Comprehensive Cancer Care/Oncology

Comprehensive Cancer Care is a cross-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. With a core team of specialists in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology, we provide a comprehensive assessment of each patient’s cancer care needs, and work with our pet owners and their primary veterinarians to navigate through diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.

Core Services

When you come for your initial appointment, you'll meet with a member of our core team to get a sense of your pet's history, previous diagnostics and care, and the specific concerns you have. We then determine a diagnostic and treatment strategy that could involve chemotherapy, immuno-oncology, radiation therapy, surgery, interventional radiology, or a combination of the above.

We also offer additional clinical resources, including anesthesia, radiology, critical care, nutrition, and grief support services.

Support Our Work

For Our Clients

Receiving the news that your pet has cancer can raise a lot of questions. We want to be sure you know what to expect and that you have the resources you need to better understand what's going on with your pet.

Here are some tools and resources that can help.

For Our Referring Veterinarians

We believe that primary care veterinarians play a vital role in the treatment process, and we strive to keep all referring veterinarians updated throughout.

Find out more information about this process and how to fill out the appropriate form.

Our Care Team

Pascale Salah, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Service Head, Comprehensive Cancer Care
Associate Professor, Clinical Medical Oncology
Oncology, Chemotherapy, Rescue Therapy for Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma

Lillian Duda, VMD, DACVR (Radiation Oncology)
Professor, Clinical Radiation Oncology
Service Head, Clinical Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology, Research Ethics

Maureen Griffin, DVM, DACVS-SA, FSOACVS
Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Surgical Oncology

Jennifer Huck, DVM, DACVS
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery
Companion Animal Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Canine Osteoarthritis

Jennifer Lenz, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology
Medical Oncology

Matt Atherton, BVSc, PhD, DECVIM (Oncology)
Assistant Professor of Immuno-Oncology
Medical Oncology, Immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy

Cross-Disciplinary Team

Dana Clarke, VMD, DACVECC (Emergency & Critical Care)
Assistant Professor, Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology, Critical Care, Surgery

David Holt, BVSc
Professor, Surgery
Soft tissue surgery, Minimally invasive surgery,
Portosystemic shunts, Respiratory surgery,
Surgical oncology

Nicola Mason, BVM, PhD, MRCVS, DACVIM
Professor, Medicine & Pathobiology,
Paul A. James and Charles A. Gilmore
Endowed Chair Professorship
Internal Medicine, Canine Cancer, Immunotherapy

Residents and Interns

Kathleen Bardales, DVM
Resident, Medical Oncology
Dillon Didehvar, VMD
Resident, Oncology
Audrey Ghanian, VMD
Resident, Oncology
Aimee Soileau, DVM
Resident, Oncology
Laurel Upton, DVM
Resident, Oncology

All Residents and Interns
Veterinary Nursing Staff

Courtney Briddes, CVT
Veterinary Nurse
Stephanie Corsi, CVT
Radiation Oncology Service Coordinator, Veterinary Nurse
Jennifer Hayden, CVT
Veterinary Oncology Nurse
Patricia Knapp, CVT
Veterinary Surgical Oncology Nurse
Karen Masciangelo, RTT
Radiation oncology technician
Rachael Meyer, CVT
Veterinary Oncology Nurse
Jack Ryder, CVT
Radiation Oncology Nurse Anesthetist
Jackie Shanley, CVT
Veterinary Oncology Nurse Coordinator
Michelle Strolle, CVT
Veterinary Oncology Nursing Supervisor

More about Nursing

Research

Faculty and clinicians at Penn Vet are actively engaged in groundbreaking research in cancer care. From developing an immunotherapeutic treatment for canine osteosarcoma to genetic rewiring, we are leaders in innovative approaches to treating cancer. Some of our faculty's results are now being used in human clinical trials. Learn about the range of basic and translational research taking place in cancer at Penn Vet.

Current Clinical Trials in Cancer Care

Penn Vet researchers strive to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in animals through novel therapies that may one day offer cancer patients, canine and human alike, a viable alternative or complementary treatment to traditional therapies. Here is a list of current clinical trials in cancer care at Penn Vet.