Ryland Edwards, DVM, Ph.D., DACVS, DACVSMR, partner and hospital director at Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Conn., who has directly trained and supported over 50 equine practitioners and advocated for many others, received the Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). 

The Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award honors an individual who by her or his actions and commitment has demonstrated a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners through mentoring. Dr. Edwards received his award Dec. 2 during the President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 69th Annual Convention in San Diego, Calif. 

After receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Georgia in 1990, Dr. Edwards completed a large animal medicine and surgery internship followed by a large animal surgery residency at Cornell University. He then spent eight years at the University of Wisconsin as a graduate student/Ph.D. candidate and clinical assistant professor prior to joining Fairfield Equine in 2005.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Edwards has trained and mentored 54 interns and residents, instilling an infectious enthusiasm for equine medicine along with critical thinking and high-level, hands-on skills to provide new practitioners with a strong foundation for future success. He embraces the opportunity to encourage and support their career growth and trajectory during their time together and throughout each mentee’s professional journey.  

“To be mentored by Dr. Edwards during an internship is to be mentored for life,” said Dr. Cara Rosenbaum of Rhinebeck Equine. “Dr. Edwards is never more than a phone call away for questions or a chat. He has taught me the technical skills that make me the clinician I am today, and the soft skills that me the colleague and volunteer that I have become.”  

Beyond formal relationships, Dr. Edwards advocates for any student or young equine veterinarian who comes through his practice, whether they’re applying to veterinary school or seeking to advance their career. 

“Dr. Edwards has always had a sincere and genuine interest in the career development of pre-vet students, veterinary student externs, veterinary interns who visit or work at his practice, as well as young referring veterinarians,” said nominators Dr. Tom Divers and Dr. Susan Fubini. “He has always been willing to help every aspiring or young equine veterinarian that comes his way. From day one, he treats them all as colleagues and somehow always seems to remember their names and their career pathways, even many years later.” 

About AAEP 

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.