Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
Undergrad: University of Missouri
Veterinary School: University of Missouri Veterinary School
Dr. Garcia's personal interests include cats, plants, exercise, and travel. She also enjoys the ongoing challenge of preventing her cats from eating her plants.
Dr. Garcia’s journey began at a young age when she declared her aspiration to become a veterinarian to her first-grade class. She pursued her dream at the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences with a minor in Captive Wild Animal Management. Demonstrating her deep commitment to her alma mater, she continued her education at the University of Missouri Veterinary School, where she honed her skills and knowledge in veterinary medicine.
Throughout her career, Dr. Garcia has gained extensive experience in various veterinary settings, including walk-in practices, small animal practices, and shelter medicine. As the medical director for a non-profit shelter, she specializes in wellness and prevention, high-volume spay and neuter surgery, and animal welfare. One of her greatest strengths is her approachability and transparency. She also has a knack for writing and precision.
Dr. Garcia's approach to veterinary medicine is characterized by her love for continuous learning, commitment to teaching others, and ability to find joy in her work. She has helped students get accepted into vet school long before her own vet school journey. Whether it's giving advice, words of encouragement, editing essays, or writing letters of recommendation, she’s guided numerous students to admission to their top programs.
As an admissions coach, she draws upon her extensive hands-on experience and passion for the field to guide prospective veterinarians in their educational journey, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. What sets her apart as a consultant is that she embraces each student’s identity apart from being a "vet school hopeful." She is adept at getting to know each student and making their application shine.
Lab Animal Medicine, Oncology, Small Animal, Emergency, General Practice
Undergrad: CUNY Hunter College
Veterinary School: Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Outside of work, Dr. Pires enjoys spending her time Latin dancing, traveling, hiking, painting, cosplaying, gaming, and snuggling with her pets.
Dr. Pires' graduated from CUNY Hunter College with degrees in studio art and biochemistry. Through these studies, she discovered her passion for pre-veterinary medicine, which was further fueled by her experiences in research, lab animal care, and small animal general practice. These experiences sparked her enthusiasm for advancing biomedical research to benefit both human and animal health, as well as advocating for the well-being of animals that are vital for medical progress.
Dr. Pires enrolled in a combined DVM and PhD program at Colorado State University. Her PhD focused on cell and molecular biology with an emphasis on cancer research. Dr. Pires graduated from veterinary school, receiving the Bob Rosenthal Senior Student Award for her outstanding contributions to clinical oncology. Her dual DVM/PhD training has equipped her with a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of human and animal health, as well as the critical role that veterinarians play in advancing biomedical research.
After completing her veterinary education, Dr. Pires pursued a one-year clinical fellowship in lab animal medicine, further honing her skills and expertise in this specialized field. Currently, she works as a lab animal veterinarian in the pharmaceutical industry, where she applies her knowledge to ensure the welfare of animals involved in research while contributing to the development of life-saving treatments.
As a coach, Dr. Pires is passionate about helping students navigate the complex admissions process and has a proven track record of guiding them toward achieving their goals. Her experience serving on the Colorado State University’s admissions committee for five years gives her insider information into the qualities and characteristics that successful veterinary school applicants possess.
As a first-generation college graduate and native New Yorker of mixed Hispanic and European heritage, Dr. Pires brings a deep understanding of the challenges that students from diverse backgrounds may face when pursuing higher education. She is committed to working with students of all backgrounds, providing them with the guidance, support, and resources they need to succeed in their journey to veterinary school and beyond.
Reproductive Services, Preventative Health
Undergrad: The University of California, Davis
Veterinary School: The University of Minnesota
Dr. Cangemi leads an active lifestyle as an equestrian, riding dressage since her college days and continuing today with her horse, Taillights. At home, she enjoys the company of her dogs, Rosie and Bonnie, and pursues her passion for baking, aspiring to reach "Great British Bake Off" levels of skill. She is also writing her debut novel, driven by her love for storytelling and dedication to mentoring aspiring veterinary professionals.
Dr. Cangemi earned a bachelor's degree in animal science with honors from UC Davis, followed by a DVM from the University of Minnesota. During vet school, she distinguished herself as a board member of the student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). She also gained valuable experience working at a small animal in-home clinic and as an overnight technician at the University of Minnesota while actively contributing to the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA).
After graduating, Dr. Cangemi pursued a specialty internship focused on equine medicine, eventually joining the practice as an associate veterinarian. Her dedication to integrative veterinary care led her to become certified in veterinary acupuncture in 2022, complementing her expertise in equine reproductive services. Beyond her clinical practice, she also served on the University of Minnesota's interview panel and excels as the internship coordinator at her current practice.
Dr. Cangemi is deeply passionate about guiding young veterinarians and students, believing in the importance of nurturing their professional and personal growth within the veterinary community. Her coaching skills include helping students unlock their strengths during interviews, crafting clear and compelling personal statements, and navigating professional situations with confidence.
As a coach, Dr. Cangemi excels at identifying students’ strengths and drawing out what makes them truly unique. She believes the best interviews are those where the applicant's passion and excitement shine through, and she loves bringing that joy out in students. While the application process can be stressful, she ensures there is also an element of joy and fun, helping students approach it with confidence and enthusiasm.
Which vet schools to apply to was very confusing to me. I couldn't decide on the list of schools, and it wasn't easy to remain focused. Jason helped me finalize my list and continuously followed up on our plan. This helped me keep my focus, and I was accepted to multiple schools. It would not have been possible without his help.
Thank you so much to Carl for polishing my essays and giving suggestions for a letter of recommendation strategy. His advice regarding the interviews was helpful, and I got admitted to 3 schools.
Jason was a huge help in getting me accepted to multiple veterinary schools. He provided strategic insights and was a great help throughout the application process.
Happy to write positive words about the mentorship from Inspira! They brought out the best in me to showcase in my essays and interviews. I don't think getting into vet school would have been possible if Aditi and Carl didn't give their feedback and helped improve my applications.
My mentors from Inspira helped me select and finalize vet schools based on multiple factors like GPA, region, interests, etc. After that, we started with the time plan finalization and preparing my application documents. It was a long but smooth journey. The feedback from my mentors and writers helped a lot, and I was able to get accepted to two schools!
Be it a traditional interview or an MMI, the mock sessions from Inspira were very helpful. I am grateful for their help with my journey towards vet school.
I was impressed to see how much every application was tailored based on each institution I applied to. My mentor Jason's knowledge and experience were incredible; he could tell me exactly what each school expected.
Coleen was a great source of advice for every phase of my application. She knew the process inside out and helped me a lot. Worth recommending to every prospective vet student.
I extremely recommend taking seeking help from Inspira. The experience and resources they have available are very useful to vet school candidates like me. I was in touch with an actual DVM as my mentor. His insights helped me a lot, and I got accepted to 2 schools.
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