Dr. Andrea Y. Tu grew up in Taipei, Taiwan and Lexington, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biopsychology from Barnard College of Columbia University in 2000. After graduating from Barnard, she spent six years researching developmental behavior at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and volunteering with human-animal bond outreach groups in New York City.
Dr. Tu received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. After veterinary school, Dr. Tu completed a Small Animal Medical and Surgical Rotating Internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, where she continued her studies in behavioral medicine, and spent six and a half years as a general practice veterinarian at Park East Animal Hospital.
Previously the Medical Director for Behavior Vets of New York, Dr. Tu has completed a residency in veterinary behavior with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. She also serves as a board member and veterinary consultant with PAWS NY, an outreach group working to preserve, support, and nurture the human-animal bond for New York City’s most vulnerable residents. Dr. Tu’s primary professional interests include behavior, surgery and promoting the human-animal bond.
Dr. Tu has lectured on behavior topics nationally and internationally and has authored various research journal articles and book chapters. She has contributed to various print media, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker, among others. Dr. Tu has been interviewed on the Animal Planet channel, CBSInteractive.com, Fox 5 News, “Dog Park Tales” for the Pet Network, Cheddar News, as well as various other television shows for local and international stations in Canada, France and Taiwan. She was also featured on “Furever”, a documentary on the human animal bond, produced a series of pet care online videos for the American Kennel Club, and was featured on the Dogs episode of the Netflix documentary series “The Future Of”. Dr. Tu is available for all media inquiries and lectures upon requests.
In her spare time, Dr. Tu, who is fluent in Chinese, enjoys fostering kittens for rescue groups as well as sampling the city’s various culinary offerings. Despite having had over 20 dogs in her life, she currently shares her home with a clicker savvy, training obsessed cat named Kahlua and her not-as-well-trained husband, Mark.