Meet the RCVM@OVC team.

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RCVM@OVC team in action

Dr. Kat Sutherland, PhD, Principal Investigator

Dr. Kat Sutherland is an Assistant Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College and is co-lead of RCVM@OVC. 

Kat’s research interests are motivated by wanting to understand how relationships in veterinary medicine impact pet owners’ uptake of and adherence to nutritional and weight-management recommendations, and how veterinary professional-client communication can be enhanced to improve the quality of life for pets with excess weight. Kat’s PhD research, conducted with the RCVM@OVC team, explored pet weight-related communication in small animal veterinary practice. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the RCVM team, culminating in the development and evaluation of a continuing education program for veterinary professionals about the prevention and treatment of obesity in dogs and cats, as well as how to best communicate about obesity and weight management with pet owners.  

Kat then joined Colorado State University as an Assistant Professor in the Veterinary Communication for Professional Excellence program where she taught clinical communication across 4 years of the DVM program, led continuing education for practicing veterinary professionals, and conducted research. Kat’s current role at OVC involves teaching clinical communication skills to student veterinarians and continuing her research about veterinary communication.  

Outside of work you are likely to find Kat enjoying the outdoors, reading, or spending time with her partner and their cats. (Return to top)

Catherine Groves, MSc, 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 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 BAS in 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 BAS 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 her studies, 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)

Paige Francis, BSc (Hons), MSc Student

Paige is passionate about high-quality animal care and treatment, and greatly values the role that strong veterinarian-client relationships play in accomplishing this within veterinary practices. Paige is interested in further exploring how communication and collaboration can ultimately enhance the quality of care that pets and animals receive.  

Paige completed a BSc (Hons) in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph in 2024 before joining the RCVM@OVC lab. As an MSc student in Population Medicine, Paige will be undertaking a research project to analyze the impacts of various communication and virtual rehabilitation strategies on the recovery of dogs who have undergone TPLO orthopedic surgery.  

Outside of her studies, Paige enjoys going for walks, reading, listening to her favourite podcast, and painting! (Return to top)

Nolan Davies, BSc Student, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Nolan is interested in using effective communication and relationship-building with clients to contribute to positive experiences and outcomes in research and veterinary medicine.  

Nolan is in the process of completing a BSc degree in Animal Biology. His prior research has focused on various aspects of animal health, welfare, and management in dairy cattle, goats, and sheep, which sparked an interest in different areas of research within both animal and veterinary science. Nolan is currently working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the RCVM@OVC team to gain additional research experience. 

Outside of research, Nolan enjoys reading, spending time in nature, and playing the clarinet. He also loves listening to music and relaxing with a good cup of tea. (Return to top)  

Sara Terier, BAS Student, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sara is passionate about integrating principles of psychology into veterinary communication to improve client-veterinarian interactions and support interdisciplinary collaboration in animal research.  

Sara is in the process of completing a BAS degree, specializing in Biology and Psychology. Over the past two summers, she conducted research in the Department of Pathobiology, studying parasites infecting avian hosts, and focusing on host-parasite interactions and genomic analyses. Sara is currently working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the RCVM@OVC team to gain additional research experience. 

In her spare time, Sara enjoys music, reading books, playing guitar, and going on walks—especially by bodies of water. (Return to top)

Shawna Morrow, BScH, MSc, PhD Student

Shawna is passionate about pet weight management and believes a relationship-centred approach is key to helping pet guardians feel like active members of the care team, working alongside veterinary professionals to create weight care plans that fit their lifestyle. 

Shawna earned her BScH in Biomedical Sciences from Trent University in 2021. Her MSc research in OVC’s Department of Clinical Studies focused on promoting weight management and improving communication strategies in companion animal veterinary practice. Through her work, she identified a gap in the prioritization of physical activity in pet weight management plans, largely due to the absence of clear guidelines. This discovery inspired her to pursue a PhD to help address this critical need in veterinary care. Shawna’s PhD research, co-advised by Jason Coe and Adronie Verbrugghe in the OVC Pet Nutrition lab, examines the effects of physical activity on weight loss in obese dogs. Additionally, she is building on her MSc research by exploring pet guardians’ attitudes towards weight management and improving veterinary communication about obesity. 

In her spare time, Shawna loves to read, play with her two cats, and do anything outdoors—especially camping. (Return to top) 

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