Vivian Gallegos is a DVM Candidate in the Class of 2027 at the Western University of Health Sciences located in Southern California. She is originally from Sacramento, California. Vivian attended California State University, Chico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology and a minor in Health and Wellness.

During her studies, she shadowed at various general practices and had the opportunity to work alongside a veterinary ophthalmologist. Additionally, Vivian volunteered at an aquarium, where she worked with a diverse array of exotic animals, including capybaras, coatimundis, sloths, iguanas, toucans, porcupines, and large snakes.

Vivian became a member of her local chapter for the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) at the Western University of Health Sciences, and eventually was elected to serve as the local chapter’s BCP Coordinator. She saw the value in advancing business education amongst veterinary professionals and felt that the VBMA directly contributed to this
cause. Vivian wanted to become a Regional Leader to collaborate with like-minded individuals who understand the significance of networking, professionalism, and career advancement. Her goal is to cultivate a community composed of compassionate cooperation and empowerment, which can provide the chapters both within and outside of her region with the skills they need to be successful as leaders.

Outside of academic pursuits, Vivian enjoys roller skating, scuba diving, yoga, paddle boarding, and reading during her free time. She loves to go ballroom dancing and was a member of dance teams during both high school and college.

Vivian is interested in pursuing a career in veterinary ophthalmology, giving her the flexibility to work on both domesticated and exotic species. She aspires to give back to the community and provide mentorship to future colleagues as both a business owner and future veterinary ophthalmologist.

Vivian is honored to serve as the Great Plains Regional Leader for the upcoming year! If you would like to connect, please reach out to her at greatplains_region@vbma.biz.

Heather Kim is a DVM Candidate for the University of Minnesota, Class of 2026. Her main interests in veterinary medicine include small animal general practice and community based medicine. She initially joined VBMA to build a professional network, and gain a better understanding for financial empowerment. It was not until she was on the Minnesota VBMA Executive Board that she felt an inkling of interest for practice ownership. VBMA has been a valuable experience to her student and veterinary career, and she is hopeful to share her knowledge with other trailblazing students.

Aside from her heavy involvement at the Minnesota VBMA, Heather has integrated herself into several other leadership positions. She’s been the SAVMA Fundraising Chair and Zoetis Student Representative since she was a first year. In all her roles, she’s coordinated countless meetings and managed large scale events such as membership appreciation, student and alumni fundraisers, and wellness activities. Heather has found meaning in organized committees and hopes to continue similar roles at her future state’s veterinary medical association. She encourages all other students to get involved in their communities, whether it’s through clubs or volunteering, to build their skills outside of veterinary medicine.

Prior to veterinary school, she spent her gap year as a veterinary assistant at a private practice, falling in love with client communication and preventative medicine. She saw her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian quickly become a possible reality. Heather graduated from the University of California-Davis in 2020 with a B.S. in Animal Biology.

Throughout her undergraduate career she worked with other students to start up a Pre-Vet Internship with the local SPCA, allowing students to build experiences in low stress handling and administering basic medical care. She also took part in agricultural entomology research for four years, where she published two papers: one as a coauthor and another as first author. Though it was great to work with bugs in a controlled environment, she prefers to meet them outdoors on her random AllTrails hikes or camping trips at National Parks. Heather spends most of her free time playing indoor or grass volleyball (weather permitting in Minnesota), exploring Asian cuisine, and binge watching Korean-dramas.
Reach out to Heather whenever you need a hype woman. She is eager to be a resource to any and all students, especially excited to serve the Atlantic Region. She’s always ready to chat about submitting your Honors Portfolio, hosting large events, and being an advocate for yourself at atlantic_region@vbma.biz.

Samantha Cagle is a DVM candidate in the Class of 2026 at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from Williamsburg, VA, she earned a Bachelors degree in Economics from Virginia Tech in 2016, where she was actively involved in the Car Club and Club Softball Team. After graduation, Samantha returned home and worked as an animal care assistant at a local small animal veterinary clinic, sparking her passion for veterinary medicine. Over the next five years, she completed prerequisite courses and gained hands-on experience at multiple clinics, developing a particular interest in the fast-paced world of emergency medicine.

In her first year of veterinary school, Samantha was initially hesitant to take on leadership roles, concerned about overcommitting after finally being admitted. However, after attending numerous VBMA meetings, she was invited to join the chapter’s board and served as BCP Coordinator. Through VBMA, she gained valuable insights into the vital role of leadership,
communication, teamwork, and business skills in veterinary practice. Having witnessed the challenges caused by poor leadership and communication in veterinary settings, Samantha is committed to equipping her classmates with the tools they need to thrive in the profession.

