Barbara Akl, DVM

Dr. Akl moved to Toledo in 1973 and has been a Buckeye ever since! She received her undergrad degree in Zoology at Miami University (Ohio) and graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. Following 12 years of practice in Canton, Ohio, Dr. Akl joined Bartels Pet Hospital in 1997. She enjoys all aspects of companion animal veterinary medicine and surgery.  Having been blessed with the personal experience of owning two severely allergic dogs, she has a particular interest in dermatology.

Dr. Akl loves distance running, reading, enjoying all things musical, and traveling with her husband to visit their two adult daughters in Richmond, VA and NYC.

If she were not such an awesome veterinarian, she would probably be a foreign affairs officer in France.  She studied French all through college but has sadly forgotten much of it.  The occupation of her dreams, however, would be to ride the plains as a cowgirl.  She did a lot of trail riding in her younger years, and she still hopes to one day sign on for a cattle drive.  She is an avid reader, and her fave genres are literary or historical fiction.  How would she spend an ideal day?  Horseback riding (reference her above noted occupation of dreams)!  However, if no horses are available, she would be happy to spend the day with her daughters somewhere in nature.