In a recent episode of the Veterinary Cancer Pioneers Podcast, Dr. Rachel Venable interviews Dr. Jeannette Kelly, a board-certified veterinary oncologist and founder of Veterinary Cancer Care in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Dr. Kelly shares her journey from aspiring equine vet to passionate oncologist, drawn to the challenge and hope oncology offers. Running her own solo clinic gives her the freedom to innovate—to integrate new diagnostics, test genomic profiling, and personalize treatments—while maintaining deep, lasting relationships with clients and their pets.
Operating solo has challenges: she handles every aspect of the practice and must carefully evaluate emerging tools and therapies. Yet, the autonomy allows her to pursue cutting-edge treatments such as electro-chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and genomic-guided medicine, often tailoring therapies to each patient’s unique cancer profile.
Dr. Kelly’s approach blends science and compassion—she emphasizes nutrition, vitamin D health, and informed client partnerships. Her philosophy is clear: effective cancer care means treating the whole pet, not just the tumour.
Looking ahead, she envisions a future of precision oncology, stronger data-sharing between private and academic clinics, and a more holistic, collaborative model of cancer care.