I have always wanted to be a veterinarian, from the day I learned there were doctors who treat animals. The fact that I never changed my mind, some might say, shows my determination, while others might characterize it as stubbornness. I believe it is a little of both. Being a veterinarian has been a great privilege. I have learned so much from my patients and their owners and I have been inspired by so many mentors.

Becoming a veterinarian has been, in many respects, a great journey. Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, I graduated veterinary school from the University of Montreal. Further training took me to the University of Illinois where I completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. If veterinary medicine was my vocation, I discovered that surgery was my passion, so I fulfilled my residency in small animal surgery at Washington State University. Throughout my education and training as a veterinarian, I had been simultaneously fascinated and intimidated by patients afflicted with cancer. Now, I decided to make oncology my mission. I was fortunate to be accepted for a fellowship in surgical oncology at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the only fellowship of its kind at the time.

Following the fellowship, I chose to stay in academia for a couple of reasons. First, it allowed me to teach, which I tremendously enjoy (“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”). Second, and just as importantly, it allowed me to pursue research. That is a benefit of academia: the incredible opportunity to fix a problem rather than just complain about it. A clinician in academia gains a unique perspective through being able to treat patients, assess the shortcomings, and actively work to find solutions to produce better outcomes. As a veterinary clinician-scientist, I can satisfy both my passion to treat animals and my curiosity for finding better, safer treatment options for my patients.

I joined the faculty at the University of California at Davis, where I spent five years, followed by seven years at Oregon State University. During this time, I was able to meet and collaborate with many talented colleagues who helped to further shape my career. My interest in translational medicine and research, fostered during my fellowship at CSU, flourished at both institutions as I took advantage of the many opportunities for collaborative research.

I am thrilled to be at Colorado State University. The comprehensive team approach to treating cancer patients, of which I was a part as a fellow, is still a hallmark of the oncology group. My research at CSU is an evolution of my previous projects. Through collaborations with colleagues, we look for new solutions and ways to improve the outcome of our patients. Although my research touches several aspects of surgical oncology, my focus is mainly on sarcomas, particularly osteosarcoma and limb sparing surgery.  Oncology continues to be a rapidly evolving field and new challenges will emerge, needing to be tackled. This is where my determination, but perhaps more my stubbornness, will help me.

When not at the hospital, I enjoy time with my wife, Lisa, and our two children. My family helps to keep me grounded and able to put my work in perspective. Together, we like to be active by skiing, sailing or enjoying other activities that allow us to appreciate the beauty of nature around us.

Jessica Lawrence joined the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 as an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology. She earned her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College and completed advanced training in radiation and medical oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the MCVM, Dr. Lawrence spent 3 years as an Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Georgia before spending 3.5 years as the Head of Oncology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Lawrence has a strong interest in comparative oncology, and she aims to provide exceptional quality of life for pets with cancer and their owners. Dr. Lawrence is particularly interested in tumor and normal tissue radiation sensitivity and developing methods to improve tumor control with radiation therapy while minimizing side effects.

Dr. Lawrence is a clinician researcher fully engaged in the “One Health” directive as she strives to improve our understanding of the pathobiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human and animal cancer and treatment-related toxicities. In particular, she is keen to improve radiation killing of cancer cells while limiting radiation-induced injury to normal tissue that may result in treatment-related complications such as organ fibrosis and bystander injury. As cancer survivors (pet or human) enjoy improved outcomes after radiation therapy for many tumor types, it is important that cancer researchers investigate treatment methods to maintain or improve quality of life after treatment. By furthering our understanding of the signals that occur after radiation in normal and cancer cells, Dr. Lawrence and her collaborators hope to develop strategies that mitigate radiation-induced injury to normal tissue.

Dr Marconato obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine (School of Veterinary Medicine, Milan) in 1999 and is a Diplomate of ECVIM-CA (Oncology) since 2008. In 2000-2003 she trained in medical oncology at the Veterinary Oncology Service and Research Center (West Chester) and at the Veterinary Oncology Services’ Radiation Center, Chalfont, PA, USA. In 2009-2011 she worked as co-head of medical oncology at the Animal Oncology and Imaging Center, Hünenberg (Switzerland), before returning to Italy as head of medical oncology at the Centro Oncologico Veterinario from 2011to 2019.

She is currently the Head of Medical Oncology and Associate Professor at the University of Bologna (Italy). She has been speaker at numerous scientific meetings, nationally and internationally, and author of >130 peer-reviewed papers. In 2011-2015 she became President of the Italian Veterinary Oncology Society (SIONCOV). Since 2014 she is the Chair of Workgroup 2 (Therapy) of the European Network of Canine Lymphoma. She is also member of VCS, ESVIM, SIONCOV.

Her research interest focuses on the dog as a spontaneous model of cancer. She is involved in many projects related to translational oncology, including active immunotherapy for the treatment of canine lymphoma, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and melanoma, in collaboration with national and international research centres.

Nick qualified from Cambridge Vet School in 1997 and after two years in general practice returned to Cambridge as the Petsaver’s resident in soft tissue surgery and oncology. He then spent two years in soft tissue referral practice in the UK.

In 2005 he started a 12-month Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the Animal Cancer Centre at Colorado State University and then joined the faculty at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, working in the oncology department as one of three surgical oncologists, becoming Head of Oncology in 2011.

Nick is an ACVS Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology and was previously the president of the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology. He is a Diplomate of the European (2003) and American (2009) College of Veterinary Surgeons and is the only surgeon in the UK to have completed a Fellowship in Surgical Oncology. In line with this, he is the only vet in the UK to be awarded specialist status in Small Animal Surgery (Oncology) by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

In October 2014 he joined Fitzpatrick Referrals as a Senior Consultant and Clinical Director in the Oncology and Soft Tissue Service. Nick was Chair of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fellowship Board from 2016 to 2019.

His surgical interests include head and neck surgery, musculoskeletal oncology, urogenital and endocrine tumours. He is regularly asked to lecture nationally and internationally on cancer surgery and has authored and co-authored multiple scientific manuscripts and book chapters.

Nick is delighted to be spearheading Fitzpatrick Referrals new oncology and soft tissue service launched in October 2014 and he is very happy to talk to your family veterinary surgeon about your pet’s cancer and possible treatment options should the need arise.