Kristine E. Burgess | DVM, MLA, DACVIM

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• Assistant Professor

Dr. Kristine Burgess is a board certified veterinary oncologist at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals. In her position at the Cummings School, Dr. Burgess loves the diverse mix of teaching, research and clinical service that comprise her position. She takes pleasure in working directly with fourth-year students and residents during their clinical rotations within the Foster Hospital for Small Animals, and is grateful for the opportunity to shape the future of veterinary students and residents in their careers as veterinarians and veterinary specialists.

Growing up outside of Boston, Dr. Burgess had her sights set on veterinary medicine but, after completing her bachelor’s degree, instead engaged in laboratory research at the world-renowned Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. These experiences were instrumental in affirming her interests in cancer research and medicine. She merged that with her passion for veterinary medicine by earning her DVM from the Cummings School at Tufts University, completing her residency training at the University of Wisconsin, then rejoining Tutfs as faculty.

At the Cummings School Dr. Burgess is grateful for the opportunity to offer our cancer patients top-notch, state-of-the-art and compassionate care, including conventional and novel chemo- or immunotherapies. For each individual patient, Dr. Burgess provides information on all treatment options with the ultimate goal of achieving an excellet quality of life for as long as possible. She firmly believes “knowledge is power” and everyone benefits when informed decisions are made in the best interests of the pet.

Similar to human oncology, there is a great deal of variability in outcome when treating different forms of cancer, but regardless of the treatment path, there is no better feeling than making a difference in the life of an animal and their owner family. This is the most rewarding aspect of being a veterinary oncologist for her.

Dr. Burgess lives with her husband, daughter, son, two dogs, many cats and one fish. This menagerie counts as part of the extended family and she enjoys time spent, especially being outdoors, with all of them (except the fish).

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Education

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

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Board Certifications

• American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Oncology (ACVIM)

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Research Activities

• Understanding the molecular mechanisms that trigger the development of canine/feline cancer and applying those findings into improved diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic options for treatment
• Participating in clinical trials that evaluate the use of novel chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies in various malignancies

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Additional Information

• Dr. Burgess is currently seeking additional training in the field of radiation oncology