Katya is originally from South Florida and is currently enrolled at Western University where she will be graduating in May of 2024. She has a Bachelor of Science in zoology and her master’s in veterinary forensic science from the University of Florida.
Katya’s family has a 16-year-old miniature poodle but, growing up, her family always had exotic pets like lizards, turtles, reptiles, hedgehogs, and more. Because of her family’s dedication to nature conservation, Katya spent her childhood going to zoos, aquariums, and summer camps that were centered around animals.
She always knew she wanted to be involved with animals, but during high school she started to focus more on medicine and that led to her decision to pursue veterinary medicine. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Katya started working in an animal clinic and knew immediately that she wanted to become a veterinarian.
In her free time, Katya enjoys playing team sports and was a lacrosse player through high school and college. Recently she has been playing more beach volleyball and pickleball when she isn’t studying. Katya also loves to watch Disney and family movies and relax.