Meet our team alumni.

Click an image to read a bio.

RCVM@OVC alumni in action

Dr. Catherine Groves, PhD

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 her BScH in Biomedical Science, MSc in Epidemiology, and PhD in Epidemiology, all at the University of Guelph. During her MSc, Catherine’s 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’s PhD work aimed at understanding pet parent decision-making with their veterinarian, in terms of access to care and the communication surrounding care options, like the value of care.

In her spare time, Catherine’s involvement in various local animal rescues and community outreach programs, alongside her friends and partner, fuels her purpose in the field. In the evenings, Catherine can be found reading with any number of animals on her lap. 

Dr. Natasha Janke, PhD

Dr. Natasha Janke’s 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, where she applied quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore team-based veterinary medicine in collaboration with VCA Canada. 

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

Dr. Rosalie Fortin-Choquette, PhD

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. Following the completion of her PhD, Rosalie continued working as a research associate with RCVM@OVC, using an activity tracker to evaluate canine rehabilitation programs following TPLO orthopedic surgery.

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)

Amy Werger, DVM 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 as a DVM student at the University of Guelph. Prior to joining the RCVM lab, she worked as a Summer Student in the Department of Population Medicine as part of the Theriogenology Lab, conducting 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. In the summer of 2025, Amy worked with the RCVM team as an OVC Pet Trust Summer Student, investigating the understanding, recall, and satisfaction of clients following a simulated interaction 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)

Dr. Kirsten Blokland, PhD

In all the research Kirsten has conducted, one of the threads that has held particular interest for her has been the various relationship-centred factors involved in the phenomena she has studied.

Kirsten completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) Research Institute, studying the parent-child relationship and emotional development. Following her PhD, she remained at SickKids for the next 20 years, managing several long-term studies involving parents and children/youth.

Thereafter, Kirsten left the Toronto research scene and landed in the company of the RCVM@OVC team in Guelph, working for 3.5 wonderful years as a staff member in the lab and contributing to many aspects of the team’s research agenda. Kirsten treasures the time she spent as an RCVM@OVC member, during which she applied her knowledge of relationship-centred phenomena to the context of veterinary medicine, coordinated and supported studies, wrote and edited papers, co-created and managed the team’s website, met new collaborators from various countries, and established cherished relationships with members of the RCVM@OVC team.

Outside of work time, Kirsten enjoys spending time with her family (including their Havanese dog), practicing yoga, and singing classical music with a choir. (Return to top)

Kassandra Blais-Vaillancourt, BSc, DVM Student

Kassandra is interested in learning how we can best facilitate open and meaningful conversations in veterinary medicine. She is passionate about ensuring that pet parents feel proactive and included in their pet’s health and treatment plan. She is excited about how we can incorporate relationship-centred veterinary medicine into our clinics and improve the well-being of our furry companions. 

Kassandra graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Biological Science. Prior to her acceptance into the DVM program in 2022, she was conducting research at McGill University investigating the effects of the immune system on breast cancer progression. Kassandra spent the summer of 2023 engaged in research with the RCVM@OVC team, investigating the quality, nature, and reading level of digital messaging on veterinary-practice websites, and comparing the messaging to other sources of digital pet-health information. During the summer and fall of 2024, she returned to continue her research with the RCVM team on a part-time basis while pursuing her full-time studies as a DVM Student.

Outside of research, Kassandra loves to hike with her dog, read with her cat, and spend as much time outdoors as she can. (Return to top)

Renu Dinesh, BASc

Renu is passionate about the role of effective communication between veterinary professionals and pet owners in order to improve access to veterinary care and promote positive animal health outcomes.

After completing her BASc in Psychology and Biology at the University of Guelph in 2023, Renu transitioned into working with the RCVM@OVC team as a summer student and then as a part-time Research Assistant. During her time in our lab, Renu focused on a study drawing on the lived experience of veterinary professionals, with the goal of contributing to what we know about how to support retention within veterinary medicine.

Renu cherishes spending quality time with loved ones, including a German Shepherd and a quarter Husky mixed dog. When not engrossed in reading and drawing, Renu leads an active lifestyle by engaging in sports, working out, and swimming. (Return to top)

Dr. Lea Nogueira Borden, DVM, MSc

A desire to explore the inter-relationship between human and animal health represents a common theme running through Lea’s diverse research background. Specifically, she has pursued a special interest in understanding the relationships, communication, and environments that support this mutual well-being.

