The Oncology Program at the University of Georgia welcomes applications for a 3-year residency training program in veterinary oncology. This residency provides non-degree, advanced clinical training in companion animal oncology and opportunity to gain experience in research and publication. The program prepares veterinarians for board certification in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), Specialty of Oncology. Candidates must be highly motivated and have previously completed a one-year rotating internship or its equivalent broad-based clinical experience.
The University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine is located in Athens, Georgia. Athens is a community of approximately 130,000 residents located 65 miles northeast of Atlanta. The College’s Small Animal Hospital annual caseload is approximately 28,300, with the Oncology Service seeing over 2,900 cases/year. Our 187,000 square foot state-of-the-art Veterinary Teaching Hospital opened in 2015 and features cutting edge technology and green space. The integrated oncology service at UGA includes 4 ACVIM board-certified oncologists (including one PhD in tumor biology), 1 ACVR board-certified radiation oncologist, 4 medical oncology residents, 1 radiation oncology resident (in 2024), 4 medical oncology technicians and assistants, 2 radiation oncology technicians, and 2 client care representatives. We have a large and varied caseload and actively participate in clinical trials.
A Varian Trilogy® System Linear Accelerator is onsite and we offer intensity-modulated radiation therapy and stereotactic radiation therapy. In addition, Sr-90 plesiotherapy is available. Chemotherapy is prepared by pharmacy technicians under the supervision of doctors of pharmacy and our facility is USP 800 compliant. Complete diagnostic imaging, clinical pathologic, and histopathologic services and facilities provide support to our service. We work closely with specialists in all veterinary specialties on site, including surgery, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, neurology, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology, anatomic and clinical pathology, nutrition, and zoological medicine.
The majority of the residency is spent as directly supervised weeks on the Oncology Service. Clinical duties are conducted under the supervision of the oncologists and include diagnosing and treating companion animals with cancer, managing radiation patients, providing consultations for doctors from other hospital services and regional general practices, and contributing to the education of senior veterinary students in the teaching hospital. While oncology residents do not have general emergency responsibilities, they are expected to provide back-up for interns managing patients of the oncology service presenting after-hours on emergency. This duty is rotated among oncology residents. Rotations through other hospital services, such as internal medicine, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, clinical pathology, and pathology are required.
In addition, residents will gain experience in chemotherapy preparation and administration under the supervision of experienced pharmacy technicians and veterinary technicians. Time off hospital duty will be provided to allow the resident to complete a research project pertaining to oncology. This time will be tailored to the resident’s research interests. It is expected that the resident research project will be completed prior to completion of the residency. Residents are encouraged to participate in ongoing clinical trials.
Multiple resident teaching rounds and conferences occur weekly. Residents participate in daily patient and topic rounds. All-specialty ACVIM rounds, oncology resident rounds/journal club, and cytology/biopsy rounds are held weekly; oncology residents are expected to attend and participate in these rounds to expand their knowledge base and help prepare for the ACVIM board examinations. Additionally, attendance at weekly college-wide Grand Rounds Seminars is mandatory, and oncology residents are expected to present annually. Residents attend the Veterinary Cancer Society Annual Conference in the second and third years of the residency and present the results of their research project at the VCS Annual Conference or the ACVIM Forum.
Dr. Nicole Northrup northrup@uga.edu