Dr. Eliza Ekins Yanik grew up in the Midwest where she volunteered extensively with community leadership, environmental, and animal welfare organizations. These included the local Humane Society, a therapeutic riding stable, and two wildlife rehabilitation centers. She graduated from Purdue University with a BS in wildlife conservation biology and a minor in French language and literature. In addition to her studies, she helped reestablish the current campus recycling system making it one of the top 10 university recycling programs in the US.

She and her husband then moved to Boston where she attended Boston University and worked at a feline-specialty practice. After a couple of years, she returned to the Midwest and attained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine. While in veterinary school she served as the vice president of the student chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and regularly volunteered with the U of I Wildlife Medical Clinic. Her contributions to the community earned her several academic and service-base scholarships. Throughout her life she has maintained a passion for treating feral and domestic felines and native wildlife. Dr. Yanik has a strong interest in feline medicine and internal medicine. She also is open to science-based integrative medicine and has spent over a decade working for native wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. Her hobbies include advocating for recycling and sustainability, swing dancing, and spending time with her husband and three adorable cats in beautiful Santa Cruz, California.