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Radiotherapy

Jérôme Benoît

Jérôme Benoît

DipACVR (radiation Oncology) DipECVDI add. RadOncol MRCVS

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology – Radiation Oncology (ACVR)

Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI add. RadOncol)

After studying veterinary science at Lyon and Maisons-Alfort in his native France, Jérôme spent three years in the USA. A self-confessed ‘onco-maniac’ since his early years as a veterinary student, he fell in love with radio-oncology while in the US due to its exact physics and specific biology.

He completed a residency at North Carolina State University, passing his certifying examination in radiation oncology in 2010 (American College of Veterinary Radiology – Radiation Oncology). Jérôme, is also a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Oncology (2015) and is the first RCVS-recognised expert in the field (2017).

He then spent five years working as a veterinary radiation oncologist at VRCC, which was rebranded as Southfields earlier this year, and then three years in France working in a leading veterinary cancer centre, before returning to Southfields Veterinary Specialists in 2017.

Sarah Mason

Sarah Mason

BVSc BSc PhD CertAVP(SAM) PGCEd DipECVIM-CA [Oncol] (add Rad Oncol) FHEA MRCVS

Head of Clinical and Radiation Oncology

RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Oncology

EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Oncology and Radiation Oncology

RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine

Sarah graduated from Liverpool in 2007 and worked in small animal practice for 2 years before returning to Liverpool to undertake a rotating internship. She remained at Liverpool and completed a Petsavers sponsored residency in Oncology.

Sarah then worked at the University of Liverpool as a lecturer in Oncology for 2 years. In 2014 she passed the ECVIM diploma in veterinary oncology and obtained the RCVS certificate in advanced veterinary practice (Small Animal Medicine) in 2012. From 2015-2018, Sarah worked at The Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital as Principal Clinical Oncologist.

Prior to training as a vet Sarah completed a BSc in molecular biology and a PhD in cell cycle regulation at the University of Glasgow. Following this she worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School.

Sarah joined Southfields Veterinary Specialists in April 2018. She became a specialist in radiation oncology by training and examination in 2019. Her areas of interest include the optimisation of chemotherapy protocols for small animal lymphoid neoplasia, radiation therapy for the treatment of small animal neoplasia and combined medical and radiation therapy.

Hall, J and Mason S.L. 2019 Limb sparing achieved by ray amputation for osteosarcoma of the left third metacarpal bone in a Labrador. Vet Rec Case Rep.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000752

Ravicini, S, Baines, S.J. , Amores-Fuster, I, Taylor, A, Mason, S.L. and Treggiari, E (2018) Outcome and prognostic factors in medically treated canine prostatic carcinomas: a multi-institutional study. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology Manuscript accepted for publication.

Benoit, J.B., Mason, S.L. Maddox, T, Blackwood, L., Killick, D., Amores-Fuster, I., Harper, A. Finotello, R: 2018 Evaluation of a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol combining lomustine, procarbazine, prednisolone (LPP) for the treatment of relapsed canine non-Hodgkin high grade lymphoma. doi: 10.1111/vco.12387

Guilliano, A., Dobson, J.M, Mason, S.L. (2017) Complete remission of an anal sac squamous cell carcinoma treated with carboplatin chemotherapy and palliative radiation: Vet Sci. Sep 14;4(3). pii: E45. doi: 10.3390/vetsci4030045

Mason, S.L., Finotello, R., Blackwood, L., (2017) Epirubicin in the treatment of canine histiocytic sarcoma: sequential, alternating and rescue chemotherapy. Vet Comp Oncol. Mar;16(1):E30-E37. doi: 10.1111/vco.12329

Mason, S.L., Fisher, C., Ressel, L., Bommer, N.X., Buckley, L.M., Nuttall, T., (2016) Presentation, clinical pathological and post-mortem findings in three related Scottish terriers with ligneous membranitis. J Small Anim Pract 57, 271–276.

Mason, S.L. (2015) Palliative treatment in Small Animal Oncology. (2016) In Practice 38: 5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/inp.i1869

Ainsworth, S., Carter, S., Fisher, C., Dawson, J., Makrides, L., Nuttall, T., Mason, S.L., 2015. Ligneous membranitis in Scottish Terriers is associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism in the plasminogen (PLG) gene. Anim. Genet. 46, 707–10.