Lea completed both her DVM (2002) and her MSc in Epidemiology (2007) at the Ontario Veterinary College. During her MSc, Lea investigated veterinarian-client communication around end-of-life decision-making. Over the course of her veterinary career, Lea has worked in a variety of settings, including small-animal practice, academia, government, and community outreach.

During the years Lea worked with the RCVM@OVC team on doctoral-level research, she made valuable contributions to the study of team-based veterinary care, including opportunities to support veterinary team effectiveness and well-being.

Outside of work, Lea enjoys outdoor adventures of all kinds, and spending time with her husband, three children, and various furry family members. (Return to top)

Abby Davies, MSc

Abby’s research interests are driven by wanting to understand how relationship-centred aspects of veterinary medicine can impact the decisions pet owners make for taking steps toward improving the health and well-being of their pets.  

Abby completed her BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology, thereafter joining the RCVM@OVC team as an MSc student, completing her Masters degree in the fall of 2023. Abby’s Masters research project explored pet weight-related communication in veterinary practice, specifically how veterinarian-client communication affects pet owners’ decisions about pursuing weight management for their pets.

Outside of her studies, Abby enjoys playing high-level hockey, paddle boarding, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets. (Return to top)

Maggie McCullough, BSc, DVM Student

In relationship-centred veterinary medicine, Maggie is passionate about discovering tools and techniques that allow for effective and rewarding navigation through the complexities of a client-veterinarian relationship. 

Maggie graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Minor in Communication. During her time at Eastern Michigan University, Maggie participated in a variety of research projects. Most notably, she worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Animal Science on a project that focused on the impact of Hantavirus on both rodent and human species.  Maggie spent the summer of 2023 doing research with the RCVM@OVC team, supporting a study about clinical-communication education for the management of pet weight.

Outside of research, Maggie enjoys spending quality time with family, friends, and her boyfriend. During her time at Eastern Michigan University, Maggie was a member of the Women’s NCAA Soccer Team. Although her time is up there, you can find her playing any and all sports each chance she gets.  (Return to top)

Dr. Debbie Sigesmund, DVM, MSc

To relate means to create a connection. When we practice relationship-centred veterinary medicine we create connections that benefit all involved. 

Debbie completed her BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Guelph. She practiced companion animal veterinary medicine in both Boston, MA and Toronto, ON. She also spent 10 years working as a technical service veterinarian at Nestle Purina Petcare Canada.

Debbie completed her Masters in Population Medicine in 2022, with a focus on virtual veterinary care from the veterinarian and pet-owner perspectives. Outside of work, Debbie is very proud to be the mother of two daughters, the pet parent of two dogs and two goldfish. (Return to top)

Antonia DeGroot, MSc, DVM Student

As a self-declared “people person” Antonia has always been interested in interpersonal relationships and communication. Getting to pair this interest with her passion for animal agriculture and food-animal producers was a dream come true when she started her Master of Science (MSc) degree with Drs. Jason Coe and Todd Duffield. 

Antonia completed her MSc in the Population Medicine Department at the Ontario Veterinary College in the summer of 2020, culminating in a thesis titled “Communication during food-animal veterinarian-producer interactions during on-farm appointments”. This work included examining factors associated with food-animal producer satisfaction following an on-farm visit with a veterinarian, as well as factors associated with producers’ and veterinarians’ perceptions of the veterinarians’ producer-centred communication skills during an on-farm visit. Outside of school, Antonia enjoys horseback riding, spending time with her friends and family, reading and travelling. (Return to top)

Dr. Judith Cadeau da Costa, DVM, MSc

During Judith’s 21 years as private-practice veterinarian, she observed the differences in patient outcomes based on the quality of veterinarian-client communication. It was due to her on-the-job observation that she became passionate about perusing research in relationship-centred veterinary medicine.

In 1993, Judith completed her Honours BSc in Biology at the University of Guelph. She then went on to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in 1998. She practiced companion animal medicine exclusively until returning to the University of Guelph in 2019 to complete her MSc in Epidemiology in Dr. Coe’s lab, graduating in 2021.

Judith’s thesis research focused on veterinarian-client communication about the companion animal physical exam. She has published 2 papers in JAVMA on this topic. Outside of work, Judith enjoys boating, spending time with nature, gardening and interior decorating. (Return to top)