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Veterinarian: ‘We Love the People Around Us’

Almost four years ago, Dr. Leah Wulforst took the big plunge into entrepreneurship and opened Riverside Veterinary Clinic at 1111 Sevier Ave.

Call her a South Waterfront service-industry pioneer. At the time, there wasn’t yet a lot of retail or restaurant activity along Sevier Avenue – just her clinic, Alliance Brewery across the street, and a handful of other businesses.

Her practice has grown steadily, and she’s hired two more veterinarians since opening.

Dr. Leah Wulforst and her 8-year-old son, Charlie

“The community is wonderful and accepting,” Wulforst says. “The majority of the people I serve live nearby. I don’t advertise. We’re growing by word-of-mouth referrals.

“It’s all about getting to know the clients and forming relationships.”

A graduate (and class president) of St. George’s University in Grenada, Dr. Wulforst came to know Knoxville while doing her fourth-year clinical rotation at the University of Tennessee.

Sevier Avenue was the right place to start her practice, she says. It’s unique.

“South Knoxville is different,” Dr. Wulforst says. “Downtown is more metropolitan. South Knoxville is more relaxed. You see young families with kids – it’s very family-friendly here. And the Urban Wilderness, it serves a different population.”

Wulforst hears complaints from Old Sevier Community residents about parking issues, and growing pains, and she’s sympathetic. She’s come back to her clinic after hours to care for animals and has found the door or alley blocked by someone’s vehicle.

But the City has started a residential parking pilot program for residents on Phillips Avenue, and City officials are working on longer-term solutions to maximize parking and encourage sharing of parking spaces along the business corridor.

Riverside Veterinary Clinic has always done its part to be a good neighbor and help solve parking issues. Dr. Wulforst allows evening- and night-time businesses to use her clinic parking when she’s not open to customers.

“We love the people around us,” she says. “We’re happy to be a part of the community.”

Posted by evreeland On 17 February, 2021 at 11:13 AM