Dr. Tess Gannaway hails from nearby Providence, Rhode Island. She attended Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City for her undergraduate degree. After graduation, she returned to the area and attended Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. During her time at Tufts, she traveled to various continents to study disease transmission between humans and animals with a focus on the burgeoning interdisciplinary concept of “One Health” and gender.

After graduating veterinary school, Dr. Gannaway completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship in Tucson, Arizona with a focus on emergency medicine and trauma. Although she fell in love with the desert, she returned home to the East Coast to be closer to her family. Dr. Gannaway can treat a variety of pets including birds, and her special interests include emergency medicine, zoonotic disease, and palliative/end of life care. Outside of the clinic she spends her time running, swimming, and going on adventures with her geriatric desert poodle Creature, who you can see wandering around the clinic on any given day, living the life.

If you could only eat one food forever, what would it be?

Anything that is a carbohydrate or made of sugar! Icing comes to mind... or challah bread...

If you woke up as an animal tomorrow, what would you be and why?

My tiny white rescue poodle Creature—who lives a very cushy retirement here at Back Bay. She is showered with affection and love by the staff and clients constantly. She also naps 95% of her work day. It’s quite a step up from being homeless in the Arizona desert!

When are you happiest?

After a nice long run taking a hot shower, eating some sort of carbohydrate (told you!) and watching TV with my human and animals (while most likely falling asleep after the first challenge of Master Chef Junior is announced...)