Meet the Oncology Team

Lyndsay Kubicek, DVM, DACVR (Radiation Oncology)

Dr. Kubicek specializes in cancers treated with radiation therapy with an emphasis on maintaining good quality of life for patients. Prior to joining Angell, Dr. Kubicek developed the radiation program at the University of Florida where she was a clinical assistant professor and the University’s first radiation oncologist. Dr. Kubicek leads Angell’s radiation therapy program. Angell’s radiation therapy options include palliative and definitive therapies using photon and electron beams. Dr. Kubicek is an advocate of proactive pain control and has extensive training in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). IMRT minimizes side effects by sculpting the radiation treatment beam to the exact size and dimensions of the tumor. SRS delivers high doses of radiation using a precise beam to the site of the tumor. The high dosage allows for fewer treatment sessions (3 or 4 instead of 18-20). Beyond the technology, Dr. Kubicek loves working in oncology because of the relationships she builds with clients and patients. She also relishes Angell’s interdisciplinary approach to helping patients.

EDUCATION

Atlantic Veterinary College, Prince Edward Island, Canada, DVM, 2008
Northeastern University, BS in Medical Laboratory Science, 2004

SPECIALTY TRAINING

University of Wisconsin, Residency in Radiation Oncology, 2010-2012
University of Wisconsin, Oncology Clinical Trial Internship, 2009-2010
University of Wisconsin, Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 2008-2009

CERTIFICATION

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology (Radiation Oncology), 2013

Ji-In Lee, DVM

Dr. Lee received her degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Tennessee in 2015, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the University of Minnesota in 2016. Most recently, she completed a residency in medical oncology at the University of California, Davis in 2019. She has a special interest in hematopoietic cancers, particularly lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and targeted therapies, including small molecule inhibitors and novel immunotherapies. In her free time, Dr. Lee enjoys yoga, cooking and eating. She is excited to explore the Boston area and cheer on the numerous sports teams!

EDUCATION
University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2015

SPECIALTY TRAINING
University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Residency in Medical Oncology, 2019
University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Rotating Internship, 2016

J. Lee Talbott, DVM, DACVIM (Medical Oncology)

Dr. Talbott earned her veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 followed by a small animal rotating internship in Denver, Colorado at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital from 2011-2012. Dr. Talbott received advanced training in medical oncology at the University of Florida, as part of a comprehensive oncology department that combined the use of surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists – one of only two academic training programs in the U.S. to offer this type of oncologic training. Dr. Talbott was board certified in medical oncology in 2016 and is passionate about collaborating with Angell’s team of specialists in order to use a multi-modal cancer treatment approach including immunotherapy, optimized nutrition and integrative medical therapies for pain management and palliation, in addition to traditional treatments utilizing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. It is an exciting time to be in the field of veterinary oncology especially with the advancement of molecularly targeted drug therapy for treatment of cancer in our companion animals.

EDUCATION
Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2011
Pennsylvania State University, BS in Animal Sciences, 2004

SPECIALTY TRAINING
University of Florida, Residency in Medical Oncology, 2012-2015
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 2011-2012

CERTIFICATION

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology), 2016

Jillian Walz, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), DACVR (Radiation Oncology)

Dr. Jillian Walz earned her veterinary degree from Ohio State University, and went on to do a rotating internship at The Animal Medical Center. After completing a medical oncology residency at University of Minnesota, she became board certified in medical oncology. Dr. Walz then returned to Ohio State and completed an additional residency in radiation oncology. In the clinic, her goal is to use both her medical oncology and radiation oncology training to generate a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient. She has extensive training in advanced radiotherapy techniques such as volumetric arc therapy (VMAT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT/SBRT).Outside of work, Dr. Walz enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and flying trapeze.

Education
Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2013

Specialty Training
Ohio State University, Veterinary Medical Center, Residency in Radiation Oncology, 2017-2019
University of Minnesota, Veterinary Medical Center, Residency in Medical Oncology, 2014-2017
The Elmer & Mamdouha Bobst Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The Animal Medical Center, Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 2013-2014

Certification
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Radiation Oncology), 2019
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology), 2017

Kayla DeMelo, Radiation Therapy Anesthesia Assistant

Kayla started out at Angell working as an oncology attendant, and eventually decided she wanted to do more. After training with the surgery department, she moved to her new position as Radiation Anesthesia Assistant. Her duties include induction, monitoring, and post-radiation recovery of patients receiving radiation treatment. Currently Kayla is enrolled in an online program with San Juan College working toward her Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. She plans to take the VTNE next year to earn her CVT and continue her career at Angell. She lives at home with her 3 cats, Roland, Valley, and Elliot. In her free time she enjoys binge-watching Netflix and crocheting scarves for oncology patients who have VAPs (vascular access ports) during their treatment.