Outside of class, work, and school activities, Samantha enjoys relaxing at home with her two lop-eared rabbits and two mischievous cats. She enjoys watching college softball and hopes to return to the sport as a coach someday. Samantha also has a deep love for live music and oftenattends rock concerts, despite her classical training as a harpist and oboist. Recently, she’s rekindled her love for reading (she was once a huge Harry Potter fan) and plans to read Fourth Wing, Gothikana, and Funny Story over break before the National Meeting. Feel free to chat with her about any of these topics!

Samantha is excited to serve as the Delaware Valley Regional Leader for 2025 and looks forward to continuing her growth and contributions to the VBMA community.

Rebecca Leybel is a DVM candidate in the Class of 2027 at Long Island University. Originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, Rebecca ventured westward for her undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Colorado State University. During her time there, she participated in diverse research projects, ranging from small and large animal orthopedics to bovine behavior, including opportunities to learn from the pioneering work of Dr. Temple Grandin.

After four years in the Rockies, Rebecca returned to the East Coast to continue her veterinary education at Long Island University. Early in vet school, she became actively involved in the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), drawn to the supportive community and abundant mentorship opportunities the organization fostered. Rebecca embraced a leadership role as her chapter’s president, where she honed her networking skills and recognized the immense value of connections within the veterinary profession. Her experience at the 2024 VBMA national meeting further solidified these relationships, allowing her to connect with both fellow students and established DVMs.

Outside of her academic and VBMA commitments, Rebecca leads an active lifestyle. She enjoys skiing, golfing, and has recently started a small pickleball league with friends from vet school. A lover of the great outdoors, she has brought a bit of the Colorado spirit back east, exploring hiking trails across the region. Rebecca’s ultimate outdoor goal is to visit every U.S. national park before graduating.

After earning her DVM, Rebecca aspires to specialize in veterinary neurology and dreams of one day opening her own practice, where she can apply the business expertise she has gained through VBMA. If you’d like to connect with Rebecca about skiing, pickleball, or veterinary-related topics, feel free to reach out!

Catherine is a third-year veterinary student at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from New Orleans, LA, she attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she earned her B.S. in Biology in 2022 with minors in Business and Chemistry.

Working towards her business minor was the start of her interest in the business side of veterinary medicine. This led her to join LSU’s VBMA chapter her first semester of vet school, where she went on to serve as the chapter’s BCP Director in 2023 and President in 2024. While in vet school, she has also served in other leadership roles, such as being an LSU Vet Med Student Ambassador and the Fundraising Chair of the Integrative Medicine Club.

Being a VBMA chapter officer has been one of the most rewarding parts of Catherine’s time in veterinary school, so she is excited to continue to serve VBMA as a Regional Leader for the 2025 year. Catherine is looking to pursue small animal medicine and has a particular interest in integrative medicine, rehabilitation, and orthopedics, as well as practice ownership. She is currently completing her veterinary food therapy certification through Chi University and is also pursuing her veterinary acupuncture certification during her clinical year.

Outside of school, Catherine enjoys reading, traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with her husband, friends, and family – especially her childhood terrier-mix, Missy, and her newly-adopted German Sheppard/Husky mix, Kya. She is excited to make new connections as a Regional Leader and can’t wait to support her region’s chapters in achieving their goals!

Cristina V. Ortiz-Carro is originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, and is currently pursuing her DVM as part of the Class of 2027 at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Growing up on the island, she developed a deep love for nature and animals, inspiring her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a concentration in Animal Biology.

Cristina has had a strong interest in neurology and surgery since deciding to pursue veterinary medicine. Her passion has continued to grow through opportunities such as externships and working with specialists. She aspires to pursue a neurology residency after earning her DVM.

From a young age, Cristina has had an entrepreneurial mindset and a desire to own a business, which sparked her interest in business management. This interest led her to join VBMA when she started at Mississippi State CVM. Cristina served as the 2024-2025 President of the Mississippi State VBMA Chapter and is excited to continue her involvement as a Regional Leader. She values VBMA’s role in equipping veterinary students with business knowledge, leadership skills, networking opportunities, and fostering meaningful connections.

Outside of academics, Cristina enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, cooking, doing pottery, and spending time with her parents, three sisters, and her cat, Napoleon. A coffee enthusiast, she loves trying coffee from different parts of the world, experiment with espresso machines, coffee gadgets, and hosting coffee gatherings with friends.

Cristina is excited to serve as a Regional Leader and continue supporting VBMA!