Kelly C. Ballantyne, DVM, DACVB (she/her)

Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist

Dr. Ballantyne is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the Medical Director of Insight Animal Behavior Services.

Dr. Ballantyne grew up on the North Shore of Chicago. Her interest in veterinary medicine began when she was a young child and she has been a life-long animal lover. In 2001 she graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2005 she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After 4 years in general practice, she started a non-traditional residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) under the mentorship of Dr. John Ciribassi. Dr. Ballantyne earned her board certification through ACVB in 2015. Additionally, she worked at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for 10 years, establishing the College’s first behavior service. Dr. Ballantyne has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, including “The Feline Dream Home” in ACVB’s Decoding Your Cat and “Noise Aversion” in Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, 4th ed. She speaks nationally and internationally on companion animal behavioral issues and human-animal interactions. She serves on the Fear Free Advisory board and is the current President of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

Interviews with Dr. Ballantyne have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, National Geographic, JAVMA News, PetMD, Pet Coach, the Dodo, and Catster. She has spoken on radio interviews and podcasts with WBEZ Chicago, WILL Urbana, Steve Dale’s Pet World, Raising Your Paws, and Animal Academy Podcast and has appeared on television on WGN, WCIU, and NBC Chicago.

During her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband Robert, hiking, birding, photography, nature journaling and wildlife illustration and volunteers with the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors.

Dr. Ballantyne is a member of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, American Veterinary Medical Association, Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, Chicago Ornithological Society, Chicago Bird Alliance, and the Feminist Bird Club.