Southport veterinarian named East Coast Veterinarian of the Year
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — A Southport veterinarian is receiving regional recognition for the impact she has made on pets and their families.
Dr. Jennifer Derby of River Road Animal Hospital was recently named Trupanion’s 2026 East Coast Veterinarian of the Year after being nominated by the owners of two Great Danes she treated.
For Derby, the recognition is about more than providing quality medical care.
“The feeling of we have made a difference in these people’s lives, you know, so that they kind of felt like yes, the medicine is excellent, but the care that we received is top notch, and that for me was huge,” said Derby.
Derby said her passion for animals began at an early age. Growing up around dogs, cats, and horses helped shape both her career path and the way she approaches veterinary medicine today.
That lifelong love of animals is reflected in her efforts to build trust with her patients, many of whom may be nervous or uncomfortable during a visit.
“We get down on the floor with them, you know, and for a lot of these guys, as long as you are going slowly. So, I will talk to the owner, do my exam while I’m doing it, and they don’t really notice, right? So, you can kind of do all of these things and they just think they’re having attention paid to them, which is the goal,” said Derby.
But Derby said caring for animals is only part of the job. Building relationships with pet owners is equally important.
“I mean, I know how I feel about my dogs, right, and I need to be sure whoever is taking care of them is invested and cares and is, wants to make a difference, and so that is something we try very hard to do, is to really sort of earn their trust and then, more importantly, keep it right?” said Derby.
She said the award is a special honor and a reflection of the care and dedication shared by the entire team at River Road Animal Hospital.
While the award bears her name, Derby said it represents the collective effort of the hospital’s staff and serves as a reminder that great veterinary care extends beyond medicine to supporting both animals and the people who love them.
