Melanie Brooks
Melanie received her RVT diploma from Centralia College in 1990. After graduating, she began working at the Ontario Veterinary College. Melanie started in the Small Animal Intensive care unit, and during her time there she saw an increase in the number of patients being treated with chemotherapy . In 1998, Melanie helped develop a specialty service that would be dedicated exclusively to cancer patients: the Oncology Service. She has been an integral part in the development of the service, and contributed to the planning of the new Animal Cancer Centre.
Geri Higginson
Geri Higginson BSc, MSc, RVT received her 4 year BSc (Zoology) degree from Victoria College, University of Toronto in 1993 and RVT diploma from Seneca College in 1998. In 2007, she completed a MSc degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph investigating the effect of diet on avian coagulation. She has worked at the Ontario Veterinary College since 1998, initially with the Avian & Exotics department and now in the Oncology Service. Geri loves to travel, having spent time in Asia, SE Asia, and the Middle East, including volunteering stint at an animal nursing clinic in the Gulf of Thailand. She is also actively involved with running and triathlon groups in the Guelph area.
Vicky Marsili
Vicky graduated from St. Lawrence College in 1994. After graduation, she worked in private practice in Vancouver for two years. In 1997, Vicky moved to Ontario and began working at the Ontario Veterinary College in the Small Animal Wards/Canine Blood Donor Program. In 2002, Vicky joined the oncology service. She enjoys being part of the oncology team and finds the position very rewarding. When not at work, she is busy being a Mom to two wonderful kids.
Kaya Skowronski
Kaya is a two-time graduate from the University of Guelph, who completed her PhD in 2012 in the department of Biomedical Sciences in the OVC. Her graduate work focused on epigenetic modifications in human colorectal cancer. She joined the Oncology team in 2012 as the Research and Tumour Bank Coordinator, and is excited to be part of such a dedicated team, supporting companion animals that have been diagnosed with cancer. Kaya has witnessed the tumour bank evolve and grow, with the exponential accrual of samples in the bank and patients in clinical trials. The contribution of samples from cancer patients is providing fundamental information that will allow researchers and clinicians to improve the diagnostic and treatment options for cancer patients.