Beatrix Manning named chief medical officer at Animal Cancer Care and Research Center

Beatrix Manning DVM '09 said veterinary school at Virginia Tech was "a dream come true" for her. Now she has big dreams for the veterinary college's animal cancer center.

Manning's passion for oncology stems from her own early experiences as a general practitioner. "During my early career years, when a dog or a cat was diagnosed with cancer, it was such devastating news for families, and I didn't have the knowledge as a general practitioner to help them through it completely," she said. This realization drove her to specialize in oncology, enabling her to provide families with the guidance and expertise they need during one of the most challenging times in their lives. 

Manning is the new chief medical officer and a radiation oncologist at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) in Roanoke, one of the veterinary college's three teaching hospitals.

"Beatrix Manning brings an experienced skill set that will have an exciting impact on clinical activities at the ACCRC," said Dan Givens, dean of the veterinary college. "In her role as chief medical officer, Beatrix will be able to ensure smooth and efficient operations through consistent oversight of clinical activities. As the center's second radiation oncologist, Beatrix's presence will ensure that more cancer patients receive the clinical care that their loving family members passionately desire." 

A goal to be recognized among the best

Manning spent five years in private general veterinary practice before pursuing oncology. Manning completed a radiation oncology residency at the prestigious Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University and for the past eight years, worked as a lead veterinary radiation oncologist at the Comprehensive Cancer Care Center at VCA West Coast in Orange County, California. 

Her experience managing high-volume caseloads with advanced technology at two of the nation's top veterinary cancer centers has prepared her to lead and grow Virginia Tech's animal cancer center, helping the six-year-old hospital reach new heights.

"So I loved Virginia Tech, as everyone does," said Manning, who has been back to Blacksburg several times since graduating. 

"I am very excited to work closely with Manning to take the ACCRC to the next level," said Natalia Henao-Guerrero, interim director of the animal cancer center and head of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the veterinary college. "She is a very talented radiation oncologist who brings a very positive energy to the team."

Manning's vision is for the animal cancer center is bold. "I believe the ACCRC can become the predominant pet cancer treatment center in the eastern half of the United States," she said.  

Collaborative approach to care

"Right now, we have a surgical oncologist and two radiation oncologists, along with a medical oncology hospitalist supported by a remote, board-certified medical oncologist," Manning said. "As chief medical officer, my goal is to help support our continued growth into a comprehensive team of surgical, radiation, and medical oncologists so that we can provide full clinical coverage for our patients."

The animal cancer center's $3.28 million linear accelerator, technology more in line with advanced human medical care, can pinpoint radiation to the site of a tumor, limiting damage to surrounding tissue and reducing or eliminating harmful side effects. For some types of cancer, radiation oncology is often a much more efficient and successful option than pharmaceuticals or chemotherapy. 

As chief medical officer, Manning said she will emphasize a collaborative approach for the cancer center's cases, where every clinician is at the table for every case that comes through the center, offering input from their depths of expertise and experience.

"This multidisciplinary model ensures that each patient benefits from the collective expertise of the entire team," Manning said. "Our goal is to create personalized, comprehensive treatment plans that deliver the best possible outcomes for every pet."  

The animal cancer center's role as a teaching hospital, in addition to the clinical service it provides clients, is also a priority for Manning. "Training the next generation of veterinarians is a passion of mine," Manning said. "I want this center to be a place where students, interns, and residents are immersed in a collaborative, multidisciplinary learning environment, while also providing exceptional care to our patients." 

However, Manning recognizes a critical educational gap in veterinary medicine — particularly in the field of radiation oncology. "The biggest challenge is to continue to educate both veterinarians and the general public about the novel cancer treatment options available — including radiation therapy," she said. "For example, with the rapid advancements in veterinary radiation oncology over the past few years, some veterinary colleges still don't include radiation oncology and its benefits in their core curriculum. As a result, students graduate without fully understanding when radiation therapy is a viable option for dogs and cats with cancer."

The cancer center's educational mission also extends to general practitioners and local specialists. Manning said she plans to connect with surgeons, neurologists, internists, cardiologists, and other health care professionals to raise awareness about the advanced cancer treatment options available at the animal cancer center. 

"In areas where radiation oncology isn't available, general practitioners are accustomed to referring all cancer cases to medical oncology, even though some cases may benefit more from radiation therapy than chemotherapy," Manning said. She cited examples such as nasal tumors, bladder or prostate tumors, and heart-based tumors, which are locally invasive and best managed with radiation therapy rather than systemic treatments.

One of Manning's immediate goals is to build trust and open communication with referring veterinarians. "Even if they aren't sure which service to refer their patients to, they can rest assured that when cases come through the Animal Cancer Care Center, our oncology team will evaluate them and guide the next steps — whether that's surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy," she said. "Our goal is to work together as a team, ensuring that both referring doctors and families feel supported throughout the process." 

Expanding the impact of research

Translational cancer research, which involves studying and treating cancer in animals, can also lead to discoveries in the prevention and treatment of cancer in humans, and is another focus of the animal cancer center. 

Manning said she hopes the center can expand its caseload over the next few years, primarily to help more animals and their owners, but also to build a larger data set for its cancer studies.

"Most of our studies come out of academia," Manning said. "But most teaching hospitals don't have the caseload that robust private practices do. In private practice, though, we often don't have the time to study and document outcomes. My vision is to combine the best of both worlds — build a caseload similar to that of a private practice — and, with the help of our residents and interns, carefully track and document the results. This would allow us to generate meaningful data to improve cancer care for both pets and people."  

It's all about giving hope in situations that can sometimes seem so hopeless. 

"The diagnosis of cancer is something no one ever wants to hear," Manning said. "You don't wish that on a family member, yourself, or your pet. And it usually comes up unexpectedly, leaving families shocked and unsure of what to do.

"Knowing that someone is here to help gives hope. Many times, there are options — we need to get the patients in to see us so we can explore those options together.

"Our mission is about healing, learning, and discovery," Manning said. "We are here to help pets live longer, happier lives and to support the families who love them."