DVM, DACVIM ONCOLOGY

Dr. Kristen Couto

Dr. Couto is delighted to be Bend’s first board-certified veterinary oncologist! She always had the dream of becoming a veterinarian, growing up in the household of a veterinary oncologist who mentored her through her years of vet school at The Ohio State University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio State (Go Buckeyes!) in 2013 and went on to complete a small animal medical and surgical internship at North Carolina State University in 2014, which solidified her love for the “family business” of veterinary oncology. She then completed a residency and became board-certified in medical oncology at the University of California, Davis in 2017, and stayed in the greater Sacramento Valley for 3 years. During her years on the West Coast, she quickly realized her love for the outdoors, which prompted her interest in Central Oregon.

In the clinic, Dr. Couto strives to provide first-rate care for all cancer-related matters, with a focus on prioritizing the human-animal bond and helping families through every aspect of cancer diagnosis and treatment. She also has a special interest in providing oncology-specific education to neighboring veterinarians and had the honor of authoring chapters in the 6th Edition Small Animal Internal Medicine textbook, which is utilized globally by veterinary students and clinicians.

Outside of the clinic, Kristen and her husband Tod (an archaeologist with a special interest in Great Basin archaeology) enjoy all aspects of the outdoors, which they are now sharing with their son, Jackson.  They are avid trail runners and mountain bikers and love exploring all the trails Central Oregon has to offer! They share their home with two elderly dogs – a Puggle/Pit-Bull mix named Gob (“George Oscar Bluth”) and a Black Lab mix named Sophia.