KOP Insiders: Dr. Alisa Rassin, VMD, Founder & Medical Director, Exotic and Small Animal Hospital of PA

KOP Insiders delves into the stories of the people who make King of Prussia one of Pennsylvania’s most dynamic live-work-play-stay destinations.
In depth interviews provide insight into the companies that make up our diverse business community and put a face to the individuals behind the business. In this edition, we are joined by Dr. Alisa Rassin, Founder and Medical Director at www.eahphilly.vet” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Exotic and Small Animal Hospital of PA.
Could you start by sharing a bit about your journey and what led you to open this new exotic animal hospital?
I grew up always loving animals, but I was never allowed to have any. My mom always said, ‘If we live in an apartment, it’s not fair to the animal.’ She had this mentality of prioritizing the animal’s well-being over our own desires. Still, I tried to bring in frogs, hedgehogs, turtles—whatever I could find outside. Every time, my mom made me take them back out. I never really thought of working with animals as a career until I visited Costa Rica. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, so I volunteered at an animal rescue called the Monkey Park. I spent about a month there caring for injured and orphaned animals, but I felt useless because I didn’t know how to help them. We only had a vet visit twice the entire time I was there. I hated feeling that way, so when I got back, I decided to go to vet school—without fully understanding what that entailed.
My parents were practical and told me, ‘If you want to be a vet, get a job first and see if you like it.’ I started from the ground up: cleaning cages, walking animals, doing reception and learning every aspect of the job. Even after all of that, I knew I still wanted to be a vet. At the time, we had just immigrated from Israel, and English was my third language, so I wasn’t sure if I could even study in English. I started taking classes at a community college in Bucks County and realized it wasn’t as hard as I’d feared. From there, I transferred to Penn State for undergrad and later got into UPenn’s vet school. I didn’t love classroom learning, but I found my way into the exotics department at Penn. They let students volunteer, so I started going once or twice a month, and soon it became every weekend. From there I quickly fell in love with exotic animal medicine.
What appeals to you about treating and caring for exotic animals in particular?
It’s always a challenge, with something completely new every time. Even now, 10 years in, I still encounter cases I’ve never seen before. It’s amazing and so much fun. Exotic medicine is underrated—many vets are afraid to take it on, but it’s what I love and what I’m passionate about.
After vet school, I did an internship in exotic animal surgery and medicine at Penn. Then my husband suggested we move to England for a while. Thankfully, this profession allows you to work almost anywhere, so I took a job at a hospital in London. It was an incredible experience. The hospital handled everything: wellness visits, second opinions, emergency care and specialty cases. The owner was super supportive and encouraged me to build an exotics practice there. He gave me the freedom to get the equipment I needed and market the services, and before long, I was one of only three clinicians in London seeing exotic animals. I learned so much and built relationships with the other two exotics vets in the city. At the time, I was just out of my internship and felt like a baby doctor, learning with guidance from other exotic vets. The exotics community is small but tight knit; we all support each other. I have close friends in California, Hong Kong and New York, and we’re constantly in touch. We even have a group chat where we share weird cases and exchange opinions. Some of my mentors from vet school and my internship are part of this network, and it’s an amazing resource. It’s like having a global support system for solving complex cases.
That’s wonderful! And what made you decide that KOP was the right location for your hospital?
After about three years in England, we decided to move back here to be closer to family. We were starting to think about having kids, and I started working at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital for a while. Then the pandemic hit, and we had our first baby—it was just a bit too crazy.
An opportunity came up to help with a startup hospital in South Philly. We were in talks about developing an exotic animal hospital there, but it eventually fell through. That was okay—we moved on. Eventually we relocated to Lansdowne. We stayed there for about three years, but around this time last year, I decided it was time to go for it. I realized I couldn’t find a partner who fully aligned with my vision. I had a very specific idea of what I wanted my hospital to be: the equipment, the core values and the way people treat each other, so I knew I had to go for it on my own.
Last year, I started scouting for locations, and we ended up here in King of Prussia, which is perfect because we live just five minutes away from the hospital. This location is great. It’s like a smaller business center tucked behind the big, important places, but it’s so accessible. This is the perfect spot for us. It’s the kind of community I want to be part of. A lot of our clients are from this area anyway, so it’s convenient for them too. I wanted to be close to home. To have the flexibility to pick up my kids if I need to and bring them to the hospital. I also wanted the hospital to be more accessible for our clients because so many of them are from this area. Places like Phoenixville, King of Prussia, West Chester—this central location makes it convenient for everyone.
