Anyone who has taken their dog or cat to BluePearl Pet Hospital in Rockville knows what to expect. Whether it’s an emergency, a surgical visit, an internal medicine problem, or an oncology diagnosis and care plan, prompt and caring treatment is a guarantee.
What pet owners might not realize, however, is that an initial visit with one specialist at the hospital evolves into a collaborative effort with multiple experts to provide the highest quality care possible. For instance, a member of one specific team, such as the diagnostic imaging team, often consults other specialty departments residing in the same location.
One of BluePearl’s oncologists, Rachel Rasmussen, DVM and DACVIM, gives an example of the hospital’s multi-disciplinary approach to treatment recalling a dog who recently had surgery for skin cancer. After her initial evaluation of the pet she spoke with the hospital’s surgeon who operated on him, listening to his thoughts and recommendations, then conferred with another surgeon who operated on him at a different location. She then talked to a radiologist for input. And that’s just the beginning, because BluePearl’s oncology team will continue to partner with the pet’s primary care veterinarian as part of its ongoing care. “I feel so fortunate to work with such a collaborative group,” she notes.
Dr. Rasmussen graduated from Walt Whitman High School before leaving for college and veterinary school. The Bethesda native returned to the area to join what is now BluePearl, establishing the oncology department a year after the hospital opened in 2014.
Since 2020, she began serving as BluePearl’s medical director. In that role, she oversees and supports the medical care of animals and manages the overall operations of the hospital. Dr. Rasmussen acts as the main point of contact for the clinicians, specialists, emergency room doctors, and the pet hospice doctor. She is pleased to announce that a veterinary dermatologist will be joining the practice this fall.
In addition to her time-consuming and demanding positions at BluePearl, Dr. Rasmussen keeps busy with her husband raising their two young children and a Chocolate Lab named Randall.