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Meet Our Student Executive Board
for Academic Year 2025-2026
Gisele Ortiz
Gisele is a Public Health student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She brings a diverse range of experiences to her role, currently working as a massage therapist while also volunteering at an animal shelter, supporting a domestic violence program, and shadowing in veterinary emergency medicine.
Having followed a nontraditional pre-vet path herself, Gisele is eager to offer guidance and support to other students navigating unconventional journeys. She plans to apply to veterinary school for Fall 2027 and is excited to share the experience with fellow pre-vet students. In her free time, Gisele enjoys puzzles, staying active at the gym, and training for her first marathon.
Bella Rose Santellana
Bella Rose is a sophomore at Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis and an assistant at IndyHumane. She’s currently rooted in shelter medicine and community vaccine clinics and plans to transfer to Purdue University on the path toward a DVM. Bella Rose hopes to create an international access-to-care nonprofit in the long term and become a traveling relief veterinarian, working with High-Quality High-Volume Spay/Neuter clinics and pop-up clinics alongside emerging nonprofits and community organizations worldwide.
Amsiray Padilla Arroyo
Amsiray is a senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, majoring in Animal Science. Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in North Carolina, she has a strong passion for small animal and wildlife rehabilitation, appreciating the uniqueness of each case within the veterinary field. Amsiray enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures. Recently, she studied abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she gained hands-on experience at a dog clinic. During her time there, she learned valuable skills and also had the opportunity to work closely with elephants, conducting a diet study, learning how to perform physical exams, and even administering vaccinations. Amsiray looks forward to guiding other students as they pursue their own paths in the veterinary field.
Sophia Routhier
Sophia is a senior from Westwood, Massachusetts, with a deep passion for veterinary medicine. She has worked at a small animal clinic since age 16 and is currently completing her online CVA, balancing school and hands-on experience. Sophia also volunteers at her local animal shelter and works as a therapy dog handler with one of her dogs. Outside of VetMed, she enjoys theater, musical theater, and curling up with a good book. Currently applying to colleges for Fall 2026 as a pre-vet, Sophia is excited to share her journey and support other high school students navigating the pre-vet path.
Katryn Diehl
Katryn is a senior at Berry College studying Animal Science. Originally from Augusta, GA. She currently works at a local small animal clinic and with the Berry College athletic medicine department. She's particularly passionate about general practice and cardiology within veterinary medicine. When she's not working or in class, she loves to explore while hiking or running. Katryn looks forward to helping the NPVC and future veterinarians grow throughout their journey.
Bhavana Thelekkat
Bhavana is a junior pre-vet major at the University of Delaware from Plainsboro, New Jersey. She recently spent the summer in South Africa on Loop Abroad's Big Cats Pre-Vet program and works as a veterinary technician at her dog’s veterinary hospital. Bhavana is inspired by the grit and dedication of everyone in the veterinary field and is excited to continue her journey toward a career in veterinary medicine.
Ashkahn Safarimaryaki
Ashkahn Safarimaryaki is a sophomore at LeTourneau University majoring in Biomedical Sciences. He is from Longview, Texas, and is currently volunteering at a therapeutic equestrian center to gain equine experience while also working as a lab assistant in the biology program at LeTourneau. Although he is unsure what he wants to specialize in within veterinary medicine, Ashkahn is leaning toward livestock, as he feels called by the Lord to take on this path. What excites him most about veterinary medicine are the challenges it brings and the opportunity to inspire people to care for animals. A fun fact about Ashkahn is that he loves black cats and owns four of them!.
Meet Our Director
Lauren Cabrera
Hi! I'm Lauren - a non-traditional student (and mom!) currently in my first year of veterinary school at Washington State University. I live on the small island of Saipan, part of the Northern Mariana Islands. This island is part of the U.S., but very far from the mainland! There, I founded non-profits Saipan Humane Society and Boonie Flight Project. Before my vet med work, I was a nurse pracitioner.
I am excited to be part of NPVC and plan to expand the offerings and partnerships we have!
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