Rainier Ko, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVIM (Neurology), is a board-certified neurologist and surgeon at Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson.
Dr. Rainier Ko earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2000 from the Université de Montréal, Canada. Following his internship at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Dr. Ko returned to Montréal as a laboratory instructor in small animal anatomy and applied surgical anatomy.
He then completed a residency in small animal surgery and a three year joint Master of Science at Purdue University, Indiana in 2005. Dr. Ko spent three years as a staff surgeon at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, appearing on the popular Animal Planet show “E-Vet: Interns”. Following this, he returned to Purdue University in 2008 as an assistant professor in small animal orthopedics and neurosurgery.
Dr. Ko received board-certification in small animal veterinary surgery in 2007. After he completed a joint neurology residency at Colorado State University and Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, he became board-certified in neurology in July of 2014.
This formidable accomplishment distinguishes Rainier as one of only seven individuals worldwide with double-boarded certification in veterinary neurosurgery. Dr. Ko was committee chair of the ACVIM neurology examination committee from 2017-2018 and is currently a faculty instructor of AO-ASIF veterinary spine North American division.
He has worked as the department head of veterinary neurosurgery in Colorado Springs. He also worked with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and local police K-9 unit as well.
His special interests include neurosurgical oncology (brain and spinal cord tumors, vertebral replacement), neuro-orthopedics and implants, and complex hernia repair.
Dr. Ko is blessed by his loving family, including his wife, Jena and son, Ethan. He is an avid sport climber and boulderer.