Professional Profile

Dr. Laura Garrett received her undergraduate and DVM degrees from the University of Illinois. She did a 1-year rotating internship at the University of Minnesota and then worked in a private referral practice in the twin cities for 2 years. She next completed a 2-year residency in comparative oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, after which she spent 1-1/2 years at a referral practice in New Zealand. She then helped to begin and build an oncology program at Kansas State University from 1998-2006. In June 2006 she joined the faculty here at her alma mater. Dr. Garrett's main interests include teaching and clinical service, with research interests that focus on clinical trials of new anticancer agents.

• As a clinical track faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, I do the majority of my teaching in the clinics in small group or one-on-one settings. This setting for instruction is extremely gratifying, as one can see "Aha" moments for students on an almost daily basis. Interactive instruction is key to providing students such moments; one must process new information in the context of what one already knows and be given the opportunity to apply that information to best "learn" new ideas. Simply talking at students and telling them facts will not provide a good learning environment. On clinics, I ask questions and help the students reason through the answers. Students have substantial responsibility for their clinical patients and present details about their patients to the rest of the service daily. Having to explain and discuss such details helps the student, as well as the instructor, to know what they do and do not understand, and creates opportunities for targeted instruction.
• In addition to teaching oncology, I have a strong interest in teaching communication skills that can be applied and are so critical in veterinary practice. I have helped to teach in ongoing communication courses and am going into the third year of offering an elective in communication in practice for 3rd year students. I have been heavily involved in integrating communication skill education into the new curriculum.

• Clinical Practice I and II, Colloquium (communication skills, end of life lectures)
• Communication in Practice - elective
• Companion Animal Medicine III (oncology lectures)
• Clinical Procedures and Problem Solving II (oncology cases)
• Clinical Oncology Rotation

Clinical trials for lymphoma and osteosarcoma, diagnostic techniques for mast cell tumors.

Kao S, Barger A, Garrett LD*. Vaginal swab cytology as a diagnostic tool for neoplasia of the bladder in dogs. Can Vet J, 63(12):1221-1225, 2022.

Brown CR, Garrett LD, Giles WK, Houlihan KE, McCobb E, Pailler S, Putnam H, Scarlet JL, Treglia L, Watson B, Wietsma HT. Spectrum of care: more than treatment options. https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.259.7.712 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 259(7):712-717, 2021.

Berlato D, Bulman-Fleming J, Clifford C, Garrett LD, Intile J, Jones P, Kamstock D, Liptak J, Pavuk A, Powell R, Rasotto R, Value, limitations and recommendations for grading of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors: a consensus of the Oncology-Pathology Working Group. https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858211009785 Veterinary Pathology, 2021.

Connell D, Rodriguez CO, Sternberg R, Singh K, Barger A, Garrett LD*. Biological behavior and ezrin expression in canine rhabdomyosarcomas: 25 cases (1990-2012). Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 18(4):675-682, 2020.

Tuohy JL, Shaevitz MH, Garrett LD, Ruple A, Selmic LE. Demographic characteristics, site and phylogenetic distribution of dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma: 744 dogs (2000-2015). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223243 PLOS ONE, 2019.

Camero C, Neumann Z, Garrett LD*. Long-term survival in six cats with mediastinal cysts. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 21(10):998-1002, 2019.

• American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Veterinary Cancer Society