EASTERN VBMA SUMMIT COMMITTEE

Get to Know Our Fantastic Team!

While this event is professional in all ways, we also want to show you that our profession has another side to it. We should all be advocates for social and mental well-being, and that includes having hobbies and being able to separate work from other things. Here's to giving you a better look into our board, along with all the laughs and flaws it may bring out in us.

"Don't Get So Busy Making A Living That You Forget To Make A Life"

--Dolly Parton

KATE SIMON

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Director
NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Kate is a third year DVM/PhD student at North Carolina State University where she is studying comparative Neuroscience and Geriatrics. She grew up in Michigan and went to the University of Michigan where she earned a B.S. in Neuroscience before moving down to North Carolina, Go Blue! Prior to veterinary school, Kate worked in a Synthetic Virology and Gene Therapy Lab at Duke University, cementing her passion for innovation and research. Kate's introduction to the VBMA occurred in her first year of Veterinary School while attending the Inaugural Eastern Summit in 2020. The unique connections and opportunities were so inspiring that she has been involved with the Summit ever since, serving last year as a Networking Co-Chair. Kate's passion for the human-animal bond as well as the human-human bond drives her current career goals. She hopes to interface with professionals across several disciplines and inspire others to the unique scientific and clinical perspectives that we hold as veterinary professionals. In her free time, Kate enjoys trying out fun new workouts, catching up with friends and relaxing over a paint-by-number.

ABBY CASHEL

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Social Media Chair

Tufts Cummings School for Veterinary Medicine

Abby is a 3rd year veterinary student at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She is from Chatham, NJ, and earned her B.S. in Pre-Veterinary Science with a minor in Biochemistry + Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Abby has been involved in VBMA since her first-year of veterinary school, serving as her Chapter’s Membership Coordinator in 2021 and Co-President in 2022. She is grateful for all of the opportunities that being a part of VBMA has given her, and is excited to be a part of putting this wonderful conference together! Her professional interests include small animal general practice, shelter/community medicine, avian medicine, and surgery. Outside of school, she loves binge-watching Netflix, birding, and spending time with friends.

JOSETTA ADAMS

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Networking Chair
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Josetta is a 3rd year VMD-PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and will be starting her PhD in Immunology at the Perelman School of Medicine in Fall 2023. She attended the City College of New York for undergrad where she earned her B.S in Biology and a minor in chemistry. Her three passions, infectious diseases, immunology, and veterinary medicine, continue to lead her on the path towards a career in vaccine development and immunoengineering. Her exploration of careers in industry ignited her curiosity about business and led her to seek opportunities at the intersection of veterinary medicine, research, and business. During her first and second years of vet school, she served as the Chapter President of VBMA at UPenn and participated in a consulting club based at UPenn’s business school, Wharton. Along with a career in immunoengineering research and business operations, Josetta aspires to be a small animal emergency practice owner in her hometown New York City. When she’s not studying, she enjoys reading, skiing, gardening, and hosting wine nights for her friends.

TAYLOR SCHMEIZER

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Registration Chair
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Taylor is a 2nd year at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is originally from Locust Valley, NY, a small town on the North shore of Long Island. She earned her B.S in Pre-Veterinary Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her interest in business started at a young age as she grew up watching both of her parents run their own businesses. Her interest grew as she began to attend business and technology trade shows, such as CES, with her father every year. At her local VBMA chapter, she held the position of the Fundraising Director and is now thrilled to hold the position of a 2023 Regional Leader for the South Central Region and serve on the planning committee for the 2023 Eastern Regional Summit. She has interests in mixed animal medicine, practice ownership, and technology. When not studying, she loves to travel, snowboard, go to concerts with her sisters, visit waterfalls with friends, and spend time with family.

BRITTNEY FOGG

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Marketing Chair, Webmaster
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Brittney is a 1st year DVM student at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her B.S. dual degree in Clinical Neuroscience and Psychology and minor in Philosophy at Virginia Tech and hopes to incorporate these principles into veterinary medicine. She is currently the marketing officer at her local VBMA chapter and is excited be involved with the 2023 Eastern Summit planning committee. Her interests include small animal practice ownership, alternative pain management, rehabilitation, and surgery. When not studying or playing with her 2 guinea pigs, she loves exploring different fine art mediums and exploring nature on beautiful hikes.

MICHELLE WENG

2023 Eastern VBMA Summit Fundraising Chair
Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine

Michelle is a 3rd year DVM student at Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is from Brooklyn, NY and earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences at Hunter College CUNY. She is interested in general practice and emergency hybrid medicine, and helping community cats and shelters. She held the secretary and compliance officer positions at her local VBMA chapter in 2021 and 2022. She is excited to be part of the 2023 Eastern Summit planning committee and loves learning from her colleagues. Michelle plans to eventually co-own or be a partner in veterinary practice ownership. She became interested in business when she worked for 3 years as a veterinary technician at a one doctor practice in Brooklyn. She worked closely with the doctor who is also the owner and learned different aspects of running a business as well as the importance of business acumen as a veterinarian. Outside of veterinary medicine, she loves to enjoy novel experiences like trying new restaurants, popup events, and different arts. She also loves films, psychology, podcasts, and hangs out with her girlfriends and 3 cats.