Ryan Harrison – From Small-Town Student to Orthopaedic Surgeon and Medical
Leader
Ryan Harrison, a 2000 graduate of Edinburgh Community Schools, has built an
impressive career in medicine and education. He currently serves as an orthopaedic
surgeon at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he is also a Clinical
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vice Chair for Quality, and Chief of the
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Division.
Ryan is the son of Alan and Patty Harrison. His wife, Carrie, is an attorney and
professor at the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University.
Ryan describes his work simply: “I fix broken bones of all types.” His interest in
orthopaedic surgery began while he was still a student at Edinburgh. “Steve Hollenbeck
introduced me to an orthopaedic surgeon in Columbus, Indiana who allowed me to
observe him in surgery,” Ryan said. “I enjoy the manual labor of orthopaedic surgery,
the ability to use tools in the operating room to fix broken bones and having the skills to
help patients recover from their injuries and return to their lives and activities. It is a
special experience to see patients when they are better and tell them they don’t need
me anymore.”
Ryan began his educational journey at Edinburgh Community Schools and remains
grateful for the education he received there. He credits his teachers with preparing him
for success beyond high school.
“Our teachers dedicated themselves to making sure we had the education we needed to
prepare for the next steps,” Ryan said. “They even created advanced classes that didn’t
exist when we needed them—AP Chemistry, Physics, Calculus—to make sure we were
ready to succeed in college and fulfill the goals we shared with them.”
Several teachers left a lasting impression on Ryan. “Debbie Hightshue, my English and
French teacher, was definitely the most impactful,” he said. “She not only taught the
content, she also taught us how to learn. I’ve tried to mimic her in many ways in my
journey as a teacher.”
Ryan also expressed appreciation for many others who influenced him during his time
at Edinburgh, including Tom Derrico, Shaun Rosser, Derck Englebert, Rick and Cindy
Bechtel, Debbie Behnke, Brian and Susan Ingles, David East, Kevin Rockey, and Alice
Taulman. “All were like a second set of parents to me at one point or another during my
education,” he said.
While at Edinburgh, Ryan participated in band and served as a basketball manager. He
later continued that role as a basketball manager at Indiana University during his
college years.
“The leadership lessons that come from participating in sports are always excellent
skills that are helpful later in life,” Ryan said. “Learning how to be part of a team and
work through adversity has propelled many of my interests and responsibilities in my
professional life.”
Ryan graduated from Indiana University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in biology
before earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2009. He completed his orthopaedic
surgery residency at The Ohio State University and a fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma
Surgery at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He later worked for IU Health and
taught at the Indiana University School of Medicine for three years before returning to
Ohio in 2023.
Ryan continues to pursue further education and is currently studying at the University of
Oxford in the United Kingdom. He is working toward a Master of Science degree in
Global Healthcare Leadership and plans to complete the program in 2027.
Ryan says his experience at Edinburgh gave him a lasting appreciation for small-group
learning. “For a long time, Indiana had only one medical school through Indiana
University, and they split up the courses so students could spend part of their training at
universities across the state,” he explained. “I spent my first two years of medical school
in Bloomington with a class of 28 instead of the 200 students at the main campus in
Indianapolis. Small, focused education has been a very important part of my
educational journey.”
Ryan encourages current ECSC students to take advantage of opportunities and not be
afraid to step outside their comfort zones.
“Make friends and participate in activities,” he said. “Take advantage of the fact that the
resources of a small school can get you where you want to go in life as long as you
make your needs known. Don’t be afraid to reach outside your comfort zone.”
Looking back, Ryan credits his small-town roots for helping shape his path.
“This kid from a small town has been able to do a lot of really cool things in life,”
he said. “I owe my small-town education for making a lot of it possible.”
Sherri Sweet, Secretary to the Superintendent and School Board, profiles an ECHS
alumnus once a month. To learn more about the Edinburgh School Corporation, its
alumni and activities, visit ecsc.k12.in.us