For the Love of People and Pets

How the Cancer Center and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Collaborate to Benefit People and Animals It’s a somewhat surprising collaboration, but the Cancer Center and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU SVM) have worked together for years, driving human and veterinary oncology medicine in meaningful ways. Many people first learned about our unique partnership when LSU SVM chose the Cancer Center to provide radiation therapy to Mike VI when he was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma in 2016. But for years prior to that, the Cancer Center’s medical physicists provided consultation and approval for animals receiving radiation treatment at the school. Recently, the medical physics staff and LSU SVM oncology unit collaborated on designing a vault and installing and commissioning the school’s new linear accelerator. Another special collaborative effort between the Cancer Center and LSU SVM that has captured the interest and hearts of many people is Fostering Hope. The program is part of the Cancer Center’s survivorship program and allows cancer patients to foster or adopt dogs as part of their healing process. The LSU SVM was critical in working with the Cancer Center to ensure the program was beneficial for the animals and patients involved. Francinne Lawrence, PhD, manager of survivorship and integrated medicine at the Cancer Center, and Kayla Baudoin, LMSW, coordinator in student affairs at LSU SVM, shared how Fostering Hope developed and is a win-win for everyone involved.Special thanks to the LSU SVM for helping to raise funds and awareness for people and animals with cancer during its inaugural Geaux Pink Tigers week, November 13-17. The culminating Geaux Pink Tigers event will be on Friday, November 17 from 2 – 5 p.m. at LSU SVM, Skip Bertman Drive in Baton Rouge, and invites human and animal cancer patients to attend. Activities will include unveiling of the Celebration Bell in the serenity garden, ribbon cutting for the new linear accelerator, tours, food and more. For more information on Fostering Hope, call 215-1391 or visit marybirdlake.org/thrive. To learn more about the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, visit lsu.edu/vetmed.