Dr. Tessa Van Diest grew up horseback riding and playing basketball in Pacific, Washington. She developed a love for horses after being introduced to them at a young age by her grandfather. Throughout the years, Dr. Tessa’s horse experience has expanded from backcountry trail rides to riding hunter/jumpers and later to working with racehorses. 

Dr. Van Diest attended Colorado State University for her undergraduate in Equine Science and Washington State University for her veterinary medical degree. While at WSU, she was president of the student chapter of AAEP and worked in the equine barn as an assistant. After graduating with her DVM in 2022, Dr. Van Diest traveled to California to complete a one-year equine rotating internship at Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center and has moved back to the Seattle area. 

Dr. Van Diest enjoys the wide breadth of general equine practice but particularly enjoys lameness, neonatology, and internal medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Van Diest enjoys exploring the outdoors through hikes and mountain biking. She also enjoys spending time with her fiance, her two cats, a good book, and wine.