Marlis Rezende

I grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I completed veterinary school. Nobody was surprised by my career choice – I’m the seventh veterinarian in my family! But when I fell in love with anesthesia during my senior year that did turn some heads. Veterinary anesthesia was a relatively new specialty in Brazil at the time and many didn’t see it as a wise career path. But I was determined, so I moved to Sao Paulo where I went to graduate school to complete a Master of Science and a PhD with a focus in veterinary anesthesia. During my PhD program I earned a scholarship to study abroad and spent one year doing research with the anesthesia and critical care group at University of California, Davis. Being able to experience the extraordinary level of care that was provided to pets in the United States gave me a new perspective on the level of veterinary medicine I wanted to practice. I was fortunate to be accepted into the Anesthesia Residency Program at University of California, Davis and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2007. During my residency I discovered another passion, which is teaching. Sharing my passion for anesthesia and teaching veterinary students how appropriate anesthetic management can significantly impact a patient’s outcome is extremely rewarding. After my residency I continued working as a clinical instructor at University of California, Davis, and during that time my desire to stay in academia became clear. Drawn by the beautiful Rocky Mountains, I moved to Colorado State University in 2009, where I’m currently an associate professor in anesthesiology. I love my job at CSU as it allows me to practice excellence of care, teach and inspire new generations of veterinary students, and contribute to furthering our knowledge through research. I also get to work with a world-class group of fellow specialists, who keep my job interesting and challenging every day!