sachem Animal Hospital and Long Island Mobile Veterinary Clinics in Holbrook, and the Park Hills Animal Hospital in Deer Park, Long Island, New York. He is also the co-founder of Thyro-Cat, Centers for the Treatment of Feline Hyperthyroidism.

In 1979, Dr. Lissman discovered Rocky Mountain spotted fever in dogs, and was the first individual to publish its clinical findings. In 1983, Dr. Lissman discovered Lyme disease in animals, and is credited with identifying and publishing the first clinical descriptions of this disease in dogs. Both diseases were identified and pursued by Dr. Lissman while engaged in full-time companion animal practice. Dr. Lissman has evaluated the clinical findings of Lyme disease since 1983, including a two-year study evaluating the field trial performance of the commercially available Borrelia burgdorferi vaccine in 1990.

Dr Lissman's findings have been reported in numerous veterinary publications and textbooks. He has become a well-recognized authority on clinical Lyme disease and has presented lectures both nationally and internationally. Dr. Lissman was awarded the Practitioner Research Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1989 and the Award for Outstanding Service to Veterinary Medicine by the New York State Veterinary Medical Society in 1992 for his original work with Lyme disease. He was selected chairman of the committee on Public Health and Regulatory Medicine for the New York State Veterinary Medical Society, and chairman of the Rabies Task Force on Long Island for which he was awarded the merit award from the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association in 1994. In addition, Dr. Lissman was co-chairman of the Disaster Preparedness Committee of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association and was the veterinary liaison officer for the Suffolk County emergency management office, for which he again was awarded the merit award from the LIVMA in 1999.

Since it's inception, Dr. Lissman has volunteered his time on the rabies task force. He has worked in helping to develop a public relations program, and in coordinating rabies programs between veterinarians, county and state officials, and local communities. Working with the Commissioner of Health in Suffolk County and directors of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Dr. Lissman has been involved in developing protocols for the handling of rabies suspect cases, and in coordinating efforts in the case of a rabies outbreak. He has also played an important role in creating the rabies vaccination law in Suffolk County. Along with epidemiologists from Cornell University, state and local health officials, Dr. Lissman has helped develop a raccoon rabies vaccination program to prevent the spread of rabies onto Long Island. He is currently on the veterinary advisory board for the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.

For many years after graduation, Dr. Lissman volunteered his time and taught veterinary technology to the students at John Bowne High School in Queens and was presented with the first outstanding alumni award given by the school.

For five years Dr. Lissman worked with state and local emergency management officials in creating disaster relief programs and protocols for animals and their owners in the event of a major disaster affecting this region. He is credited with creating the initiative for these programs and carrying them to both state and local governments as well as community-based service. In 1996, Dr. Lissman was awarded the DeWitt Clinton Masonic award for community service, the highest award given in the state to a non-Mason.

Dr. Lissman has been a regular guest on the weekend Pet News show, and has been seen weekly on the weekday Fox and Friends show, both on the Fox News Channel. Dr. Lissman is also heard monthly on WALK FM Radio's show 'Ask The Vet'.

Dr. Lissman, his wife, Wendy, and their two daughters, Erica and Rachel, share their home with a golden retriever named Cory, and three cats named Peaches, Twinkie and Bradley.