love treating cancer cases. And though it can be a draining specialty, it is one that fills me right back up,” shares veterinary oncologist Dr. Renee Alsarraf. “To give a family another holiday season or a few more wonderful summers is the best feeling around. Sitting next to, not in front of, pet parents, getting to know them and getting to understand their ‘whys’ behind treatment spurs me forward each day.”

Growing up in a family of physicians and nurses, Dr. Alsarraf has always been interested in the medical field. But as a very young child, she was drawn to animals. “They make me feel whole. They make me feel loved,” she states. “I have wanted to be a veterinarian since the age of seven and have never wavered.”

Despite the difficulties of being accepted into veterinary school, the rigors of the program and the salary range, Dr. Alsarraf wanted to devote her career to helping our four-legged friends. “I knew that by helping them I was also providing a service to society by helping pet parents,” she says. “I became a veterinary oncologist to improve the quality of dogs’ and cats’ lives with cancer, while also extending their time here on Earth. I cherish getting to know each family and to honor their family dynamic.”

As a Michigan native, she attended Michigan State University for both undergraduate and veterinary school. While in vet school, she established the University’s Pet Loss Support Group, which is still in existence today.

“During my summer between sophomore and junior year, I went to NYC to the Animal Medical Center (AMC) for a six-week externship in oncology,” Dr. Alsarraf shares. “That changed the trajectory of my life—I found my passion! After graduating from MSU in 1991, I completed a rotating internship and medical oncology residency at the AMC and have never looked back.”

When asked what made her choose the specialty of oncology, Dr. Alsarraf replied, “My father was a prominent human medical oncologist. While I cannot pinpoint any particular moment or conversation with him, I am sure, somehow, his dedication to his work influenced me.”

Always on the go, Dr. Alsarraf practices out of several different veterinary hospitals along the east coast. “I love working in the Oncology Department at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in NYC,” she says. “Being at the largest non-profit animal hospital in the world—being on a team providing the best in medical care—makes me proud to be a veterinarian. I am grateful to work with the radiation therapy patients and medical oncology group. Additionally, I enjoy teaching the interns and residents who always bring a fresh approach to each case.

“I also spend time in Florida, seeing medical oncology cases at Animal Cancer Care Clinic, a practice that has eight locations along the Florida coast and in Orlando,” she continues. “ACCC is the largest private practice solely dedicated to treating pets with cancer, while providing optimal outcomes for clients and their animals.”

One thing that has drawn Dr. Alsarraf to the specialty of veterinary oncology is the constant search for better treatment options and a cure for this tough disease. “Similar to human medicine, treatment is going toward individualized care, in which chemotherapy drugs are chosen based on the specific cancer cells’ genetic make-up,” she shares. “Radiation therapy is becoming more targeted, such that we can give higher doses of RT to the tumor while limiting the effects to the normal surrounding tissues. We still have a long way to go with both chemo and radiation, but it is exciting to think of the possibilities.”

Dr. Alsarraf says that, just as in people, early detection is paramount. “Acting on something when it is smaller or when a patient has the beginning of a disease helps your veterinarian to help your pet for the best results possible,” she explains. “Changes in behavior, sleeping more, weight loss, a new lump or bump, drinking more water or urinating more—any of these signs should prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

“Good care makes a difference,” she continues. “Feeding good-quality dog food, providing ample exercise to keep your pet’s weight at an appropriate level, and limiting exposure to secondhand smoke and pesticides can help reduce the risk of cancer.”

While Dr. Alsarraf’s dedication to her patients is prominent in her work, it also carries over to other areas of her life. Recently, she wrote a book about some of her patients. “The book celebrates the human-animal bond in its deepest form,” she explains. “I believe that dogs are not just wonderful companions to people, but that they serve as incredible guides to us when we struggle—and we all struggle at times.

“Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well is full of life lessons from our furry friends,” Dr. Alsarraf continues. “Every chapter is about a different patient of mine and either what the family learned from their pet or what I learned from their pet. I feel that dogs (and other animals) possess a magical quality to truly see us, often better than we can see each other. I have been incredibly fortunate to be on national TV shows, podcasts, radio shows and at numerous in-person events to talk about the life lessons in my book.”

Dr. Alsarraf also has a passion for helping industry peers, particularly students. She serves as a mentor to veterinary students, as well as aspiring veterinary students, and enjoys helping with vet school admissions and intern selection. “I am on the Cooperman’s Scholars Committee, reviewing applications for underprivileged high school students to receive scholarships and support,” she adds.

In addition, she is also on the board of the Animal Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing grant money for studies that advance human and animal cancer research.

When she does find herself with free time, Dr. Alsarraf enjoys giving back by volunteering in the community, hunting for antiques, cooking, gardening and listening to her son play the piano.

To conclude, Dr. Alsarraf leaves us with “the best career advice” she ever received: “In my senior year of veterinary school, a very seasoned clinician pulled me aside to tell me that, in time, I would learn to not let the occasional sad outcome, upsetting case or mourning family affect me. He said I would toughen up. I was floored! That very moment, I took his ‘advice’ and turned it around…I promised myself that I would always feel my feelings in dealing with the patients and their families. I would have not only compassion, but sincere empathy for them.”