Banfield Pet Hospital® today named Dr. Molly McAllister chief medical officer (CMO). In her new role, Dr. McAllister will be responsible for setting and achieving the overall vision for veterinary medicine at Banfield, ensuring the practice remains at the forefront of quality pet care. 

“Dr. McAllister’s clinical and research background, including her scientific services experience at Royal Canin, made her the ideal choice for our next chief medical officer,” said Brian Garish, president, Banfield Pet Hospital. “Dr. McAllister and her team will remain critical in enabling Banfield’s vision of the associate, pet and client experience of the future, helping us live our purpose and extend our reach to even more pets in need of quality veterinary care.”

In her seven years at Banfield, Dr. McAllister has led the practice’s veterinary science team and operationalized its use of medical records data to inform industry-leading veterinary research and publications, ranging from anesthesia safety to antimicrobial resistance to obesity. 

“I am honored to represent Banfield and the veterinary profession during a time of rapid evolution,” said Molly McAllister, DVM, MPH, chief medical officer, Banfield Pet Hospital. “In support of our purpose, I remain passionate about supporting our veterinary professionals in delivering excellent care—and helping ensure the future of veterinary medicine embraces the health and wellbeing of pets and the people who care for them.”

Dr. McAllister succeeds Banfield’s former CMO, Dr. Daniel Aja, who will leverage his more than 30 years of industry experience as chief veterinary relations and transformation officer, a new role at Banfield focused on advancing the veterinary profession in partnership with industry organizations and academia.

Dr. McAllister graduated from Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota. As a volunteer for the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. McAllister served as the chair of the convention education and planning committee for two years, enabling a high-quality continuing education program at the AVMA Convention. She also brings industry experience to the role from her years working as a scientific services veterinarian at Royal Canin.

She lives in Camas, WA with her family, including three dogs, two cats, and a horse. In her free time, she enjoys sharing her love of animals and the outdoors with her husband and two young children.