Dr. Kenneth B.

A native Washingtonian and born in Washington, D.C., Dr. Burris was raised in Montgomery County, MD. He graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School, where he was Co-President of the Black Student Association and was inducted into the United States Spanish National Honor Society. He was also nominated to be an exchange student, studying abroad in Zaragoza, Spain. 

During his undergraduate career, Dr. Burris served as the Vice-President of the Tufts Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). Throughout his time in vet school, Dr. Burris was a member of the student government as a Diversity Committee Representative and completed a business minor in health sciences at the Ohio State Fisher College of Business. After graduation, Dr. Burris matched into a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Tufts Veterinary Emergency and Treatment Specialties Hospital. 

As a child, Dr. Burris grew up with many pets, including two dogs, four rabbits, 10 gerbils, an iguana, a newt, a ferret, several fish, and 15 ducks. Dr. Burris has always had a passion for both medicine and animals; though he never saw a veterinarian who looked like him growing up, so he was hesitant at first to apply to veterinary medical school. He has since had two articles published in Veterinary Professionals’ Next Gen detailing his experience as a vet student and anti-racism in veterinary medicine. 

Today, Dr. Burris works as an adjunct professor and instructor at American University, where he teaches multiple courses surrounding auscultation/cardiology, injections, microscopy, endoscopy, laparoscopy, suturing, dissection, and other veterinary medicine skills. He also works as a faculty professor with Loop Abroad and as an instructor and veterinarian at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Dr. Burris’ professional interests include public health/preventive medicine, regulatory medicine, shelter medicine, primary care and urgent care, the human-animal bond, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology, general dentistry, and surgery. 

As a counselor, Dr. Burris brings over seven years of mentorship experience, guiding aspiring veterinary students through application strategy, interview preparation, and scholarship planning. He is passionate about supporting applicants from all backgrounds to help them build confidence and maximize their chances of vet school success.