Ryan Colburn, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Ryan Colburn was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Biology with Honors from Calvin College in 2006 and went on to earn his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University in 2010. Following graduation, he completed a one-year rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he then stayed on an additional year as a senior clinician in the Emergency Department. Six months into that year, he began to gradually transition over into his current role as Veterinarian for the John Ball Zoo where he ultimately took on the role full time in July of 2012.

During both veterinary school and his internship, Dr. Colburn completed rotations at the Detroit Zoo as well as the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel Island, Florida. Dr. Colburn has yet to identify a true “favorite” among his patients, though he does have a special place in his heart for felids. Life as a solo zoo veterinarian manages to keep one busy, but Dr. Colburn enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing card and board games, watching movies, and traveling when he can. He has traveled to Europe with his undergraduate concert band and completed a short study abroad in Ecuador as an undergraduate student.