Ryan Wathen

Veterinary Technician Veterinary Teaching Hospital

About Ryan

I have always been an animal lover. If you asked a two-year-old me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have told you that I wanted to be a cat. No long after, my answer became more refined and I knew I would work in veterinary medicine. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah with my parents and older sister. We always had a dog in our house, sometime more than one when I convinced my parents to let me foster or help with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Throughout high school I volunteered with No More Homeless Pet in Utah and advocated for low-cost spay and neuter and humane treatment of feral cats. I also interned in a veterinary clinic where I got my first hands-on experience with veterinary medicine. I remember watching a surgery and thinking the whole situation seemed crude and that it could have been done better. I wanted to go to veterinary school to advance medicine and make it safer and more accessible for everyone. After high school I came to Colorado State University and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in animal science and Bachelor of Science in environmental health. Throughout my undergraduate career I had the opportunity to work summer jobs at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. I worked in radiology, CCU, and anesthesia. Anesthesia quickly became my passion! I love the challenge and holistic nature of anesthesia. We need to understand physiology, pharmacology, and all the other veterinary specialties to perform our job safely. My career path shifted and as I grew to love working as a technician. We get to be more hands-on with patients while still providing exceptional care.