Philanthropy at Work
Supporting Veterinary Cancer Care
Alice Villalobos, DVM ’72 and her husband, Ira Lifland, have made a transformational estate gift to the school’s new Veterinary Cancer Center, which is part of the next phase of the Veterinary Medical Complex expansion.
Their commitment is the largest from an alumnus in the school's history. Once realized, it will help advance care and research for animals affected by cancer.
Villalobos was a first-generation oncology resident when oncology was a was a pilot program. She trained under Dr. Gordon Thielen, considered to be among the first in the world to practice in the field prior to its formalization.
Villalobos is a founding member of the Veterinary Cancer Society and a 1994 recipient of the school’s Alumni Achievement Award.
She graduated from UC Davis in 1972 and went on to become a trailblazer in veterinary oncology. She was the first to establish a private practice in the field in 1974, focusing on companion animals with cancer.
Her work brought awareness to the veterinary community and fellow pet owners that there are options when a pet is diagnosed with cancer. Her practice, based in Hermosa Beach, CA, was the first multidisciplinary private oncology and radiation therapy referral service in the country. She also published the seminal textbook on the subject: Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology: Honoring the Human-Animal Bond.
Villalobos is a founding member of the Veterinary Cancer Society and a 1994 recipient of the school’s Alumni Achievement Award. She introduced “Pawspice” to the veterinary community in 2002, inspired by human hospice care. The program emphasizes compassionate, gentle care focused on preserving quality of life whenever possible. Although she ‘retired’ in 2020, her life’s passion continues to help companion animal owners and veterinarians when faced with a pet’s end-of-life care.
Her visionary work included the creation of “HHHHHMM” Quality of Life chart in 2004, used widely today by veterinary staff and pet caregivers in making quality of life decisions for pets and animals.
Villalobos and Lifland have also made generous contributions to the veterinary community’s continuing education that honor the “Pawspice” philosophy. In 2025, they supported the annual Spectrum of Care Symposium, dedicated to advancing professional expertise in palliative treatment and care for end-of-life veterinary cancer patients.
It is hard to put into words the impact of the gift that Alice and Ira have made ... Alice cared deeply for the quality of life that every animal deserves.”
—Dean Mark Stetter
“It is hard to put into words the impact of the gift that Alice and Ira have made,” said Dean Mark Stetter. “Alice helped to advance the field of veterinary oncology since its very beginning. The gift that she and Ira made continues that work. Alice cared deeply for the quality of life that every animal deserves. The Veterinary Cancer Center helps bring that vision to life.”