Podcast
Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast
Hosted by ImpriMed · EN
Welcome to the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, hosted by Dr. Rachel Venable, a board-certified veterinary medical oncologist. We delve into the groundbreaking work of veterinary professionals who are dedicated to advancing the field of veterinary oncology.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Dr. Michael Nolan | Beyond Radiation: Rethinking Cancer Treatment
1w ago00:49:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Michael Nolan, the Randall B. Terry Jr. Distinguished Professor of Oncology at North Carolina State University and a board-certified veterinary radiation oncologist. Dr. Nolan discusses how advances in radiation technology have transformed cancer treatment, from precisely targeting challenging tumors to exploring how radiation can enhance immunotherapy. The conversation also dives into his pioneering research on the connection between pain, the nervous system, and cancer biology, and how these discoveries could improve both patient comfort and cancer outcomes. Finally, Dr. Nolan shares promising early work combining radiation with novel targeted therapies for feline oral squamous cell carcinoma and offers insight into why pursuing overlooked research questions often leads to the biggest breakthroughs. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Christopher Pachel | Behavior, Trust, and the Caregiver Bond
Jun 700:57:27Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Christopher Pachel, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, educator, and owner of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon, who also serves as Vice President of Behavior for Instinct Dog Behavior and Training. Dr. Pachel explores what happens to the caregiver relationship when a pet faces cancer or another chronic illness, and how a shift from providing structure to anxious hovering can quietly destabilize a dog. The conversation covers practical ways to reduce fear at the clinic, the order effect that determines whether treats build trust or teach avoidance, when to advocate for sedation, and how kindness and curiosity build the trust veterinary teams rely on when conversations get hard. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. David Ruslander | Lifelong Learning in Veterinary Oncology
Apr 1200:40:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. David Ruslander, a dual-trained medical and radiation veterinary oncologist and past president of the Veterinary Cancer Society. Dr. Ruslander shares how he found his way into a specialty that barely existed at the time, including a formative chapter helping build veterinary oncology programs in Europe. The conversation covers how multimodality thinking shapes his approach to every case, how advances in radiation technology have expanded what is treatable, and why staying curious and current is non-negotiable for anyone who signed on for a career in veterinary medicine. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Karin Sorenmo | Mammary Tumors and Estrogen
Mar 1500:54:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Karin Sorenmo, Professor Emeritus of Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and co-founder of Lesley's Place. Dr. Sorenmo shares her journey from Norway to becoming a leading researcher in canine mammary tumors and discusses the complex role hormones play in tumor development and progression. The conversation explores how spaying patterns influence mammary cancer risk, why classification and pathology remain challenging worldwide, and what dogs can teach us about breast cancer through comparative oncology. Dr. Sorenmo also highlights the mission of Lesley's Place, where homeless dogs with mammary tumors receive surgical care, follow-up, and the opportunity to find loving homes while contributing valuable insights to cancer research. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Guannan Wang | Precision Oncology Through Genomics
Jan 2500:43:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Guannan Wang, founder of VetOmics, to discuss how comprehensive genomic profiling is advancing precision oncology for dogs. Dr. Wang shares her path from molecular biology research to veterinary cancer genomics, and explains why the field is shifting from "should we use genomics?" to "how do we do it well?" The conversation covers how genomic testing can guide therapy selection, support difficult diagnoses, and help identify true cancer drivers, while emphasizing the importance of real-world outcome follow-up and biomarker-guided combination strategies to improve patient care. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Doug Thamm | Comparative Oncology Frontiers
Dec 2100:51:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable is joined by Dr. Doug Thamm, Stuart Presidential Chair in Oncology and Director of Clinical Research at the Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center. Dr. Thamm discusses how naturally occurring cancers in dogs are advancing cancer drug development and informing treatment strategies in both veterinary and human medicine. He shares real-world examples of comparative oncology in action and the role clinical trials play in bringing new therapies to patients. The conversation also explores the challenges of oncology drug development, regulatory pathways, and emerging areas such as biologics, genomic sequencing, and AI-driven tools—offering a clear-eyed view of where veterinary oncology is headed. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Joseph Impellizeri | Targeted Electrochemotherapy in Practice
Nov 200:47:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Joseph Impellizeri, a true trailblazer in targeted electrochemotherapy and gene electrotransfer immunotherapy. Dr. Impellizeri shares how electroporation-based treatments are transforming cancer care by allowing localized delivery of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with minimal side effects. He discusses how this technology has evolved from treating skin tumors to tackling complex cases like oral, nasal, and even bone cancers — and how it can complement traditional modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The conversation also explores his groundbreaking work combining gene electrotransfer with PD-1 inhibitors, offering a glimpse into the future of veterinary oncology and more compassionate, targeted treatment options for patients. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Chad Johannes | Navigating Career Transitions in Oncology
Oct 600:45:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Chad Johannes, Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University and former medical director at Aratana Therapeutics, who also helped launch Palladia at Pfizer Animal Health (Now Zoetis). Dr. Johannes reflects on his path across private practice, industry, and academia — sharing practical lessons on burnout, career pivots, and the value of mentorship and flexibility in professional growth. The conversation explores how immunotherapy and AI are advancing precision oncology and how empowering general practitioners with options like CCNU, Laverdia, and Palladia can expand access to care. Tune in for a candid look at the economics and innovations shaping the next chapter of veterinary oncology. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. Jeannette Kelly | Inside Solo Oncology Practice
Sep 700:45:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. Kelly to share insights from her career as a solo practitioner in veterinary oncology. Dr. Kelly reflects on the realities of running a private practice and the unique challenges and opportunities it presents. She highlights her open-minded approach to integrating a wide range of therapeutics and diagnostic tools, always with the goal of providing the best possible patient care. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Kelly also discusses how adaptability, clinical curiosity, and a patient-centered mindset have guided her work and shaped her contributions to the field. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
Transcribe →Dr. David Vail | Bridging Human & Veterinary Cancer Care
Aug 200:46:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, host Dr. Rachel Venable welcomes Dr. David Vail, renowned veterinary oncologist, professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and co-editor of the widely used Small Animal Clinical Oncology textbook. Dr. Vail reflects on the evolution of veterinary oncology over the past four decades, sharing pivotal developments such as the introduction of Tanovea and the wide-reaching impact of Cerenia. He explores the rise of comparative oncology and the increasingly bidirectional collaboration between veterinary and human medicine. The discussion highlights cutting-edge advances in immunotherapy and how combination therapies and naturally occurring canine cancer trials are shaping human clinical research. Tune in for a thoughtful look at the past, present, and future of oncology through the lens of a true pioneer. 📝Transcripts are available at https://www.imprimedicine.com/podcast. To learn more about ImpriMed Personalized Prediction Profile, please visit https://www.imprimedicine.com/ppp Music Credit: Hazy by Beat Mekanik
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