From a young girl who loved animals to becoming a leading veterinary oncologist in Memphis, my path to founding Angel Care has been guided by one consistent principle: treating each animal as if they were my own.
Finding My Calling
When people ask me why I chose veterinary oncology, I often share that it chose me. Early in my career, I saw how cancer patients and their families needed not just medical expertise, but genuine compassion and understanding. As one of the first veterinarians in our region to specialize in oncology, I found my calling in walking alongside pets and their people through some of their most challenging days.
![Dr. Kathy with Patient – Photo would be here in actual blog]
After veterinary school, I was drawn to oncology during a time when specialized cancer care for pets was still developing. While completing my oncology training, I became fascinated by both the medicine and the profound human-animal relationships I witnessed. Cancer patients taught me that good medicine isn’t just about treating disease—it’s about honoring the bond between pets and their people.
What became clear was that when a pet has cancer, both the animal and the human need support. This realization shaped my approach to veterinary oncology in ways that continue today.
Building Angel Care Cancer Clinic
In 2004, I founded Angel Care Cancer Clinic with a vision of providing compassionate, comprehensive cancer care that respects both cutting-edge medicine and the wisdom of more traditional healing approaches.
Timeline of Growth
- 2004: Opened Angel Care Cancer Clinic
- 2007: Completed acupuncture certification
- 2010: Introduced Chinese herbal therapy
- 2013: Added hydrotherapy services
- 2018: Expanded integrative medicine offerings
Every decision in designing Angel Care—from allowing owners to be present during treatments to offering alternative therapies alongside conventional ones—stems from the question: “What would I want if this were my pet?”
My Philosophy: Care as I Would for My Own
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after treating thousands of pets with cancer, it’s that each case is unique not just medically, but emotionally. The bond between a pet and their person is sacred—a truth that was recognized when I received the AVMA Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian Award for my work in the human-animal bond field.
My approach centers on three principles:
- Treating the whole pet, not just the disease
- Respecting and including the human family in care
- Focusing on quality of life above all else
When I teach veterinary students or lecture internationally on compassionate care, I emphasize that our job as veterinarians isn’t just to treat illness—it’s to preserve the precious relationship between pets and their people for as long as possible, with comfort and dignity.
I’d be honored to meet you and your beloved companion. Whether you’re facing a cancer diagnosis or exploring integrative care options, my team and I are here to help with both medical expertise and heartfelt understanding.