Dr. Ray Arza – 2025 Kumar Patel Prize Recipient

I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery. This prestigious recognition not only highlights the advancements we have made in the field of veterinary laser surgery but also pays tribute to the pioneering legacy of Mr. Kumar Patel, whose invention of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser is transforming veterinary soft tissue surgery.

My first encounter with this technology was in 1998, when I attended a veterinary conference and walked by a booth that had a piece of equipment I had never seen before. At the time, the concept of using lasers in veterinary surgery was emerging and I did not know anyone that was using it. The booth had a banner that said, “Laser Surgery – Less Pain, Less Bleeding, Less Swelling.” Although skeptic I was curious about these claims and agreed to an in-clinic demonstration.

We scheduled a few surgeries for the demonstration, and after a morning of surgery, I quickly decided to integrate this tool into the practice, and we purchased the laser that day. Over the next few months, what I witnessed was more than a new tool; it was a shift in possibility. The precision, control, reduced bleeding, and improved patient recovery opened my eyes to a future in which surgical trauma could be significantly minimized and the possibilities of this great modality felt endless.

Five years later, driven by a growing conviction in the transformative power of laser technology, I made the difficult decision to step away from traditional veterinary practice. It was not a departure from my profession, but rather a deepening of my commitment to it. I chose to dedicate myself fully to the advancement, education, and integration of CO₂ laser surgery in veterinary medicine.

Over the past two and a half decades, I have had the privilege of working alongside passionate veterinarians, physicists, engineers, and educators who, like me, believe that our animal patients deserve the most precise, least invasive care available. Together, we’ve developed training programs, guided clinical research, and helped establish protocols that are now becoming mainstream in veterinary surgery. We’ve seen laser technology evolve from novelty to necessity in many practices—especially in soft-tissue procedures where its advantages are unmatched.

Accepting this prize is not just a recognition of past efforts, but a reaffirmation of the mission that began in that first moment of exposure in 1998. It honors the animals whose lives have been improved through laser surgery, the clients who have trusted this technology, and the many colleagues who continue to push boundaries for the sake of better care.

To Dr. Peter Vitruk, thank you for recognizing and advancing the importance of laser innovation in veterinary medicine. Your deep knowledge, generous mentorship, and unwavering dedication to this remarkable technology have inspired so many of us. I am grateful for your guidance, your friendship, and for the path you helped illuminate.

To Dr. Kumar Patel, whose groundbreaking invention unknowingly changed the trajectory of veterinary soft tissue surgery and a young veterinarian’s life, I offer my deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude.

I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to my business partner and dear friend, Mr. Mike Nieuwsma. Your many years of collaboration, insight, and tireless dedication to this great technology have been instrumental in advancing our shared mission. This journey would not have been the same without your unwavering support and belief in the transformative power of laser surgery.

To my beautiful wife, Sandy, thank you for your tireless support, your patience, and your unwavering belief in me through every stage of this journey. Your strength behind the scenes has made everything possible, and I share this honor with you.

Dr. Arza’s Biographical Highlights

Dr. Arza earned his DVM degree at the University of Tennessee in 1979. He was a small animal general practitioner for 23 years with a special interest in surgery and dentistry. Dr. Arza started using a surgical laser in 1998 and soon thereafter became a popular lecturer at conferences, universities, and seminars on CO₂ laser surgery. In 2002, he left private practice to join the industry as an educator, trainer, consultant, lecturer, and independent manufacturer representative of surgical lasers. In 2006, he became the first sales representative for Aesculight veterinary surgical lasers and has been intimately involved with developing and advancing the Aesculight and VetScalpel surgical lasers. In January of 2021, he became Co-Director of Sales in North America for Aesculight.