Dr. Jessie Burgess served as a relief veterinarian for several years before officially joining the team at Southside Animal Clinic in February of 2020. She is a graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!!), earning her Bachelors in Animal Sciences and Zoology in 2008, as well as Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and International Veterinary Medicine Certificate in 2012. After graduation, Dr. Burgess remained at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine to complete a one-year specialty internship in Integrative Medicine, including rehabilitation, acupuncture, nutrition and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Throughout her internship, she received her certification in veterinary acupuncture and further training in herbal medicines at the Chi Institute, completed in the fall of 2012. She then continued post-graduate training at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT), completed in the fall of 2015. She is also passionate about One Health and international veterinary medicine, with previous veterinary trips to Belize, Zambia, Honduras, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

Dr. Burgess is a native of Jacksonville and excited to continue to provide veterinary services to the town she calls home. Her professional interests include preventative medicine and health, soft tissue surgery and medical management for chronic pain and orthopedic disease. She is passionate about gentle handling of all her patients and positive reinforcement in the clinic setting, especially regarding geriatric and neurologic animals. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Burgess can be found living life to the fullest with her husband and two pups, Didier Dogba and Penelope Grace. They love doing anything involving the beach and being on the water, spending time outside hiking and backpacking, traveling, good Mexican food, and all things Chelsea soccer and college football.