Feature Story

From Elephants to an Infant: A Veterinarian balances Medicine and motherhood

(DALLAS, Texas - Sept. 8, 2025) When most people imagine a veterinarian's day, they picture shots for puppies or check-ups for cats. For Dr. Taylor Willis, an associate veterinarian at Dallas Zoo, no two days ever look the same.

 

“Every day is different, which I love,” Willis said. “Our four full-time vets rotate roles: emergency, procedures, pathology, or office work. For example, today I started with an elephant who seemed lethargic, then treated a snake with impacted scent glands, checked on a tortoise with mobility issues, and examined a goat at the children’s zoo who tends to head-butt kids.
Some days it’s ducks; other days, it's elephants. That unpredictability keeps me passionate about my work.”

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Willis' path to zoo medicine wasn’t always obvious. Growing up around parents in the medical field, she first thought she’d become a pediatrician. But during her junior year at the University of North Texas, she joined an alternative spring break trip and worked alongside a shelter medicine vet. Willis' spring break, she discovered what veterinary medicine could truly be and showed her the value of real-world learning outside the classroom. That lesson stayed with her as she advanced in her career.

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“Everybody has a cliché story, like, ‘Since I was five, I loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian.’ I didn’t have that story,” she said. “That spring break trip showed me that veterinary medicine combined puzzle-solving. I loved the client–patient relationship of pediatrics, but with animals and their owners. That’s when I decided this was the path for me.”

 

Her journey took her from Denton to the University of Illinois, then to a demanding internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. Later, she traveled across Texas providing temporary veterinary support for wildlife facilities. She then found her place at the Dallas Zoo in 2021. By June 2024, she had become a full-time associate veterinarian. The work, though deeply rewarding, comes with challenges.

 

Willis said performing humane euthanasia is one of the most emotionally difficult parts of her job. Whether it’s supporting small pet owners or zoo staff who’ve cared for an animal for decades. I’m glad I can help relieve suffering, but it’s always difficult, and I carry those moments with me.”

 

Whether it’s a zoo animal or a family pet, Willis says the hardest part is always the same; witnessing the bond between animals and the people who love them. That understanding doesn’t just shape how she supports families during difficult moments, it also influences how she approaches her research and fieldwork.

 

That deep awareness of animal lives and relationships also shaped how Willis approached research and fieldwork. According to an article by Loop Abroad, Willis fell in love with the research field and decided to publish research on common diseases and surveillance in re-introduced alligator snapping turtles.

 

However, her passion for research wasn’t limited to reptiles. It carried into one of Willis' most unforgettable experiences that happened during her fourth year of veterinary school. It was at a pivotal moment where chimpanzees could no longer be tested on in a lab setting. She was on a lab animal medicine rotation just as chimpanzees were being phased out of
research facilities and relocated to sanctuaries.

 

“I had never seen a chimpanzee up close,” she said. “I always said I really like them, but I’ve never really understood what that meant. So being able to be there and watch and be a part of anesthetizing multiple chimps, it was like breathtaking.”

 

That once-in-a-lifetime moment highlighted the intensity of her professional journey, but Willis' life isn’t defined by work alone. Outside of the zoo, Willis is also a mother to an infant, a balancing act that comes with its own adjustments.

 

“It was hard at first; I felt like I lost parts of myself and was ‘just a mom',” Willis said. “But over time, I reframed it. My son is an addition to my life, not a takeover. Seeing my work through his eyes has made me appreciate it more. It’s still a juggling act, but with supportive colleagues and nearby family, I’ve been able to make it work. Weekends are sacred family
time.”

 

Motherhood has also sharpened her skills by making her observative, patient, empathetic and better at multitasking. For Willis, veterinary medicine isn’t just about animals. It’s also about people and inspiring future generations. As she reflects on the field’s evolution, Willis sees hope in younger veterinarians prioritizing mental health and balance. Her advice to future vets is simple but powerful:

 

"Vet med is hard but so rewarding,” she said. “Always have hobbies and interests outside of animals to keep yourself grounded. Don’t let setbacks stop you, apply for opportunities, even if you fear rejection."