Barbara Kitchell
Veterinary Specialist DVM, DACVIM/Oncology

Dr. Barbara E. Kitchell graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. Dr. Kitchell completed an internship at the University of Minnesota, then residencies in Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at UC Davis from 1981-1985. She started an Oncology referral practice at Special Veterinary Services, Berkeley, California in 1985, and continued to manage that practice on a full time basis until 1989, when she embarked upon her graduate studies while continuing to work part time as a clinical oncologist. She received her Ph.D. degree (emphasis in Cancer Biology) from the Department of Comparative Pathology at UC Davis in 1994. In addition, Dr. Kitchell completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford Medical School from 1990-1994. She returned to academic medicine in 1994 as Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine, where she rose to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Kitchell joined the faculty of Michigan State University in 2004 as Full Professor and Director of the Center for Comparative Oncology, and held this post until joining VCA Vet Care in August, 2013. Dr. Kitchell is an ACVIM Diplomate in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Oncology. She has received numerous awards including the National Cancer Institute Physician Scientist Award, the Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship Award at Stanford, and the Gaines Cycle "Golden Fido" award for Veterinarian of the Year at the American Animal Hospital Association Annual Conference in 1993. Dr. Kitchell has served veterinary and comparative medicine in many capacities, including committee membership on the Morris Animal Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, the Nestle Purina Nutrition Council, NCI-F Manpower and Training Study Section of NCI, the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium, and is a consultant and key opinion leader for several veterinary pharmaceutical companies. She is past president of the Veterinary Cancer Society and was elected Vice-President and Member of the Board of Regent of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2013. Dr. Kitchell is the author of over 100 scientific publications, abstracts, proceedings, book chapters, handbooks in her field of veterinary and comparative oncology. Like most veterinarians, she has a menagerie of dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles. Dr. Kitchell also keeps busy as a single mom of 5 wonderful young people, and has been active in adoption, foster care and Transition to Independence for foster adolescents in Lansing, Michigan.