Suite 100, 101 International Drive, Franklin, TN 37067
info@kintsugianimalhospital.com
(615)716-3002
HOURS
8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon-Fri
Healing that respects imperfection, resilience, and the commitment to a lifetime of excellent care.
You've probably left a vet appointment feeling like just another number on the schedule. Rushed answers, not enough time, and more uncertainty than you came in with. That experience shouldn't be what's keeping you from the thorough, thoughtful care your companion deserves.
This is where Kintsugi Animal Hospital comes in. A place where you and your pet are genuinely known, genuinely cared for, and never made to feel like an interruption.
Your pet deserves a veterinarian who treats them like their own.
The name also belongs to a very good girl named Sugi. A Boxer who arrive at the clinic as a surrender, found after being hit by a car twice when she was 4 moths old, with a shattered jaw and two broken limbs. She needed multiple surgeries, and was originally told that she would not be able to walk, run or eat correctly. Dr. Walsh fell in love with the sweet puppy and was dedicated to helping Sugi heal and get as close to "normal" as possible. Sugi came home with Dr. Walsh and after multiple specialisits and surgeries she now is a happy and healthy family dog, living the embodiment of the practice's entire philosphy. Resilience. Compassion. And the remarkable things that happen when you commit to putting the pieces back together with care.
Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art form of repairing broken pottery with gold. The cracks aren't something to hide. They're part of the story. The repair doesn't diminish the piece. It honors it.
For Dr. Walsh, that philosophy is the heart of how she practices. Every patient has a history. Every family has a story. And every stage of life deserves care that is thoughtful, individualized, and deeply respectful of the bond at the center of it all.
The name behind the practice
Kintsugi Animal Hospital is that something.
She went on to earn her degree, Magna Cum Laude, at Auburn University, completed a small animal internship at BluePearl in Tampa, and spent seven years honing her craft before relocating to Franklin, Tennessee with her growing family.
Here in Franklin, where she's now practiced for over 10 years, she grew into a medical director role, helped build a local practice from one veterinarian to three, and earned the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners award for Best Young Veterinarian in the state. She went on to own a practice of her own, and then the business bug bit again, and she knew it was time to build something entirely hers, one where she could put her own stamp on how she believes veterinary care should be provided.
Dr. Joanna Walsh knew she wanted to be a veterinarian after exactly one day working at a vet clinic. The variety, the science, the relationships — she was completely hooked.
Meet Dr. Joanna Walsh
We live here too. Providing excellent care to the community we call home is a privilege we take seriously.
Community Responsibility
The culture inside our walls matters. Every team member at Kintsugi is supported, respected, and given room to grow.
Team Wellbeing
You are an essential member of your pet's care team. No surprises, ever. Just clear communication and collaborative decision-making.
Client Partnership
Your pet is an individual. Their care plan reflects their specific needs, temperament, and quality of life.
Patient-Centered Care
Honest, transparent, ethical decisions — every time. You'll always know where we stand and why.
Integrity
We're committed to the highest medical standards, evidence-based medicine, and continuous improvement through education and technology.
Clinical Excellence
Every patient and family is treated with genuine empathy and respect. The human-animal bond guides everything we do.
Compassion
What we believe
Carson and Max are her entire world. Life with two boys means nerf gun fights, anime, endless sports, and zero dull moments.
Proud boy mom
Both of her parents are originally from Athens. Greek holidays, traditional cooking, and a strong sense of heritage are woven into her everyday life.
Greek roots
For their 10-year anniversary, she and her husband traveled to Japan, where he surprised her with a kintsugi-making class. They made their own piece together. The trip changed her.
Passionate traveler
Cooking is how she unwinds. Since Japan, she's been slightly obsessed with high-quality Japanese knives.
Kitchen enthusiast
Book club is a social calendar non-negotiable. Psychological thrillers and fantasy novels are her comfort zone.
Devoted book nerd
