Dr. Joel Huffman DVM

I love being able to help animals recover from illness and return them to their families. Seeing the joy in that reunion is incredibly rewarding. I also treasure the relationships I’ve built over the years with both my colleagues and the clients we serve. The bond we share in working together to improve the lives of animals is truly special.

Originally, I had planned to pursue human medicine and was even accepted to Rush University for Medical School. However, after speaking with several physicians who expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the medical profession, I chose to work in pharmaceutical sales. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that I wasn’t making the impact I wanted. Volunteering at an animal shelter on weekends, I found immense satisfaction in caring for animals. It was at that moment I decided to apply to veterinary school — when I realized I enjoyed cleaning kennels more than my sales job!

I live in Elburn with my wife, Heather, who is an equine veterinarian, and our son, J.J. Our family also includes two horses, Bogey and Callaway, and our cat, Chip. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, golfing, and managing my son's travel soccer team. I also love camping and spending quality time with my family. A fun fact about me: I was the starting wide receiver for the Knox College football team!