Dr. Ciribassi was born and grew up in Jersey City, NJ, attended Southern Illinois University and graduated with a BS in Biology from the University of Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. After graduation he practiced dairy medicine in Pennsylvania along with his wife, Elise, also a veterinarian.

In 1988 Dr. Ciribassi returned to Illinois with Elise and they opened the Gary at North Veterinary Center, a companion animal practice in Carol Stream (a western suburb of Chicago). In 1998, he began the process of board certification with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Soon after he began the Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants, a animal behavior specialty practice.

In 2002 Dr. Ciribassi, along with Elise and another veterinary classmate (Dr. Marty Johnson) purchased the Carol Stream Animal Hospital merging with the Gary at North Veterinary Center. In October of 2006, Dr. Ciribassi passed his boards to become a board certified veterinary behaviorist. He has served as President of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association as well as President of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).

He lives in Carol Stream with Elise and his daughters Danielle and Rebekah.