Meet the RCVM@OVC team.

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RCVM@OVC team in action

Dr. Natasha Janke, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Natasha Janke’s (“Nah-TAH-shuh JAIN-kee”) research interests are driven by a desire to understand how social interactions in veterinary medicine impact outcomes. Natasha seeks to understand processes that can be used to tailor experiences to meet the individual needs of clients. 

Natasha completed her MSc in epidemiology after receiving her BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph. She then completed her PhD in epidemiology (OVC 2021), where she explored information exchange and decision-making within veterinary appointments. Following her PhD, Natasha examined the impact of a 15-month in-practice communication training intervention, as a post-doctoral fellow at Colorado State University. 

Natasha returned to the OVC and joined the RCVM@OVC team in the summer of 2022. She is applying quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore team-based veterinary medicine, as she collaborates with VCA Canada. 

Natasha enjoys cooking and activities that involve spending time outdoors, including hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and playing soccer. (Return to top)

Rosalie Fortin-Choquette, PhD, Research Associate

With the desire to bridge the gap between humanities and sciences, Rosalie’s research interests combine her background in social sciences and epidemiology, and aim to understand the relationship between diverse communication modalities, relationship-building and accessible care.

Rosalie earned her Master of Arts degree at the University of Guelph in the School of Literature and Languages in 2019, where her research focused on the evolution of various forms of communication through social media. This led to an interest in clinical communication and ICTs (information and communication technology), which formed the foundation for Rosalie’s doctoral work. Rosalie completed her PhD in epidemiology (OVC 2024), focusing on the identification of perceived barriers and the potential benefits associated with the implementation of virtual care platforms in the veterinary profession. As a research associate, Rosalie is currently evaluating canine rehabilitation programs following orthopaedic (TPLO) surgery, using an activity tracker.

When not conducting research, Rosalie enjoys spending time outside with her two dogs and two cats, and the horses she takes care of. She is greatly involved in the equestrian scene and you can often see her at a horse show on the weekends. (Return to top)

Catherine Groves, MSc, PhD Candidate

Having fulfilled multiple roles in animal care and veterinary clinic settings, including that of pet owner, Catherine is fascinated by the relationship-centred aspects of veterinary medicine.

Catherine completed both her BScH in Biomedical Science and MSc in Epidemiology at the University of Guelph. During her MSc, her work focused on exploring the prevalence and nature of cost conversations in companion animal practice. Her studies led her to an interest in how the value and importance of veterinary care is communicated with veterinary clients, including explanations of the explicit benefit this care provides to the patient.

Catherine is currently working on understanding pet parent preferences in decision-making in terms of the care their pets receive and the communication surrounding features of care, like the value of care.

Outside of her studies, Catherine’s involvement in various local animal rescues and community outreach programs, alongside her friends and partner, fuels her research interests and purpose in the field. In the evenings, Catherine can be found reading with any number of animals on her lap. (Return to top)

Radhika Gandhi, MSc, Research Associate

A common theme in Radhika’s research interests includes understanding the different ways in which stakeholder involvement can influence outcomes of interest. Specifically, Radhika is interested in learning more about the role relationship-building can play in the health of animals and humans.

Radhika completed her BSc in Biology at the University of Western Ontario and her MSc in Epidemiology and Collaborative Specialization of One Health at the University of Guelph. Radhika’s MSc research focused on working with students to identify innovative pedagogical strategies that can strengthen One Health and climate-change education in institutes of higher education. As a Research Associate with the RCVM@OVC team, Radhika made invaluable contributions to a study focusing on the lived experience of veterinary professionals, advancing our collective knowledge about how to support retention within veterinary medicine. She also collaborated on the coordination of a study designed to optimize the role of Registered Veterinary Technicians. Currently, Radhika continues supporting the RCVM@OVC team on a part-time basis while working full-time at Unity Health Toronto as Research Coordinator in the Upstream Lab. In her Unity Health position, Radhika continues to build on the skills she developed with the RCVM@OVC team to advance the Upstream Lab’s mission to enhance human population health and well-being by addressing issues related to the social determinants of health.

During her free time, Radhika enjoys going on hikes, playing basketball, and spending time with her family and friends.  (Return to top)

Dr. Erin Phillips, DVM, DVSc, ACVIM-SAIM, PhD Student

Erin is interested in improving the relationship between clients and veterinarians so that animals can be better treated and veterinarians can have greater job satisfaction.

Erin completed a BSc in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, and a DVM and DVSc at the Ontario Veterinary College. Her DVSc focused on rivaroxaban use in dogs with thrombosis, and was supervised by Dr. Shauna Blois. Erin is also a board-certified specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, and is excited to be working toward a PhD in the RCVM@OVC lab. Erin’s PhD is co-supervised by Dr. Jason Coe and Dr. Shauna Blois, and focuses on expanding what is known about a clinical practice referred to as the Talking Physical Exam and ways in which this practice can optimize clinical communication between veterinary professionals and clients.

