Dr. Jonathan Ferrari, V.M.D.
Lucy Oncology Scholar
Surgical Oncology Fellow
I grew up outside Philadelphia with our family’s rat terrier Hazel and fox terrier Violet. Throughout their lives, I enjoyed their veterinary visits and learned first-hand how integral veterinarians are to the health and well-being of a family and community. I enjoyed their visits so much that I got my first high school job as an assistant at our local veterinary hospital. There I learned the care and compassion that goes into being a veterinarian and the love that goes into the jobs of assistants, receptionists, technicians, and doctors. I knew at that point that I would like to give back to my community the way I saw the veterinary team throughout my life.
In college, both of my dogs were diagnosed with heart disease, and I quickly learned how valuable veterinary specialists are to providing specific care for sick pets. Our veterinary cardiology team was crucial to our lives for many years. I started volunteering as an assistant in the veterinary hospital at the University of Pennsylvania to learn more about specialty care. I enjoyed seeing the medicine, research, and training that occurs at a veterinary teaching hospital, and I was fortunate to attend veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania.
During my time in veterinary school, I worked in a canine cancer research laboratory and learned how understanding naturally occurring cancer in dogs can improve cancer care for humans as well. I fell in love with translational research, where the veterinary field can work with human medicine colleagues to help both humans and animals with cancer.
After veterinary school, I moved on to a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and learned the benefits of combining the practices of surgery, radiation, and medical oncology for providing the highest level of care for pets with cancer. I knew that I wanted to be a part of a team like this, and I most enjoyed helping pets and families which need to have surgery performed. I remained at the Animal Medical Center for my residency in surgery and trained with the soft tissue and orthopedic surgeons in addition to surgical oncologists and had training in interventional oncology as well.
I am thrilled to join the Flint Animal Cancer Center team for a fellowship in surgical oncology. I hope this year to provide pets and families in Colorado with care and compassion through their cancer diagnosis.
In my spare time, I enjoy running, cooking, reading, and all things music and theatre. I also love taking care of my family’s two dogs, Cosette (a terrier mix) and Maizey (a Cairn terrier).