Passion and Personalized Care

The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine is brimming with enthusiastic, highly qualified professionals in STEM. In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked some of our outstanding faculty about their experiences in veterinary medicine. Dr. Ryane Englar, DVM, DABVP, is an Associate Professor of Practice and leads CVM’s Clinical Skills team. In addition to teaching, she recently collaborated with researchers in the Iberian veterinary community to publish an article in Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases about the treatment of a zoonotic disease found in dogs in the area.  

What do you love about being in veterinary medicine? 

RE: As a companion animal veterinarian and an American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) diplomate in Canine/Feline Practice, I am most passionate about partnering with clients to achieve relationship-centered care. Nothing can be accomplished in terms of healthcare unless we take active measures to deconstruct the artificial divide between veterinarian and client. I absolutely love working with clients, learning from clients, and being present for clients literally and figuratively to journey beside them as they help me to understand more than I ever would, alone, about the human-animal bond with respect to their pet(s). 

Who inspired you to pursue this career path? 

RE: I was “that” kid who was born practically wanting to pick up a stethoscope and be a veterinarian. My earliest memories are of me trying to “doctor” my stuffed animals, “vaccinate” them, place “casts”, and write up medical records. No one in my family is a doctor, so I was the first in many generations to be fueled by that desire. 

That being said, life is also about those in our lives and in our hearts, and I am grateful to my loving parents, my brother Brent, my mentor Dr. David Mannes, my Animal Science undergraduate professor Dr. Bruce Currie, my anatomy professor Dr. Braam Bezuidenhout, my veterinary school counselor, Ken Cohen, and many many more. I continue to be inspired by my competitive dance instructor, Lowell Fox, who reminds me that I am “more than enough” in a world where we sometimes question ourselves, our talents, and whether or not we belong. I am the product of those who have believed in me more than I ever have. For their love and support, I am immensely grateful.  

What was the most important career advice you received? 

RE: Veterinary medicine is a stressful profession. Veterinary practice is intense and demanding. It often makes us question who we are and how we measure up – so much so that we often forget the good that we do achieve and all the patients that we do help. Instead, we remember that one mistake, or that poor patient outcome, that one we couldn’t help.  

[The advice I received was] to take a step back and remember that the journey is about self-reflection and growth. It’s not about accomplishments. It’s about being human, first and foremost. Humans aren’t perfect. But you still show up each day, every day, and you try your hardest, you try your best. That is inspiring to me because it gives me a chance at a daily “reset.” It reminds me that I can write new chapters so that I can start again. Being whole is not about being perfect, but about living, breathing, and being in the moment.