Dr. Brian Flesner brings a wealth of experience and passion for veterinary oncology to MVES. Raised on a family farm in western Illinois, his early years were spent caring for cattle and hogs while tending to hay fields and row crops. With a mother who taught biology, a deep-rooted love for science and animals led him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Flesner earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with honors from the University of Illinois in 2010. He then completed a rotating internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego before pursuing a residency in oncology at the University of Missouri, where he simultaneously earned his Master’s degree. In 2014, he became a board-certified veterinary oncologist (DACVIM – Oncology).

Throughout his career, Dr. Flesner has held faculty positions at Louisiana State University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Pennsylvania, where he directed oncology clinical trials. He has also served as the Director of Clinical Oncology at PetDx, focusing on cancer genomics, and continues to contribute to clinical trials to advance veterinary oncology treatments.

Dr. Flesner’s expertise spans multiple areas of oncology, including cancer pain management, novel chemo/immunotherapeutics, and translational research harnessing the similarities between pet dogs and people, especially in osteosarcoma. He is also experienced in electrochemotherapy, an innovative approach for localized tumor control. To date, he has authored or co-authored 38 publications, with aspirations to exceed 40 this year.

When treating patients, Dr. Flesner follows two key principles: ensuring the quality of life remains high throughout treatment and continuing therapy only when there is a clear clinical benefit. He is dedicated to collaborating with pet owners to make informed, compassionate decisions for their pets.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Flesner is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys kayaking with his rescue dog, Roux, and hiking in the Ozarks. He is also a passionate sports fan, following the Illinois Fighting Illini, Drake Bulldogs, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis Cardinals. When he’s not in the clinic, you can often find him working alongside his father to care for their beef cattle herd on his family farm. 

Dr. Flesner is thrilled to bring his expertise in veterinary oncology to the Kansas City area and looks forward to working with both patients and referring veterinarians.