Karina Garcia, Radiation Technician I

Karina joined the Angell Oncology Team in June 2017, after she graduated from Mount Ida College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Veterinary Technology. Soon after graduation, she has become a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT). Karina interned with our surgery department for one of her internships and assisted in the radiation therapy department and fell in love with the patients and the care each member of the team provided for their patients. Karina lives in Chelsea, MA with her family and two cats, Betty and Gizmo. In her free time she enjoys watching multiple television shows on Netflix, crocheting scarfs for her patients with VAP’s, and spending time with her family.

Cori Godfrey, CVT, Oncology Technician

Cori joined the Angell Oncology team in November 2016 and was previously part of the Angell Dermatology team as well as the General Medicine team since 2013. Cori is originally from Connecticut where she worked as a technician at an Emergency Animal Hospital before moving to Boston in 2012. She is going to school online through Penn Foster in their Veterinary Technician course and plans on becoming a CVT shortly after graduation in 2017. After completing a 6 month hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2016, Cori enjoys being outdoors as much as possible and cuddling with her two cats in her spare time.

Jamie Latchaw, Oncology Technician

Jamie graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, SC in May 2018. She previously completed an externship at Angell the year before, and after graduation decided to come back to join the Oncology team. Jamie passed her VTNE in August and is excited to start her career as a Certified Veterinary Technician here at Angell. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and spending time with her cat, Gilbert Eugene.

Brittany Pattison, Oncology Technician

Brittany joined the Angell Oncology team in May of 2018. She graduated from Mount Ida College (now UMass) with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology in 2016. Brittany became certified shortly after graduating Mount Ida, and has been working as a certified veterinary technician ever since. Brittany interned at Angell in 2016 and was very excited to come back to join the Oncology department. In her spare time Brittany enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her rabbit and two dogs.

Heidi Ruetenik, Oncology Technician

Heidi came to Angell from upstate New York in the February 2017 after graduating from the Veterinary Technician program at SUNY Delhi.  She has a background in shelter medicine and was drawn to Angell as a non-profit organization and also for the collaboration with the MSPCA.  She loves working in the oncology department supporting patients and clients through difficult times and providing the best care possible.  She enjoys spending time with her dog Momo and cat Ruby.

Kaitlyn Kennedy, Radiation Therapy Assistant

Katie grew up in Verona, VA and graduated from University of New England in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology. She joined the team here at Angell in May 2017 as Dr. Kubicek’s assistant. While not at work, she plays rugby with the Charles River team and enjoys spending time with her Caique parrot.

Todd Daniels, Client Care Coordinator, Oncology

Todd began working at Angell in December of 2011 after working for over eleven years as a manager and diving instructor at a scuba diving store. Todd began his work with us as a Primary Care Attendant, he then moved on to work as a Critical Care Unit Attendant and an Inpatient Assistant before taking his current role in June of 2016. Todd joined the Client Care Coordinator team to work with the Surgery, Oncology, and General Medicine services.  In his spare time, Todd still enjoys scuba diving and teaching new diving students.  He also enjoys spending time with his two “kids,” a Black Lab named Jack and a Bassett Hound named Sarge.  Todd is a hopeless television-aholic and does not plan to seek treatment.

Kerianne Durgin, Client Care Coordinator, Oncology, Avian and Exotics

Kerianne first joined Angell in 2017 as a Client Care Specialist. In August 2018, she moved to her current positon as a Client Care Coordinator, working with our Oncology and Avian/Exotic services. Kerianne graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 with a Business and Sociology Degree. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling, and most of all spending time with her Pit Bull, Mylee.

Stacey Escalante, Client Care Coordinator, Oncology

Stacey graduated from the University of Southern California in 2009 with a B.S. in Kinesiology. After moving to Boston from California in January 2012, Stacey joined Angell as a Client Liaison, before becoming Secretary for the Angell Avian/Exotics and Oncology teams. In January of 2015, Stacey assumed her current role as Client Care Coordinator for the Oncology services.

Rachael Donnelly, Oncology Secretary

After her cat was treated by the emergency department at Angell, Rachael began volunteering at the hospital and joined the staff as a Client Liaison in February of 2012. She moved to her current role as Oncology Secretary in September of 2017. Rachael lives in Boston with her two cats, Manny and Oliver, and her dachshund Special Agent Dale Cooper.  Outside of work, she enjoys surfing and playing on the beach with her dog.