Mason, S.L, Elliott J., Grant I., Cripps, P. and Blackwood L. (2014) Effects of maropitant on vomiting in dogs receiving vincristine and cyclophosphamide. JSAP 55, Issue (8) 391–398

Mason, S.L., Jepson R., Maltman, M. Batchelor, D. (2014) Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome in three U.K. Border Collies. JSAP  55(1) 57-60

Mason, S.L., Maddox, T., Lillis, S. and Blackwood L. (2013) Late presentation of canine nasal tumours in a UK hospital and treatment outcomes JSAP  54(7) 347-353

Mason, S.L., McElroy, P. and Nuttall, T. (2012) Genetics of ligneous membranitis in Scottish Terriers (letter to editor) JSAP 53(11) 668

German A.J., Holden S.L., Mason S.L., Bryner C., Bouldoires C., Morris P.J., Deboise M., Biourge V.J. (2011) Imprecision when using measuring cups to weigh out extruded dry kibbled food. Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) Jun; 95(3):368-73

Medina-Torres C.E., Mason S.L., Floyd R.V., Harris P.A., Mobasheri, A. (2011) Hypoxia and a hypoxia mimetic up-regulate matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in equine laminar keratinocytes A.Vet J. Nov;190(2):e54-9. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Floyd, R.V, Mason S. L. Proudman, C.J, German, A.J, Marples, D. and Mobasheri, A. (2007) Expression and nephron segment specific distribution of major renal aquaporins (AQP1-4) in Equus caballus, the domestic horse. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. Jul; 293(1):R492-503. Epub 2007 Apr 18

Mobasheri A., Dobson H., Mason S.L., Cullingham F., Shakibaei M., Moley J.F., Moley K.H. (2005) Expression of the GLUT1 and GLUT9 facilitative glucose transporters in embryonic chondroblasts and mature chondrocytes in ovine articular cartilage. Cell Biol Int. Apr; 29(4):249-60.

Mason S.L., Loughran, O. and La Thangue, N.B. (2002) p14(ARF) regulates E2F activity. Oncogene.  21(27): 4220-30.

de la Luna, S., Allen, K. E, Mason S.L. and La Thangue, N.B. (1998) Integration of a growth-suppressing BTB/POZ domain protein with the DP component of the E2F transcription factor. EMBO J.  18:212-228.

Richard Elders

Richard Elders

MVB PhD CertSAM DACVIM DECVIM-CA (Onc) Msc (Clin Onc) PhD MRCVS

RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Oncology

EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Oncology

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Richard graduated from University College Dublin in 1999. He completed an internship at the University of Glasgow and was in first opinion small animal practice on the west coast of Scotland thereafter.

He completed his ACVIM Internal Medicine residency and mast cell tumour-based PhD at the Royal Veterinary College in 2005 and 2008, respectively. His PhD thesis was on targeting and killing mast cells with enhanced specificity.

He worked in private referral Oncology practices until 2013, and during this time he earned his ECVIM-CA Oncology Diploma. Richard then worked as a Senior Lecturer in Oncology at the University of Edinburgh, before founding IDEXX Laboratory’s Oncology consulting service in 2016.

Richard joined Southfields in February 2018, and works one day a week in our sister hospital in Hampstead, London Vet Specialists. Richard’s main professional interests are mast cell tumours, novel diagnostics and immunotherapeutics, but he is experienced in all aspects of veterinary medical oncology and radiation oncology.

Verganti S, Berlato D, Blackwood L, Amores-Fuster I, Polton G, Elders R, Doyle R, Taylor A, Murphy S. (2017) Use of Oncept melanoma vaccine in 69 canine oral malignant melanomas in the UK. Journal of Small Animal Pract. 58(1):10-16

Rzechorzek N, Smith C, Schwarz T, Liuti T, Elders R, Woods S, Lawrence J, Marioni-Henry K. (2016) Idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation mimicking a malignant spindle cell tumor in a dog. Clinical Case Reports 23;4(10):935-943

Johnson P, Elders R, Pey P, Dennis R. (2016) Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging features of inflammatory versus neoplastic medial retropharyngeal lymph node mass lesions in dogs and cats. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 57(1):24-32

Elders R, Holder A, Smith K, Baines S, Catchpole B. (2014) Recombinant canine IgE Fc and an IgE Fc-TRAIL fusion protein bind to neoplastic canine mast cells. Veterinary Immunology & Immunopathology 15;159(1-2):29-40

Elders R, Holder A, Baines S, Argyle D, Catchpole B. (2011) Targeted knockdown of canine KIT (stem cell factor receptor) using RNA interference. Veterinary Immunology & Immunopathology. 15;141(1-2):151-6

Elders R, Baines S, Catchpole B (2009) Susceptibility of the C2 canine mastocytoma cell line to the effects of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) Veterinary Immunology & Immunopathology 15;130(1-2):11-6

Aaron Harper

Aaron Harper

MA VetMB CertAVP(SAM) DipECVIM-CA(Onc) MRCVS

Head of Medical Oncology

RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Oncology

EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Oncology

After graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2008, Aaron spent five years in general practice. In 2016 he completed a residency in small animal oncology and during that time he completed the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine), European Diploma in Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) in 2017 and became a European and RCVS recognised Specialist in Oncology.  After completing his residency, he worked as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Oncology at the University of Liverpool.