Have you received any feedback or responses from clients to your new space?
Yes! Our clients love the new space and have commented on how clean and welcoming it is. We also received compliments on the availability of equipment, like x-ray, ultrasound and CT equipment, and in-house labs.
How do you envision the hospital evolving in the next 5 to 10 years from now?
The long-term goal is to flip the typical veterinary script. Most hospitals primarily see dogs and cats and may take the occasional exotic pet if the vets are comfortable. For us, it’s the opposite: we’ll focus primarily on exotics while still welcoming dogs and cats. This approach gives exotic pet owners the confidence that their animals are truly represented and cared for, which I feel is often missing in the industry.
It’s personal for me. My husband is gluten-free, and if we go to a restaurant where there’s no gluten-free option, we all end up walking out. I want to make sure no pet owner ever feels like that here. Whether you have a chicken, a dog or anything else that walks, crawls or flies through our doors—we’ll take care of it. Everyone’s welcome, and no one gets left out. My ultimate vision is for this to become a 24/7 facility, accommodating emergencies, overnight stays and hospitalizations. Of course, it’s a process to get there—we’re starting with being open five days a week for now.
Can you share a bit more about the values that drive you and your team?
The main thing I’m focused on is building a staff that feels genuinely human. I don’t want a robotic, ‘this is what we do, step by step’ approach that’s always the same. Instead, I want to foster real connections with our clients. Many of our regulars know my team on a first-name basis, and they even have specific staff members they prefer to talk to for certain topics. I want to encourage and preserve that dynamic.
I also want to make sure my team gets to focus on what they’re most passionate about. Of course, they need to know how to do everything, but I believe in pushing them to excel in the areas they love most.
For example, one of my team members, Jackson, loves helping people care for their pets. He’ll spend hours feeding a rabbit that doesn’t want to eat or nursing animals back to health after surgery. That’s his thing—giving that extra level of care. Then there’s Kevin, who is incredibly passionate about reptiles. He can talk for hours about how to care for any random species someone might have. He also loves surgery and is one of our strongest surgical techs. He’s always there, training others and sharing his expertise. Becca, on the other hand, thrives on organization. Right now, she’s managing all our medications—tracking where they’re coming from and when—keeping everything running smoothly. I try to play to their strengths and ensure they collaborate in ways that work for them. I may be the doctor, but my team is such an integral part of everything we do. Not everyone realizes how vital they are, but I know that a happy staff leads to happy customers. When my team feels valued and respected, that energy extends to how they treat every client.
Amazing! What are some of your favorite things about living in King of Prussia?
I love the community feeling here. Everyone we’ve met here has been so nice and welcoming. I also really enjoy exploring all the restaurant options—there are so many that I can’t even pick a favorite! We try out so many different places. I love walking around too, especially at Valley Forge Park. We go there all the time. The green scenery is just wonderful. It’s so nice to be in a green space.
And what advice would you give other female entrepreneurs or professionals in general who are looking to establish a business and are considering King of Prussia?
The main thing is to build a strong team around you. You need a really good lawyer and a great real estate agent who knows the area because that makes all the difference. For me, my lawyer and realtor were truly a blessing. They knew the area, so they understood exactly what I was looking for and how to find it.
It’s also about going for it, even though you’re going to get a lot of no’s, and that’s okay. I’m used to it. My parents even told me not to be a vet, you know? That’s the main thing—especially for females, who often hear a lot of no’s. The no’s don’t matter.
About the Exotic and Small Animal Hospital of PA
The Exotic and Small Animal Hospital of PA (EsAHPa) is a women-owned veterinary clinic dedicated to exceptional care for exotic pets and small animals, including reptiles, birds, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Founded by Dr. Alisa Rassin, EsAHPa combines state-of-the-art technology with a welcoming environment to ensure compassionate, high-quality care. Services include wellness exams, diagnostic imaging, advanced surgery, and behavioral counseling, making EsAHPa a trusted resource for local pet owners.
Exotic and Small Animal Hospital of PA
1006 W 8th Ave Suite B,
King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
www.eahphilly.vet