New York’s Animal Medical Center, billed as the world’s largest small animal practice, this month added another claim to fame: a top-of-the-line oncology center. The 2,470-square-foot Cancer Institute fills the remodeled uppermost floor of the eight-story hospital on East 62nd Street in Manhattan. The uniting of the hospital’s oncology services was made possible through a $5 million gift from Animal Medical Center trustee Elaine Langone and her husband, Kenneth. “The core mission of the institute is to provide the highest quality of life for animals with cancer as well as to maximize the amount of time owners can spend with their beloved pets,” Elaine Langone said. “Having lost quite a few dogs to cancer, Ken and I believed the new Cancer Institute … was an initiative worth supporting.” Four board-certified oncologists staff the institute along with 18 other hospital employees. One of the doctors, Rachel St-Vincent, DVM, MVSc, Dipl. ACVR, is the state’s only onsite, full-time radiation oncologist, a hospital spokeswoman said. Animal Medical Center, which opened in 1910, employs about 100 veterinarians and sees 44,000 patients a year. The nonprofit hospital has long participated in pet cancer research. Collaboration between Animal Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and drug maker Merial Ltd. led to development of the canine melanoma vaccine Oncept. Among the features of the Cancer Institute are expanded exam and treatment rooms, a radiology suite, a diagnostic laboratory and digital radiographic imaging. The treatments offered include stereotactic radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), chemotherapy, cryotherapy, and complementary and alternative modalities such as cold therapeutic laser, acupuncture and extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
