Dr. Ashley Parker
Medical Oncology Resident
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to work with animals. In very early childhood, I was drawn to them and was passionate about helping each one, from the pets in my home and the horses at a nearby stable to the baby goats I was lucky enough to be able to help deliver as a wide-eyed 12-year-old. In high school, I began working as a veterinary technician and continued to do so throughout my undergrad years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Following graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, I spent several years as a veterinary technician, including as a veterinary oncology technician at a private specialty practice in San Diego, California.
Working as an oncology technician truly changed my life and pushed me to return to school to become a veterinarian and, specifically, a veterinary oncologist. I loved the interaction we had with our patients and their families. We were able to give people the gift of good quality time with their pets, and we were there for them when they had to make difficult decisions for their animals as well. I truly loved being there to help people and their animals in this time of need and knew I wanted to continue doing this as a doctor in the future.
I completed veterinary school at Midwestern University in Arizona and a small animal rotating internship at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Now, I am excited to join the team at the Flint Animal Cancer Center as a medical oncology resident. I look forward to working with the amazing faculty and residents to learn, to provide compassionate patient care, and to help with the significant research that comes out of the FACC.
In my free time, I love to go hiking and camping with my husband, dogs, Steve and Ivan, and friends. You might also find me kayaking or paddleboarding. When I’m not in the great outdoors, I also love to cook and drink wine.