Dr. Carly Fielding graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. While in vet school she enjoyed tutoring students in multiple courses. After school she completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts. Dr. Fielding then went on to further advance her training by completing an internal medicine internship and worked as an ER clinician. She is currently working in as a Medical Director at a small animal general practice. Dr. Fielding enjoys internal medicine cases and getting to care for feline patients. 

Dr. Schuster Barber is originally from Germany but grew up in Florida. She obtained a B.S. degree in zoology from the University of Florida and a M.S. degree in ecology/environmental biology from the University of North Florida before deciding to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She attended St. George’s University where she graduated with highest honors in 2017. During her time at SGU she tutored many students in the classes below her. Dr. Schuster Barber has worked in small animal and exotic general practice, home euthanasia, and now urgent care. She practices in the Portland, Oregon metro area.

Dr. Zue Webster Alvarez is from Puerto Rico; where she was born and lived until she moved to attend vet school. She has a Bachelors in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras; and worked for several years as a tutor and later on as a professor at a veterinary technician program. She attended St. George’s University and did her clinical year at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She currently practices in Arizona as a self employed relief veterinarian in GP, Urgent Care and in her biggest passion – surgery, shelter medicine/HQHVSN. She also collaborates with several organizations to provide veterinary care to underserved areas including LatinX communities.

Dr. Philip Hicks completed graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Ph.D in Cell and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology in 2022 and his VMD in 2024. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles focusing on viral infections and prevention, with specific paper topics including emerging bunyarivurses, Ebola virus, mRNA vaccines, and recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccines. Dr. Hicks is from the suburbs of Philadelphia and returned there after graduating veterinary school. He currently spends his time both in the laboratory and practicing veterinary medicine in a general practice setting. 

Dr. Candis Marques is originally from Queens, NY, but now calls Florida home. She earned her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) before heading to St. George’s University (SGU) for veterinary school, where she graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. Dr. Marques has a strong passion for surgery, dermatology, emergency medicine, and urgent care. Outside of work, Dr. Marques enjoys tennis, pickleball, hiking, outdoor adventures, cooking, and creating art through drawing and painting. She also loves fashion and traveling—always on the lookout for her next adventure!

Dr. David Theroux attended the University of Connecticut, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, with a goal of attending vet school. He enrolled at St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine and obtained his DVM in 2019, graduating summa cum laude, after 1 year at the University of Pennsylvania for clinical rotations. Dr. Theroux enjoyed tutoring his fellow students both officially and unofficially while attending vet school. Since graduating, he has worked as a small animal general practitioner. He currently lives and works in central Connecticut, near where he was born and raised.

Dr. Stefan Gallini hails from Philadelphia, PA and obtained his Bachelors of Arts and Sciences from McGill University in Montreal before earning his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. He spent 3 years in zoologic companion animal, small animal, and wildlife practice at an avian specialty hospital prior to becoming the Veterinary Fellow at National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Gallini currently works at AZA-accredited institutions and continues to work as a relief veterinarian for small animal and exotics practices and small ambassador animal collections in the Baltimore and Philadelphia areas.

Dr. Jordan Dawson is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and Marine Biology, completing research at the Duke University Marine Laboratory, before moving to Grenada to attend St. George’s University for veterinary school. While at SGU, she tutored students in histology and embryology and also sat on executive boards for SVECCS and VBMA. Following her clinical year at Michigan State University, she moved back home and currently works in both general and emergency practice. Dr. Dawsons’ professional interests include neurology, emergency medicine, and anesthesia/analgesia. Outside of work, she enjoys teaching scuba diving and sailing, diving into a good book, baking, and exploring new cultures through travel.

Dr. Courtney Bohart earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, with an emphasis in Equine Studies, from University of California, Davis. She completed the first three years of veterinary school at St. George’s University in Grenada and finished her clinical year at North Carolina State University. After graduating in 2017, she completed a one-year rotating internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

Today, Dr. Courtney is a co-owner of a well-established equine veterinary practice just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. As a general practitioner, her professional interests include equine internal medicine, with particular focus on field gastroscopy and complex medical cases.

Outside of work, Dr. Courtney enjoys riding and competing with her horse, Revy, as well as cooking, fitness, and hiking. She also loves spending time with her husband, A.J., their son, Bo Gregory, and their many animals on their 10-acre farm, including dogs Gunner and Leo, miniature donkey Sunny, miniature horse Noodle, several chickens, and of course, Revy. A favorite family pastime is attending Carolina Hurricanes hockey games together. 

