Meet Dr. Ritzman

Dr. Tracey Ritzman
Diplomate ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners)
Board Certified Specialist in Avian & Exotic Mammal Practice
Dr. Ritzman is a native of northern Ohio and lived in North Carolina while in middle and high school. Dr. Ritzman obtained her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University College with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.
Dr. Ritzman is board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in both Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal practice. The board certification process involves many years of additional training after veterinary school in medicine and surgery for the specific species, and a rigorous examination process. Dr. Ritzman is currently the only dual board-certified veterinary specialist through ABVP for Avian and Exotic Companion Mammals in the state of North Carolina!
Dr. Ritzman’s clinical work focuses on non-traditional animals such as birds (companion and wild), exotic mammals (ferrets, rabbits, rodents, chinchillas, guinea pigs), reptiles, and fish. She also cares for dogs and cats. Dr. Ritzman served as staff veterinarian in the Avian/Exotics Department of the infamous Angell Animal Medical Center with the Massachusetts Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) in Boston, MA from 1998 until 2006.
Her veterinary interests include avian and exotic medicine and surgery, wildlife rehabilitation and conservation, and avian and exotic pet nutrition. She supports the veterinary community through teaching in avian and exotic animal medicine. She is a frequent speaker at national and regional veterinary meetings and has published numerous veterinary articles. Teaching and mentoring are important to Dr. Ritzman. She strives to be a positive role model for veterinary students, technicians and new graduate veterinarians entering the field of veterinary medicine. Through teaching and sharing, Dr. Ritzman hopes to “pay it forward” to the next generation of avian, exotic pet and wildlife professionals.
Dr. Ritzman is also the veterinarian for the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, North Carolina. The Carolina Raptor Center is a non-profit wildlife hospital dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of wild birds of prey such as owls, hawks, vultures, and eagles. One of the most rewarding things she does as a veterinarian is to provide care for injured wild birds with orthopedic injuries like wing or leg fractures. Her orthopedic surgical care allows many of these birds to be able to recover, regain their ability to fly and hunt, and be able to be released back into the wild to live a free and wonderful life.
Dr. Ritzman, her husband Anjan and their son Rohan live in Huntersville, North Carolina.
In her free time Dr. Ritzman enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks with her rescue dog DUG (named from the dog in the Disney movie “UP”), baking French pastries, and going to antique shops to hunt for antique bird cages. She has a collection of beautiful brass bird cages from the late 1800’s which were gifted to her from her mother when she graduated from veterinary school.