On the Front Lines: Recognizing and Managing Oncology Emergencies in General Practice (Part 1)

Christine Mullin, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology)

Dr. Christine Mullin is a medical oncologist at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Malvern, PA and Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center in Allentown, PA. Dr. Mullin has been board certified in medical oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2015.

She received a BS in Biology (magna cum laude) from The College of New Jersey in 2007, where she was also captain of the women’s soccer team, playing in 3 NCAA Division III National Championships. Dr. Mullin then graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She next completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey followed by a 3-year residency in medical oncology at The Oncology Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

During her residency, Dr. Mullin conducted bench top research in osteosarcoma within the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the NIH National Cancer Institute, for which she received the Most Outstanding Resident Basic Science Research award at the annual Veterinary Cancer Society meeting in 2014. Dr. Mullin has authored and co-authored several journal articles and book chapters, provides webinars on topics in veterinary oncology for VIN.com, and presents continuing education programs for veterinarians and support staff both regionally and nationally. Dr. Mullin also has a strong interest in clinical research and has served as co-investigator for several clinical trials. She has served on the Northeast Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group committee as well as the ACVIM General Examination rating committee.

Dr. Mullin is a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She and her husband share their home in NJ with 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Overview:

Cancer patients don’t always follow the plan—and when they crash, primary care teams are often the first line of defense. This one-hour, case-based session focuses on two high-stakes oncology emergencies commonly encountered in general practice: chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia and paraneoplastic hypercalcemia. Attendees will gain a clear, practical framework for rapid recognition, stabilization, diagnostic work-up, and initial medical management. Emphasis will be placed on real-world decision-making, including when outpatient management is appropriate and when hospitalization is critical. Participants will leave better prepared to act quickly and confidently when minutes matter.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

Explain the underlying pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.
Stabilize patients presenting with febrile neutropenia and perform an appropriate diagnostic work-up.
Select and initiate indicated medications and treatments for patients with febrile neutropenia.
Describe the pathophysiology of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia and identify the cancers most commonly associated with it.
Perform an appropriate diagnostic evaluation for patients with suspected paraneoplastic hypercalcemia.
Develop an initial medical management plan and determine when inpatient care is warranted versus outpatient treatment.

This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.