Dr. Kao is originally from Hawai'i and attended the University of Hawai'i, majoring in Zoology (with the original dream of becoming a zookeeper)! She decided that she wanted to take her love of animals a step further and went on to attend veterinary school at Colorado State University. After graduating in 2016, she did a rotating internship in Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Kao found her passion in helping pets with cancer, which led her back to Colorado State for a specialty internship in Oncology. She went on to complete an Oncology residency at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she became a board-certified Veterinary Oncologist. Dr. Kao is especially interested in Oncologic imaging, the management of all types of cancer, and giving animals the best quality of life. The most rewarding part of her work is her interactions with her clients and guiding them through treatment options and supporting their bond with their furry family members.

In her free time, Dr. Kao enjoys staying active and can often be found at the gym, either in group fitness classes or lifting weights. When not exercising, she is always happy spending an evening on the couch with her cats, Momo and Katsu. She is excited to join the staff and her partner, Dr. Jon Stack, at VCA Loomis Basin and exploring everything that northern California has to offer.