Dr. Dominic J. Marino is the Chief of Staff of Long Island Veterinary Specialists, the Director of the Canine Chiari Institute, and a founding board member of the One Medicine Foundation (formerly the New York Veterinary Foundation). He is one of four children and grew up in Plainview, Long Island, the son of a Plainview pediatrician (Leonard) and a singer/small business owner and supermom (Jane).
Pursuing his life-long animal passion, Dr. Marino attended Auburn University in Alabama where he attained a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Following graduation, he attended the University of Georgia to complete a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Excited to return to his home state, Dr. Marino then completed a three-year comprehensive residency in small animal orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. During his residency, Dr. Marino was honored with the Martin and Beatrice Weiser Outstanding Research Award and the North Shore Animal League Petering Scholarship Award.
Dr. Marino is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (AVCS) and is the former head of the Orthopedic/Neurosurgery service at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. In addition to his achievements in the field of surgery, Dr. Marino is also one of a handful of veterinary surgeons certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. He was the first veterinarian to become board certified by The American College of Clinical Thermology (ACCT), where he was granted the status of research fellow. Fulfilling his desire to make “cutting edge” veterinary medicine available to the pets of Long Island, Dr. Marino joined with Drs. Kaplan, Sapienza, and Panic and started “Island Veterinary Referral” which later evolved into Long Island Veterinary Specialists.
Dr. Marino has published many scientific articles and authored chapters in both human and veterinary medical textbooks. He lectures extensively on many surgical topics including soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery, as well as Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, at both human and veterinary surgical conferences nationally and internationally. Dr. Marino has collaborative research projects with several institutions including Stonybrook Medical School and Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island.
In 2021, Dr. Marino was recognized as an ACVS Founding Fellow in Joint Replacement Surgery (JRS). He pioneered the development of nano and micro total hip replacements in dogs and cats and is a leader in the field of total hip replacement surgery, authoring dozens of research publications and textbook chapters on the subject. Dr. Marino has performed over 2,000 THR procedures, starting in the early nineties. His areas of special interest include joint replacement surgery, brain surgery, and spine surgery.
Dr. Marino served as chairman of the Eastern Veterinary Orthopedic Society for several years and as a member of the National Advisory Board of North Shore Animal League America. He is the director of The Canine Chiari Institute at Long Island Veterinary Specialists and on the board of directors of The One Medicine Foundation (formerly the New York Veterinary Foundation), Veterinary Recommended Nutraceuticals, the Police Surgeons Benevolent Association, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Foundation, where he serves as president. Dr. Marino served as chairman of the scientific advisory board of the Chiari Syringomyelia Foundation and is currently a board of trustee member. Dr. Marino also serves as the surgical consultant for The Humane Society of New York, NY; Nassau University Medical Center, Uniondale, NY; North Shore Animal League America, Port Washington, NY; Bide-A-Wee Animal Adoption Center, Wantagh, NY; The Guide Dog Foundation, Smithtown, NY; Sweet Briar Nature Preserve, Smithtown, NY; New York City Police Department, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Transportation Security Administration, Port Authority of NY & NJ, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the 106th Rescue Wing, United States Air Force / ANG Pararescuemen.
Dr. Marino is a Major in the United States Army Reserves, and an Affiliate Professor of Surgery at the Long Island University, College of Veterinary Medicine. In early 2022, Dr. Marino became a New York State licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). In 2023, Dr. Marino was presented with the ACVS Lynn Wheaton Philanthropy Award. Dr. Marino enjoys running marathons, half marathons, travel, fitness, "all things Italian" and spending time with his family and house full of pets.