Our Team

Toby

Honorary founder

Toby’s journey began in Missouri, where he was first adopted and then returned to a shelter in Joplin. Facing the possibility of euthanasia—an unfortunate reality for many overcrowded shelters—he was rescued just in time by kind people. From there, he was fostered near Kansas City before being selected to join the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue group in Colorado. In 2015, he was made available for adoption, setting the stage for the next chapter of his life.

On September 8, 2015, Suman Kamath knew Toby was the perfect companion—goofy, loving, and full of life. From that moment on, they became family.

Toby was an adventurer at heart, always ready for an outdoor excursion, a long walk, or a road trip. He adored car rides, dental treats, chicken jerky, and meeting new people. He never met a piece of furniture he wouldn’t climb onto just to be closer to those he loves, blissfully unaware of his own size. With a collection of stuffed animal toys rivaling that of most children, he was well known to greet you with a toy offering.

A well-traveled companion, Toby explored 10 states, two countries, and even experienced the luxury of flying first class. But beyond his love for life’s simple joys, Toby was a true warrior—his 2 year battle with cancer made him a symbol of resilience, hope, and the inspiration behind Toby’s Hope.

Toby passed away on August 24, 2025, ending his fight against lymphoma and prostate cancer. In his final days, he was showered with love, ate rib eye steak, and snuggled with mom.

As the Honorary Founder, Toby’s legacy continues to drive the mission of supporting pet parents facing the unimaginable, ensuring that no family has to go through their pet’s cancer journey alone.

Suman Kamath

Founder & Executive Director

Suman is Toby’s mom since 2015, when she adopted him from the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue Group in Denver, Colorado. She founded Toby’s Hope in July 2024 to turn her and Toby’s experience with lymphoma into a way to help others.

Suman and Toby moved to the Seattle area in 2020 for her job at Amazon. In 2023, Suman joined eBay as a Senior Technical Program Manager. She loves helping teams deliver products and services that help the eBay buyer and seller communities. She’s also volunteers through eBay to support local organizations.

Having grown up in Buffalo, NY, Suman is a Buffalo Bills fan and patiently waiting for that elusive Super Bowl win.

Azalea Herman

Board Member

Azalea Hermann is a proud Texan who has called the Pacific Northwest home for the past six years. With a diverse professional background in Operations, Project Management, and Marketing across the tech, retail, and energy sectors, she currently serves as a Fellowships and Workforce Development Specialist with Washington Sea Grant at the University of Washington in Seattle.

A lifelong animal lover and advocate, Azalea has volunteered with animal shelters in Texas as both a foster and a caretaker, and continues to support organizations that promote humane animal care and environmental causes in the PNW. Her belief that every pet deserves a chance at healing, and that every family should have access to the care and resources needed to support them through difficult times is the driving force behind her involvement with Toby’s Hope.

Sunita Gupta Braynard

Board Member

Serves on the board of Toby’s Hope with a single, clear intention: to help more dogs access life-saving cancer care and to ease the emotional and financial burden on the people who love them. Drawing on over two decades as a global HR and Total Rewards executive, she uses her strengths in strategy, storytelling, and fundraising to expand awareness of Toby’s Hope, build mission-aligned partnerships, and strengthen donor support so the organization can say “yes” to more families in crisis. Sunita is deeply committed to honoring Toby’s legacy by turning compassion into action for every dog-and-human family the organization touches.

Dr. Ana P. Rebelo, DVM, MS

Clinical Advisor

Dr. Ana P. Rebelo earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine through a joint program between the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) in Brazil and Kansas State University. She completed a rotating internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (University of Saskatchewan) followed by a medical oncology internship at Washington State University. Dr. Rebelo then pursued a small animal medical oncology residency at Tufts University, which she completed at WSU, where she also obtained a master’s degree in biomedical sciences.

She currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Washington State University and is a member of the Oncology Service, focusing on clinical care, teaching, and research in small animal medical oncology.

Dr. Ksenia Popov, DVM

Clinical Advisor

Dr. Ksenia Popov is an integrative veterinarian specializing in pain management and quality of life care for dogs. Educated at the University of Glasgow and certified in veterinary acupuncture (CVAT) and canine rehabilitation (CCAT), Dr. Popov blends evidence-based western medicine with natural therapies. Her approach focuses on treating dogs as a whole, helping families navigate difficult health journeys with compassionate, personalized care.

Through LAIKA Vet Services, Dr. Popov provides in-home care throughout Seattle’s Eastside, allowing dogs to receive treatment in the comfort and safety of their own environment. Her thorough, judgment-free examinations and commitment to partnership with pet families help ensure each dog receives care tailored to their unique needs. Dr. Popov stays current with the latest research in integrative veterinary medicine to provide the most effective healing strategies for her patients.

Suzanne Kamp

Case Manager

Suzanne Kamp grew up in PNW and currently resides in Ellensburg, WA. with a strong background in hospitality, marketing and business operations. After spending over 2 decades in the restaurant industry, she developed a strong dedication to customer service, making others feel welcomed and cared for.

She is a lifelong animal lover and has always had a special place in her heart for pets of all kinds. She believes life is simply better with animals in it. She is especially passionate about helping others through difficult journeys with their pets.

Suzanne lost her sweet 3yr old girl Blaze to this horrible disease Nov 12, 2025. Blaze was the happiest and sweetest dog and was so loved by her family. Suzanne knows the heartache and struggle it is to get through the difficult times and wants to help others who are going through this unfortunate journey.

“I am honored to be a part of Toby’s Hope Foundation and committed to honoring my girl. Blaze as well as all dogs that are fighting this fight”

Fabio Pessine

Growth Strategy Advisor

Fabio is a seasoned Product Strategist who brings a blend of product sense, project leadership, and business experience. A lifelong animal lover, Fabio has always been passionate about supporting animal welfare. In recent years, he became closely involved with a nonprofit organization in a small city in Brazil that cares for hundreds of animals rescued from abandonment and abuse while navigating the ongoing challenges of fundraising. That experience reinforced for him how deeply animals impact our lives and how communities can come together to support them.

Fabio strongly resonates with Toby’s Hope’s mission and contributes to the team by strengthening the organization’s fundraising efforts through thoughtful social media campaigns and emotional, strategic storytelling that connects supporters with the cause.

Through his work, he aims to raise awareness, grow community engagement, and support dogs and their families as they navigate the emotional journey of cancer care.

Together we build hope!