Dr. Tessa Adam was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, but chose to attend college in Southern California to see a different part of the country.

"I have always been fascinated with the natural world and explored my interest in ecology while at Pomona College. I enjoyed this field of research, but I ultimately decided that veterinary medicine was my true passion. I attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a rotating internship at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. During my internship at OSU, I realized that I wanted to specialize in surgery because it is an intellectually stimulating field that allows veterinarians to take an active approach in the treatment of a disease or injury. I completed a surgery internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC in 2022, where I delved further into the field of surgery and began to develop my surgical skills. I am excited to have returned to MSU College of Veterinary Medicine for a surgical residency. I place great importance on providing excellent patient care and client communication for all surgical patients. My special areas of interest in surgery include post-operative analgesia, surgical oncology, wound management, and fracture repair."