Arista Atlanta Adds Internist Dr. Nick Berryessa as Owner
Arista Advanced Pet Care has appointed Dr. Nick Berryessa as a board-certified veterinary internist and owner at its Atlanta hospital.
Arista Advanced Pet Care has expanded its Atlanta team with the addition of Dr. Nick Berryessa as a board-certified veterinary internist and hospital owner. The veterinarian-founded multispecialty group announced the move, noting Dr. Berryessa brings nearly two decades of experience to the Sandy Springs facility.
Dr. Berryessa specializes in diagnosing and managing complex medical conditions. His particular interests include endocrinology, infectious disease, respiratory conditions, ultrasound, and interventional procedures.
A Local Perspective for Collaborative Care
Dr. Berryessa is a longtime Atlanta-area veterinarian and Roswell resident. He first came to the region for an internship after earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. He has practiced in the area since 2008.
Most recently, he operated his own veterinary telemedicine and consulting business. In that role, he provided ultrasound consultations, interpreting approximately 300 cases each month for other veterinary practices.
What stood out to me about Arista was the culture and the opportunity for the veterinarians providing care every day to have a real voice in how the hospital operates, said Dr. Berryessa. He emphasized the model integrates local decision-making with operational support.
Leadership Sees Ideal Fit
Arista's leadership highlighted the strategic value of the appointment. Dr. Jennifer Welser, President of Arista Advanced Pet Care, stated that Dr. Berryessa embodies the clinical and collaborative expertise the group sought.
“Nick brings exactly the combination of clinical expertise, collaboration and local perspective that we envisioned when building Arista,” said Welser. She noted his years of building relationships with Atlanta veterinarians give him a clear understanding of what referring clinics and their clients need.
Services and Hospital Model
The Arista Atlanta hospital opened in Sandy Springs in April 2025. It was the company's first combined specialty and 24/7 emergency facility. The hospital has already received a local award, being named Best Emergency Veterinarian of 2026 by several community publications.
The hospital offers a range of advanced services. These are structured under a model that allows specialists to become owners while leveraging the resources of a larger organization.
| Service Area | Specialties Offered |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine | Diagnosis/management of complex conditions, endocrinology, infectious disease |
| Surgery | Surgical interventions |
| Oncology | Cancer treatment |
| Emergency & Critical Care | 24/7 emergency services |
| Additional Therapy | I-131 radioactive iodine therapy |
Commitment to Referring Veterinarians
A key part of Dr. Berryessa's approach is maintaining close communication with the primary care veterinarians who refer patients. He stressed the importance of collaboration for patient care and client experience.
When a patient is referred for specialty care, I want to keep their veterinarian updated on the diagnostic and treatment plan and make sure that they are part of those decisions, he explained. This, he believes, helps provide a better overall experience for the pet owner.
Dr. Berryessa is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He has also authored and contributed to research on infectious disease and other complex medical conditions in companion animals. His procedural experience includes advanced interventions like tracheal and urethral stent placement.
He expressed enthusiasm for his new role, connecting it directly to his long history in the community. “Atlanta has been my home for nearly two decades,” Dr. Berryessa said. He looks forward to helping make advanced specialty care more accessible to pets and families across the region.
