About Us

WAAZM is an active student organization dedicated to promoting interest, experience, and education in wildlife, avian, aquatic, and zoological medicine. WAAZM’s mission is to benefit veterinary students interested in various career paths including: exotic animal private practice, wildlife rehabilitation/management, aquatic animal medicine, and zoo practice. The club hosts a variety of programs, wet labs, events, trips, and speakers that complement the traditional small animal and large animal focused veterinary curriculum. Club membership is limited to current veterinary students.

Class: 2026
Focus Area: Wildlife and Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Marion, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Zoology from NC State University
Fun Fact: I’m a huge fan of snakes and often rescue and relocate wild snakes in my free time.

Class: 2025
Focus Area: Small Animal and Exotics
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Animal Science and Human Biology from NC State University

Class: 2026
Focus Area: Wildlife and Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Undergrad: B.S in Biology from Roanoke College
Fun Fact: I did research on American lobsters in undergrad, some of which included an underwater treadmill.

Class: 2026
Focus Area: Small Animal and Exotic Medicine
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Undergrad: B.S in Biology and B.A in Chemistry from Meredith College
Fun Fact: I’m a crazy plant lady. I have 30 indoor plants in my one-bedroom apartment!

Senior Rep: Lizzie Satkowiak
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Mixed Animal Practice
Hometown: Clayton, NC
Undergrad: B.A. in Biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Fun Fact: I really enjoy cryptozoology! My favorite cryptid is Mothman.

Junior Rep: Lauren Hale
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Small and Laboratory Animal
Hometown: Pfafftown, NC
Undergrad: B.S in Animal Science from NC State University

Rebekah James
Class: 2026
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Neda Fedaee
Class: 2026
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Melissa Pineda-Perez
Class: 2026
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Nicole D’Avignon
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological Companion Animal
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Undergrad: UNC Chapel Hill, B.A. in Biology
Fun Fact: I co-direct a nonprofit reptile rescue.

Stephen Xiao
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Wildlife and Exotic Medicine
Hometown: Fayettville, NC
Undergrad: B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Fun Fact: I have 80 tarantulas, 14 chickens, 3 geckos, 3 birds, 2 snakes, and 1 dog.

Isabella Hertzig
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Wake Forest, NC
Undergrad: B.S in Animal Science and M.S in Physiology from NC State University
Fun Fact: I have been to over 30 countries!

Alyssa Casillas-Michel
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological and Aquatic Medicine
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergrad: B.S in Biomedical Science from Tarleton State University
Fun Fact: I did the Disney College Program right before vet school and worked in Animal Kingdom!

OPEN POSITION

Alyssa Casillas
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological and Aquatic Medicine
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergrad: B.S in Biomedical Science from Tarleton State University
Fun Fact: I did the Disney College Program right before vet school and worked in Animal Kingdom!

Jacob Barker
Class: 2026
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Sean Hubbard
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological and Wildlife Medicine
Hometown: Williamsburg, VA
Undergrad: B.S. in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University
Fun Fact: I love to ski, stand-up paddle board, mountain bike, and scuba dive!

Maddie Kuwada
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Food Animal Medicine
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Animal Science and Poultry Science from NC State University
Fun Fact: I enjoy wildlife photography and have done a lot of photography work in Yellowstone National Park!

Jessica Kern
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergrad: B.S in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Fun Fact: When I was in 7th grade my eardrum ruptured on an airplane and I’ve had two surgeries since to have it replaced!

Emma Eldridge
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Wildlife and Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Marion, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Zoology from NC State University
Fun Fact: I’m a huge fan of snakes and often rescue and relocate wild snakes in my free time.

Nicole D’Avignon
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological Companion Animal
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Undergrad: UNC Chapel Hill, B.A. in Biology
Fun Fact: I am co-director of a nonprofit reptile rescue.

Keeley Peek
Class: 2026
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Cathy Delano
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Small Animal and Exotic Medicine
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Biology and B.A in Chemistry from Meredith College
Fun Fact: I’m a crazy plant lady, I have over 30 indoor plants in my one-bedroom apartment!

Co-President: Renee Loeffel
Class: 2025
Focus Area: Mixed Animal General Practice
Hometown: Albany, NY
Undergrad: B.S. in Zoology and Animal Behavior from the University of New Hampshire
Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to 10 countries and hope to add many more!

Co-President: Sean Hubbard
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological and Wildlife Medicine
Hometown: Williamsburg, VA
Undergrad: B.S. in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University
Fun Fact: I love to ski, stand-up paddle board, mountain bike, and scuba dive!

President: Natasha Serrano
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological Medicine
Hometown: Guam
Undergrad: B.S. in Biology from the University of Guam
Fun Fact: I can free dive up to 65 feet!

Vice President: Alyssa Casillas
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Zoological and Aquatic Medicine
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergrad: B.S in Biomedical Science from Tarleton State University
Fun Fact: I did the Disney College Program right before vet school and worked in Animal Kingdom!

President: Stephen Xiao
Class: 2026
Focus Area: Wildlife and Exotic Medicine
Hometown: Fayettville, NC
Undergrad: B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Fun Fact: I have 80 tarantulas, 14 chickens, 3 geckos, 3 birds, 2 snakes, and 1 dog.

Vice President: Nicole D’Avignon
Class: 2026
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Co-President: Bayli Wellman
Class: 2025
Focus Area: Small and Exotic Animal Medicine
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergrad: B.S. in Animal Science and Human Bio from NC State University
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Co-President: Erin Perry
Class: 2025
Focus Area: Small Animal and Exotic Medicine
Hometown: Groton, MA
Undergrad: B.S. in Veterinary Technology from Becker College
Fun Fact: I have hiked about 550 miles of the Appalachian Trail!

Co-President: Baxter Elliott
Class: 2025
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Vice President: Holly Amato
Class: 2025
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