Kent Dean Smith DVM

Kent had two dreams in his life: raising a child and opening his own veterinary practice. He was a success at both. Kent had a great love of veterinary medicine. As he said, “Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I found comfort and happiness in helping animals. I was the neighborhood kid that looked after all the strays. At the age of 11 years old, I was determined to be a veterinarian. My Dad stressed that if I wanted to be a veterinarian then I should prove it. I sought out a volunteer job with a local veterinary clinic in Manassas, Virginia…I faithfully rode my bike to the clinic, rain or shine, every Saturday and would work all day. I would clean the hospital and care for the animals. Then was hired… at the age of 13 years, my first real job. I made $3.35 per hour and I was rich. I was getting paid to do what I loved.” Kent was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on September 16, 1972. He was raised in Manassas, Virginia by his parents, Billy Lee and Barbara Kay Smith. He has a twin brother, Kevin Smith, and an older brother, Kirk Smith. He attended Manassas Park Elementary and Middle School, then the family moved to the City of Manassas and he attended Osbourn City High School. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Economics at Virginia Tech in 1994. He worked on his masters in Genetics from 1996 – 1998. He graduated with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Over the years, he climbed the ladder from a kennel assistant to a veterinary technician, then learned about surgery from Dr. Bradley and became a business manager for Dr. Anne Chiapella, an internal medicine specialist. He served as Dr. Chiapella’s full-time business manager for 27 years, even through veterinary school. After veterinary school he worked at Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Virginia where he traveled to impoverished areas on a medical motorhome unit and would do at least 50 surgeries a day with minimal resources. He worked at Prince William Emergency Clinic, Mapleshade Animal Hospital, and VetMed but always with an eventual goal of opening his own veterinary clinic. In 2022, he achieved his dream and opened Willow Animal Hospital. He loved his clients, staff, and the work of veterinary medicine. He was an enormously proud single father of a beautiful daughter, Averi, born in January 2015. He and Averi would sing together, cook together, and play spelling bee games in the car together. He was a dedicated father. He felt blessed to have had hard working role models that helped shape the person he became. When reflecting on his life’s path he once wrote, “I cannot ever thank my parents, Drs. Bradley and Chiapella, my friends and clients enough.” He is survived by his daughter Averi, his parents, his brothers and their families. Funding Dr. Smith's Dream for Willow Animal Hospital: https://gofund.me/dcf80f19

Kent Dean Smith DVM

September 16, 1972 - June 26, 2024