Dr. Qindasi Silva is from Baltimore, MD but is currently living in Georgia practicing mixed animal medicine. Through the 3+1 program at Tuskegee University she earned her Bachelor’s in Animal, Poultry, and Veterinary Science in 2019, followed by her DVM in 2022. Dr. Silva has always been passionate about learning and has tutored throughout her matriculation. She especially loves having students in the clinic and has created a program to train clinical confidence and client communication. Her love of sharing knowledge, and her belief it can always be fun, has led her to create her very own line of veterinary card games, Vetspertise and Vet Peeves. These games combine her passions for trivia, wellness, and storytelling. When she is not at the clinic or gearing up for a conference, Dr. Silva loves spending time with friends and family, cooking, and traveling! 

Dr. Sarah Derda grew up in many places along the east coast, but Virginia has always been her original stomping ground. She earned her Bachelor’s in Animal and Poultry Sciences at Virginia Tech in 2019. She went on to earn a Master’s in Public Health with an emphasis in epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health and continued her education at Colorado State University for veterinary school. Dr. Derda’s main interest is One Health and looking at how people, animals, and the environment all work together in harmony. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, weightlifting, learning how to bake in high altitudes, brain puzzles like sudoku and crosswords, experimenting with makeup, and finding new places to explore in Colorado.

Dr. Sixto Mahecha-Diago is originally from New Jersey, where he began his career as a veterinary technician before earning his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He attended St. George’s University, graduating magna cum laude and earning induction into the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. During veterinary school, he held executive roles in the Student Government Association, Animal Welfare Club, and LatinX Club.

He completed his clinical training at Kansas State University and now practices in Florida as a general practitioner with a focus on exotic companion animals, wildlife, and small animal medicine. He also serves as the veterinary advisor for Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue.

Outside of work, Dr. Mahecha-Diago enjoys spending time at the beach, being with family and friends, watching sports, trying new foods, and traveling.

Dr. Marie Rush has been a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine since 2013. Since 2015, she has worked in telemedicine and diagnostic imaging interpretation for Antech Imaging Services, where she specializes in zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal species. She has also served as an Associate Professor for St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine from 2009 to 2019. Dr. Rush also works part-time in private practice, caring for domestic and zoo/exotic species, and as a relief veterinarian for zoo colleagues.

Originally a farm girl from WI, Amy recently moved to the beautiful Prince Edward Island in Northeast Canada, where she lives with her husband, their dogs Rosie and Chester and cats Rocky and Finnegan. Amy has worked with veterinary students since 2022, assisting them with mastering the study skills necessary for college and NAVLE success. As a NAVLE coach, Amy offers a strong foundation in high stakes exam preparation, learning support, and academic performance coaching.  Amy has coached veterinary and medical students through rigorous licensing pathways like the USMLE, NBME Subject Examinations, and the NAVLE.  A former learning specialist at both medical and veterinary colleges, Amy is very familiar with clinical reasoning, case-based learning, and the demands of professional licensure environments. Amy also has significant experience supporting students with executive function challenges through individualized coaching, accountability systems, and personalized, evidence-based academic strategies designed to improve confidence and outcomes.  Amy’s focus is to help students develop the structure, resilience, and strategic mindset necessary to find success on the NAVLE. She also offers you fair warning that at some point during her meetings with you, her cat (or, as he likes to think, “boss”) Rocky will hop on to say hello and check in. He’s very invested in your success as well!

Dr. Elizabeth Johnson Million is a veterinarian and strategic leader dedicated to helping veterinary students and graduates move confidently through high-stakes transitions, including the NAVLE. Her career spans small animal general practice, academic leadership, and national assessment initiatives, experiences that shape Vet Finish Line’s practical, student-centered approach.

She previously served in a student support leadership role at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she oversaw student success initiatives and NAVLE preparation. She later led outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts with the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), the organization responsible for the NAVLE. Together, these roles provided a deep, systems-level understanding of both how the exam works and how candidates experience it.

Dr. Million is a 2016 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and holds an Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership. She is a co-founder of Vet Finish Line, drawing on her background in NAVLE preparation and assessment to help shape the program and support candidates with structure, accountability, and real human support, especially those navigating prior setbacks or repeat testing.

Dr. Aaron Spacher is a veterinarian and expert in veterinary education distribution. His career includes small animal general practice and planning veterinary continuing education conferences (VetBolus CE). Both of these experiences allow him to create a place where Vet Finish Line Tutees can thrive.

Dr. Spacher is passionate about helping veterinarians cross the finish line with confidence, setting them up not only to pass the NAVLE, but to enter the profession feeling prepared and capable.

traveling with his wife, walking his Dalmatian and playing softball with his high school and college friends.