Knowledge Lab

Where science meets storytelling in veterinary medicine

Welcome to Tails From the Lab

Each podcast episode brings you closer to the diagnostics that shape patient care — whether it’s case-based insights, practical tips from the lab, or conversations with leading experts in the field. Hosted by Dr. Holly Brown DVM, PhD, DACVP, and Dr. Brad Ryan MSc, DVM, MPH, this podcast connects the dots between data, diagnostics, and the real-world decisions veterinarians make every day.

Tails from the Lab cover

Meet the Hosts

Brad Ryan, MSc, DVM, MPH

Dr. Brad Ryan graduated cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Miami University in 2003, his Master of Science in mammalian biology with distinction from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2008, his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016, and his Master of Public Health in veterinary public health from The Ohio State University College of Public Health in 2017. Dr. Ryan has treated small animals, exotic pets, and wildlife in veterinary hospitals across the United States and served as Program Manager for the Smithsonian Global Health Program at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. His professional interests include veterinary public health and abating the spillover of zoonotic diseases from animals to people. Speaking/presenting topics: zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, parasitology, and promoting “One Health”. 

Dr. Ryan resides in Ohio with his giant schnauzer, Evan Williams. He is an avid outdoorsman, has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. He enjoys wildlife photography and international travel. In May 2023, Dr. Ryan completed his journey to all 63 U.S. National Parks with his 93-year-old Grandma Joy, the oldest person to accomplish this feat. He is an accomplished keynote speaker advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the great outdoors, mental health, and the power of intergenerational connection.

Holly Brown, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Holly is a veterinarian, board-certified clinical pathologist, and figurative hand-holder. She practiced small animal medicine before, during, and after her specialty training — grateful to have combined her love of clinical practice and the laboratory diagnostics that support it. Hollyremains in the trenches at a general, referral, and emergency practice, where she loves making an impact at the interface of laboratory data and patient care. Holly also serves as Chief Veterinary Educator for Antech Diagnostics — exercising her passion for delivering education about maximizing diagnostic testing, helping veterinary teams get the most from the lab data and, in that way, helping animals live longer, healthier lives. When away from the office, Holly enjoys traveling with her family, snuggling her sugar-sweet bird dog and tripod cat, and dreaming of home renovations that rarely come to fruition.

Podcast Episodes

  • Breakpoint Breakdown: Understanding MIC Updates on your Culture and Susceptibility Reports

    Breakpoint Breakdown: Understanding MIC Updates on your Culture and Susceptibility Reports

    Board-certified veterinary microbiologist and immunologist Meera Surendran Nair (DVM, MS, MSCTR, PhD, DACVM), Director of Infectious Disease at Antech™ and board-certified veterinary microbiologist and immunologist, joins Tails From the Lab to discuss the recent updates to antimicrobial susceptibility reporting and clinical breakpoints. She explains how these changes impact veterinary diagnostics and antimicrobial therapy decisions, helping clinicians select the right antibiotic at the right dose to…

  • Creating Cultures of Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Jen Brandt

    Creating Cultures of Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Jen Brandt

    In our latest Tails from the Lab podcast episode, Dr. Brad Ryan sits down with Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA Director of Member Wellbeing Initiatives, to talk about what is—and isn’t—conducive to building a culture of wellbeing, the benefits, and what we can do as both individuals and hospitals. Watch the…

  • Why Routine Bloodwork Matters More Than You Think

    Why Routine Bloodwork Matters More Than You Think

    In this episode of Tails from the Lab, Drs. Holly and Brad explore one of the most overlooked tools in preventive veterinary care: wellness lab data. Together, they unpack why routine bloodwork is so meaningful and how it can guide early intervention and better outcomes throughout a pet’s life.  This…