Taylor Tran, 31 / Veterinarian, Emergency Veterinary and Specialty Services of Roanoke
Roanoke native Dr. Taylor Tran earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Virginia Tech in 2011, following up with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri CVM in 2017. With Emergency Veterinary and Specialty Services of Roanoke since 2018, Tran’s interests include soft tissue surgery and emergency medicine/surgery. Last year, she performed a risky but successful lip-to-lid transposition surgery to save a cat’s eye from cancer affecting the entire upper eyelid. EVSS reaches full capacity nearly every weekend, with long hours, overnights, weekends and holidays, but for her, the reward of saving an animal’s life is always worth it. “Veterinarians are in high demand right now, especially following the spike in pet ownership since COVID-19,” she says. “Statistics say there is currently one veterinarian for every 1,000 animals (dogs and cats) in the U.S. … It is tough to only see sick and critical patients, but my passion for emergency medicine allows me to help the animals in the area when they need it most. … We are so lucky to have a local emergency clinic that stays open 24/7 … or a lot of pets would suffer and go without care. It is truly heartwarming to see how many patients and clients we aid on a weekly basis.”
- Earned Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri CVM, 2017
- Earned Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Virginia Tech, 2011
- VVMA (Virginia Veterinary Medical Association) member
- AVMA (American Veterinary Mmedical Association) member
- RVMA (Roanoke Veterinary Medical Association) member
- Recovery Initiative Certified (basic and advanced CPR)
From the Nomination: “Dr. Tran has been working two professional jobs for the last four years saving and caring for animals including large animals such as horses and smaller animals. I feel this was more important at the time than general community service and was in fact community service. I for one was grateful for her devotion to her profession as she has spent many hours with my dog and as many explaining to me, in layman’s terms, the medical diagnosis for my dog. Dr. Tran is uniquely suited for her career and community engagement because of her knowledge of veterinary care and the ability to communicate with pet owners. She devotes many hours to helping pet owners understand their pets’ situation. When leaving Dr. Tran’s care of my pet, I tell people that I wish my personal physician would take the time to explain in detail my diagnosis as she explains about my dog. Knowledge, ability to communicate, care and concern are all traits that separate this nominee from others. … She is a professional who looks forward to investing in the community in a way that many others cannot. Her investment will add extraordinary and unique value. Just ask pet owners who rush their pets to the Emergency Clinic at 2:00 AM and have their pet emerge well enough to go home. Tears turn into smiles.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Tran: “Roanoke has certainly changed over the years, and is continually evolving. I love experiencing all four seasons, driving to work with mountains in view and having the luxury of both urban and rural life. I feel safe in Roanoke, and find it to be a desirable place for families to settle down.”
How does your passion impact our community?
Tran: “Veterinarians are in high demand right now, especially following the spike in pet ownership since Covid-19. Statistics say there is currently one veterinarian for every 1,000 animals (dogs and cats) in the United States. Being an emergency veterinarian means working long hours, overnights, weekends, and holidays. It is tough to only see sick and critical patients, but my passion for emergency medicine allows me to help the animals in the area when they need it most. We reach full capacity almost every weekend and most nights are extremely exhausting, but the reward of saving an animal’s life is worth it! We are so lucky to have a local emergency clinic that stays open 24/7 with staff willing to work crazy hours, or a lot of pets would suffer and go without care. It is truly heartwarming to see how many patients and clients we aid on a weekly basis.”
