Meet the ZAWS Executive Board

Who We Are

Claire Chiang

Special Species Symposium Co-Chair

Hi everyone! My name is Claire Chiang. I’m from Monmouth Junction, New Jersey and am interested in avian medicine. Currently my favorite bird is the short-eared owl! My favorite thing about ZAWS are the variety of labs and workshops we host that focus on a variety of different animals. I am most excited to plan Special Species Symposium with my co-chair and the rest of ZAWS!

Katie-Ann Fu

Special Species Symposium Co-Chair

Hi! My name is Katie-Ann Fu! I’m from Great Neck, New York on Long Island and am interested in zoo/wildlife medicine 🩺 My favorite animal is the whale shark!! I saw one in Costa Rica and absolutely fell in love🦈 I love traveling, going on foodie adventures (may have a cake obsession), thrifting, and playing sports!🏸⛸️🏂 My favorite thing about ZAWS has been Wildlife Conservation Day, and I can’t wait for Special Species Symposium!:)

Samantha Bluhm

President

Hi! My name is Sam Bluhm! I am originally from St. Paul, MN, and before vet school I lived in Boston, MA. I am interested in wildlife/aquatic rescue rehab and zoo/aquarium medicine. My favorite animal is any species of sea turtle. Outside of vet med, I love to read, cook, and play with my dog. My favorite thing about ZAWS so far has been the journal clubs with our zoo/wildlife resident because I get to learn something fun and new every time! This year I am excited for Special Species Symposium and all of the other fun events we have planned!

Amy Yang

Vice President

Hello! My name is Amy! I am from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and I want to pursue a career in zoo/wildlife medicine with a focus in research in ecology and evolutionary biology to support ongoing conservation efforts. My favorite animal is the hippo, and in my free time, I love to paint landscapes. In ZAWS, I am most excited about all the hands-on labs because they are amazing opportunities to work and connect with peers and professionals!

Ish Monga

Treasurer

Hi! I’m Ishita Monga! I’m from Santa Clara, CA and am interested in exotics/aquatics/wildlife. My favorite animals are nudibranchs/snails 🐌 I love to spend my free time fostering! My favorite aspect about ZAWS is the ability to practice clinical skills through our labs! I’m most excited about the upcoming Special Species Symposium!

Natalie Smith

Secretary & Social Media Advisor

Hi everyone! My name is Natalie! I am from Youngstown, NY near Niagara Falls! I am interested in pursuing a career in conservation medicine, mixing my love of zoological/wildlife medicine and theriogenology (reproductive medicine) hopefully into an impactful and rewarding career saving endangered species! My favorite animals are rhinos but I also have a special place in my heart for big cats! Outside of vet med I love to spend time outside, travel and explore new places, foods, and cultures, and of course spending time with my cat, Norbert. I also love sharing my vet school journey and travels on social media @natalie.vet !! In ZAWS, I can’t wait to grow our network with local zoos and wildlife organizations and expand on available opportunities for our members! I love the community we have, and the amazing events coming up including Special Species Symposium this school year! I am so excited to be working with you all this year and I look forward to sharing everything ZAWS with you!

Shayna Orens

Wildlife Blog Editor

My name is Shayna Orens! I’m from Baltimore, MD. While vet med is not my first career, I’m excited to further explore my interests in zoo/wildlife medicine, One Health, epidemiology, and more recently, neurology 🌎🐆😷🧠. My favorite ZAWS event was the wildlife darting lab. I’m so excited to share stories about students’ and faculty members’ wild lives with wildlife! Outside of vet school I love to relax with a book and my 10-year old King Charles spaniel, Emma. 🐶

Tiffany Bellisimo

Avian Rep

I have a huge passion for birds and actually started my own bird sanctuary to help them @dreamingofachanceny. I am on a farm animal track where I hope to see pet farmed animals including backyard birds. One of my favorite things about ZAWS is their fantastic wet lab opportunities. I am hoping to host quite a few wet lab opportunities for birds in the future. Besides for school my hobbies include playing with my animals, hiking, line dancing, and reading up on cool things in the animal world.

Ava Cabble

Herpetology Rep

Hi everyone! My name is Ava Cabble. I am from Livonia, MI and my goal is to specialize in reptile & amphibian medicine. That being said, I favor snake and crocodilian species, but my favorite animal is the Boelen’s Python 🐍. Outside of vetmed I love fashion and dancing with Cornell CVM Dance Collective. I am most excited for the reptile clinical skills lab, as well as Special Species Day.

Joseph Wampler

Wildlife Rep

Hi, my name is Joseph Wampler and I am the Wildlife Representative and WDA Cornell Chapter President! I am from Nokesville, VA and I am working towards becoming a clinical zoo veterinarian. I have no favorite animal but I love working with carnivores, raptors, and ruminants. Outside of vet med, I ski, rock climb, play volleyball, and play lots of piano. My favorite thing about ZAWS so far has been zoo rounds, and I am looking forward to special species symposium next year!

Julia Majkrzak

Small Mammal Rep

Hi my name is Julia Majkrzak! I am from Long Island, NY and I am most interested in Zoo/Wildlife medicine, but of course a piece of my heart is still in Small Animal GP. I have a special love for any big/wild canine or feline species (Lions/Wolves!!). My go to fun fact is that my parents are both immigrants (my Mom from Lithuania and my Dad from Poland), and some of my hobbies include dancing, yoga and watching documentaries. I would love to get back into horseback riding. Events set up by ZAWS have been my first experiences with exotic medicine and I am so excited to continue participating in, and organizing, many more wet labs this year. I cannot wait to share our events with the rest of Cornell. See you soon!

Alyssa Miguez

Aquatics Rep

Hola everyone! My name is Alyssa Iraida Miguez! I am originally from Miami, FL though I never neglect my Cuban roots. I am interested in Zoo/Aquatic medicine with a heavy interest in theriogenology where it intersects with conservation. My favorite animals have to be the Beluga and Rhinos! A fun fact about me is I used to do Shark Tagging Research in Ft. Lauderdale and I dearly miss it. Outside of vet med you will find me at the nearest body of water or playing with my mini zoo of pets. My favorite ZAWS event is the marine animal necropsy by WAVMA, and I am so excited to be a part of running it this year!