Dr. Gifford graduated from The Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She then completed a thirteen month internship in medicine and surgery at the prestigious Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA.

Dr. Gifford worked in several private small animal practices before founding Abbott Valley in 1994. She is a licensed veterinarian in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She is a member of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association and was on the Board of Directors in 2000. She also won the 2005 “Small Business Person of the Year” award given by the RI Chapter of the Small Business Administration. Most recently, in 2012, Rhode Island Monthly magazine counted her among the'Top Vets' in their "Best of Rhode Island" series. She has a very loyal following of clients that have been coming to the practice for  22 years.