Dr. Ryan Harris

By Ron Durham

One look at his resume and it becomes apparent why the multifaceted nature of family medicine is so appealing to Dr. Ryan Harris. A top rowing recruit coming out of Dallas’ St. Mark’s School of Texas, Dr. Harris has at various times performed as a hip-hop dancer, worked as an investment banker and teacher, earned a second-degree black belt, and written eight research papers. The UT Southwestern Medical School graduate also speaks three Romance languages.

Dr. Harris can now add another bullet point to his resume, having been selected as the 2016 recipient of the TAFP Dallas Chapter Outstanding Graduate Award. He will soon begin his residency at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend, Indiana.

“I see family medicine as a natural extension of my medical school curriculum,” he said. “I love how versatile it is. Namely, its focus is not limited to a single disease process or body part. It affords the opportunity to perform sundry outpatient procedures, and one can pursue any number of subspecialties after residency.

“I hope to maintain ties with an academic center and help train the next generation of physicians,” he added. “Additionally, I plan to acquire training in hair transplantation and other cosmetic dermatology procedures, as well as serve as ringside physician at local MMA fights.”

Dr. Harris majored in economics at Princeton University before earning a certificate in biomedical sciences from UT Dallas, where he was appointed head science tutor and served as social chair of the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Society.

He comes from a long line of physicians; his great-grandfather practiced in Utica, New York, and Los Angeles while his father, Dr. Scott Harris (UT Southwestern Class of 1983) is a plastic surgeon in private practice.

“My father was my first and greatest inspiration for pursuing a career in medicine,” Dr. Harris said. “One of my earliest memories is hanging out at nurses’ stations while he rounded. Later in life, I shadowed him in the OR, attended medical conferences with him, and wrote articles with him. Seeing the smiles on his patients’ faces made me realize that I also wanted to find purpose and fulfillment through helping others.”

Dr. Dan Sepdham, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, ultimately sees Dr. Harris as an accomplished team physician.

“Ryan hopes to focus his practice on sports medicine,” he said. “He’s going to make a great team physician someday. I would rest assured if he were the team physician for one of my kids.”

Dr. Robert Dimeff, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, and Director of Medical Services and team physician for the Dallas Stars, is among Dr. Harris’ mentors, along with Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Dr. Shane Miller.

“I had the privilege of working with Drs. Dimeff and Miller during my sports medicine rotation,” Dr. Harris said. “Never was there a dull moment at either practice. They invited me to help with Dallas Stars physicals and showed me what it’s like to be a sport’s team doctor, and consequently how fun medicine can be.”

As part of his community medicine clerkship, Dr. Harris worked under Dr. Carlton Clarke in Garland and also considers him a mentor.

“More than a healer of patients, he has been an exceptional mentor to me, a pillar of his community and an advocate for the underserved,” Dr. Harris said.

Even Dr. Harris’ free time is multifaceted. He enjoys travel, exercise, trying new restaurants, and attending concerts, movies, and comedy shows.