Erin enjoys horseback riding, spending time with her three cats, and hanging out with her husband (newly married!). (Return to top)

Basima Rashid, MSc, PhD Student

Basima’s interest in social interactions and communication within the veterinary field drew her to the RCVM@OVC research program.

Basima completed her BASc Biology and Philosophy, followed by her MSc in Epidemiology, with both degrees completed at the University of Guelph. Basima’s MSc and PhD research focus on learning how the veterinary field can optimize the important role of Registered Veterinary Technicians, through training programs designed to support confidence in clinical communication skills and various other factors reflecting workplace wellness and professional development.

Outside of her research work, Basima worked at the African Lion Safari, where she handled and trained various exotic species including bats, pythons, armadillos, sloths, and even macaws. (Return to top)

Maziha Kamal, BSc, MSc Student

Maziha is passionate about relationship-centred veterinary medicine because it emphasizes the bond between animals and their owners, recognizing the interconnectedness of their well-being. Maziha values this approach because it considers not only the physical health of the animal but also their emotional and social needs, fostering stronger and more meaningful connections between veterinary professionals, animals, and their human companions.

Maziha completed a Bilingual Honours BSc at York University, specializing in Biology.  Her undergraduate degree included a field course involving observation of animals’ interactions with people in various ecological contexts, including bird-banding sessions and small mammals’ response to camera monitoring. These experiences sparked Maziha’s curiosity about the potential therapeutic effects of animal-human interactions, particularly in high-stress environments such as healthcare settings. Currently, as an MSc Student in Population Medicine at the University of Guelph, Maziha is co-supervised by Dr. Jason Coe in the RCVM@OVC lab, and by Dr. Basem Gohar in the UGROHW Lab. Through this dual-supervision opportunity, Maziha is investigating the impact of support from a facility dog on human-healthcare workers’ perceived stress, perceived work support, and organizational commitment.

When not immersed in research, Maziha enjoys exploring the vibrant worlds of Nintendo games! Beyond that, she looks for opportunities to innovate healthcare, whether it’s brainstorming new service expansions or refining her skills in healthcare management. (Return to top)

Dr. Meaghan Bell, BVMS, MSc Student

Meaghan is interested in medical communication and how team collaboration can contribute to overall health and well-being for both staff and patients in veterinary practice.  

After completing a BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Biology at the University of Guelph, Meaghan earned a BSc in Veterinary Biology at Murdoch University, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in Applied Veterinary Medicine, also at Murdoch University. Meaghan has returned to the University of Guelph to join the RCVM@OVC lab and is excited to be working toward an MSc in Population Medicine, with a focus on the role of team-based care in veterinary medicine.

Outside of her research focus, Meaghan’s interest in medical communication and experiential learning drew her to become a long-time volunteer veterinary coach in the Art of Veterinary Medicine Labs for OVC veterinary students. In her spare time, Meaghan enjoys outdoor activities—especially hiking, camping, birding, and stand-up paddle boarding—as well as indoor activities such as yoga, reading, and jigsaw puzzles. (Return to top)

Abby Partington, MSc, Research Assistant

Abby is passionate about improving the accessibility of information in order to help pet parents give their pets the highest quality of care. Abby believes that sharing veterinary expertise in a caring and effective way can help pet owners to better understand the complexities of their animals’ health. 

Abby holds a BASc in English and Biology from the University of Guelph, and completed an MSc in Population Medicine in 2024. As an RCVM@OVC team member, Abby’s MSc research focused on weight bias among veterinary professionals. After completing grad school, Abby worked in the dog care and welfare department of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides before returning to the RCVM@OVC team in the Spring of 2025. As a research assistant, Abby supports the various activities of the team and loves learning from the work of other lab members! 

Outside of work, Abby enjoys reading, cooking, and solving puzzles, all with the help of her cat! (Return to top)

Amy Werger, BSc Student

Working as a veterinary assistant, Amy saw first-hand the barriers to communication between clients and veterinary staff. She hopes to be involved in research that helps to bridge this gap and improve client experiences in veterinary settings. 

Amy is currently enrolled in a BSc in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph. Last summer, she worked as a Summer Student in the Department of Population Medicine as part of the Theriogenology Lab. She conducted research on infertility in dogs and antibiotic usage in dog breeding, as well as assisting with a study investigating treatment options for endometritis in mares. Amy is excited to take on a new type of research this summer with the RCVM@OVC lab, investigating decision-making in veterinary medicine. As an OVC Pet Trust Summer Student, Amy will be working with the RCVM@OVC team for the summer of 2025, investigating the understanding, recall, and satisfaction of clients who have used the Value Matrix in collaboration with a veterinarian. 

In her spare time, Amy enjoys baking all sorts of sweet treats (especially decorating cakes!), and learning new songs on guitar. (Return to top)

“Veterinary medicine is a team sport.”
Dr. Jason Coe, DVM, PhD