Meet the Oncology Team

Kristine Burgess, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Medical Oncology)

Dr. Burgess is a Tufts Veterinary School graduate. Following an internship at West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, she completed a residency at the University of Wisconsin and later received additional specialty clinical training as a Tufts resident. She is a board-certified medical oncologist and served as a professor at Tufts after working as a staff medical oncologist at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. Dr. Burgess provides medical oncology and radiation therapy treatment for Angell’s oncology patients.

EDUCATION
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, DVM, 1997
Harvard University, MLA, 1991
University of Massachusetts, BS, 1988

CERTIFICATION
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Oncology (ACVIM)

Megan Cray, VMD, DACVS-SA

EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Surgical Oncology Fellowship, 2022
Angell Animal Medical Center, Surgery Residency, 2021
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Surgical Oncology Internship, 2018
Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, Surgical Internship, 2017
Animal Medical Center (New York, NY), Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship, 2016

CERTIFICATION
American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal (ACVS)

Kendra Lyons, DVM (Medical Oncology)

EDUCATION
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2012

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Medical Oncology Residency, 2016 – 2018
VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists, Medical Oncology Residency, 2014 – 2015
VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists, Oncology Speciality Internship, July 2014 – Nov 2014
Animal Cancer Care Clinic, Oncology Specialty Internship, 2013 – 2014
BluePearl Michigan Veterinary Specialists, Emergency, Medicine, and Surgery Internship, 2012 – 2013

Gretchen McLinden, DVM, DACVIM (Medical Oncology)

Dr. McLinden is a board-certified medical oncologist who completed her residency in medical oncology at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in July 2024. During her residency, she was honored with the Charles and Althea Simons Award for Clinical Excellence, given to a New England resident who demonstrates outstanding clinical skills.

A native of Winchester, MA, Dr. McLinden attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she split her time between working in a developmental biology laboratory and managing the campus’ goat herd. She then pursued her veterinary degree at Tufts, graduating in 2019. Afterward, she moved to Brooklyn, NY, for a rotating internship before returning to Tufts for her residency.

Outside of work, Dr. McLinden enjoys traveling—especially to escape cold weather—cooking, and spending time with her tortoiseshell calico, Shenzi.

EDUCATION
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, DVM, 2019

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Medical Oncology Residency, 2024
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Clinical Trials Internship, 2021
BluePearl, New York, Rotating Internship, 2020

CERTIFICATION
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Oncology (ACVIM)

Jillian Walz, DVM, DACVIM (Medical 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

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.

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.

Quinn Castine, Oncology Secretary

Quinn began working at Angell in 2022 as a Client Liaison before transitioning to the role of Oncology Secretary in 2024. He has worked as a pharmacy technician and in store management, but he especially loves working with animals and being part of a team that supports their well-being. Quinn lives in Providence with his cat, Duchess. In his spare time, he enjoys painting, travel, and birdwatching.