Aaron joined Southfields in May 2018 and his main areas of interest are in haematological cancers and the medical management of these conditions. He is also interested in novel therapies for dogs and cats with cancer and the management of side effects in these cases and his research to date has been on this subject. From these interests he has further developed a particular interest in treating feline lymphoma. Aaron is the Programme Director for the Oncology Residency at Southfields and is also a member of the ECVIM Exam Committee for Oncology.

Outside of work, Aaron’s spare time is taken up caring for his two cats, Rou and Mischief and his mini-Dachshund, Penfold.

Blackwood, L. Tanis, J.B. Harper, A. Amores-Fuster, I. Killick, D.R. Finotello, R. (2018) Acute radiotherapy toxicity in 57 dogs with gross and microscopic mast cell tumours. Journal of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology doi: 10.1111/vco.12398. [Epub ahead of print]

Tanis, J.B. Mason, S. Maddox, T. Blackwood, L. Killick, D.R. Amores-Fuster, I. Harper, A. Finotello, R. (2018) Evaluation of a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol combining lomustine, procarbazine and prednisolone (LPP) for the treatment of relapsed canine non-Hodgkin high-grade lymphomas. Journal of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 16(3):361-369.

Blackwood, L. Harper, A. Elliott, J. Gramer, I. (2018) External beam radiotherapy for the treatment of feline salivary gland carcinoma: six new cases and a review of the literature. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery doi: 10.1177/1098612X18771772. [Epub ahead of print]

O’Connell, E. Harper, A. Batchelor, D. (2018) Paraneoplastic immune-mediated neutropenia in a dog following thymoma excision with later development of metastatic thymic carcinoma treated with toceranib phosphate. Veterinary Record Case Reports doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2017-000548

Harper, A. Blackwood, L. (2017) Toxicity and response in cats with neoplasia treated with toceranib phosphate. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 19(6):619-623

Harper, A. Blackwood, L. (2017) Toxicity of metronomic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in a UK population of cancer-bearing dogs: a retrospective study. Journal of Small Animal Practice 58(4):227-230

Slavomíra Néčová

Slavomíra Néčová

MVDr MRCVS

Clinician in Oncology

Slavomíra graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Košice, Slovakia in July 2009. At university she completed the Erasmus exchange programme in Lyon, France. Following graduation, Slavomíra worked in general practice in Slovakia for two years.

In 2011, Slavomíra moved to the UK and worked in a first opinion practice in Wales and then in Nottingham. She joined our team in December 2012 on a rotating internship and developed a strong interest in Oncology. Slavomíra completed her oncology residency with us in February 2018.

Slavomíra has a lovely rescue dog called Orieta, whom she likes to take on hikes in the countryside.

Davies O, Spenser S, Necova S, Holmes E, Taylor A, Blackwood L, Lara-Garcia A. (2017) Intranasal melanoma treated with radiation therapy in three dogs. Vet Q. 27 (1): 274-281

Bataller L, Tamborini A, L’Eplattenier H, Necova S, Robertson E. (2017) Successful treatment of tracheal lymphoma in a Siamese cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports  3(2) doi: 10.1177/2055116917742529, eCollection 2017 Jul-Dec

Necova S, North S. (2016) Radiotherapy in Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary Focus 26(3)

Jenny Gordon

Jenny Gordon

BSc (Hons) RVN

Radiotherapy Technician

Jenny qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2001 and was promoted to head nurse in 2002.  She joined Southfields Veterinary Specialists (then VRCC) in 2004 and whilst working full time as head nurse, she managed to complete her BSc Honours Degree.  Jenny then took up the role of radiotherapy technician.  Following maternity leave, she returned to Southfields and trained in CT imaging.  After a brief spell back in first opinion practice, Jenny resumed her role as radiotherapy technician at Southfields in 2017.

When she is not at work, Jenny is very busy with her husband, two young boys, four cats and dog called Murphy who loves to go on very long walks.  And if that’s not enough to keep her busy, she also enjoys socialising with family and friends and takes part in zumba and pilates too!

Jennifer Porter

Jennifer Porter

BSc Hons Radiotherapy and Oncology, Advanced Graduate Diploma VN, RVN

Therapeutic Radiographer

Jennie graduated as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2005 after 2 years of study. She continued to work in general practice moving into management and trainer roles.

She then moved to referral nursing at Davies Vet Specialists as a rotating nurse. Then onto medicine and oncology specialism at Pride Veterinary Center. Where she completed her Advanced Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Nursing through the Royal Veterinary College in 2012.

With a change in mind Jennie left veterinary work behind and moved into university life at the University of Hertfordshire. Where she graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Radiotherapy and Oncology. With this new direction Jennie joined the radiotherapy team at the Animal Health Trust as a Therapeutic Radiographer for a year.

Jennie joined Southfields in July of 2018. She enjoys the continuing challenge of radiation therapy in animals, after training with humans.

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