Dr. GiulianoElizabeth A. Giuliano, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
University of Missouri

Lecture Topic:
"Photodynamic Therapy for Equine Periocular Tumors"

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Summary: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used in the treatment of a variety of ailments including solid tumors, age-related macular degeneration, and atherosclerotic plaques.  PDT involves the use of photochemical reactions mediated through the interaction of photosensitizing agents, light, and oxygen.  Tumor selectivity in treatment occurs through a combination of selective retention of the photoactive agent by neoplastic cells and delivery of light to a highly-specific area.  A brief history of the development of this treatment modality in veterinary ophthalmology followed by discussion of the use of local PDT in the treatment of equine periocular tumors (squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoid, and melanoma) in clinical patients at the University of Missouri over the past 10 years will be presented.

Professional background:
Dr. Giuliano received a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1991 and her DVM degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. Following graduation from veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1997 and remained in private practice in midtown Manhattan the following year.  In 1998, she returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to complete a Comparative Ocular Pathology Fellowship.  Since July 1, 1999, Dr. Giuliano has been a member of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she completed a residency in veterinary ophthalmology and a Masters of Science degree.  She is currently a tenured faculty member of the department of veterinary medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri and section head of their comparative ophthalmology service.  Dr. Giuliano was elected to the ACVO Board of Regents in the Fall of 2011.