2025 – 2026 Executive Board
Shelby Carter, President
Shelby is a pre-veterinary senior from Atlanta, GA completing a degree in Program II (Duke’s individualized curriculum program), titled “Anthrozoology of Companion Animals: A Comparative Analysis of Both Ends of the Leash”. She is interested in pursuing a career in small animal veterinary medicine, with a passion for animal behavior and human-animal interaction. She is an Animal Behavior College certified Veterinary Assistant and Fear Free Certified Professional, and has spent significant time working as a VA in small animal preventative medicine. Shelby is also an undergraduate researcher at the Duke Canine Cognition Center, researching under PI Dr. Brian Hare (Evolutionary Anthropology), and is also the current president of The Puppy Club at Duke, an organization advised by Dr. Hare and Vanessa Woods, dedicated to supporting students raising future service dogs on Duke’s Campus.
Ellianna Zeichick
Elianna is a senior at Duke and the Vice President of the Pre-Vet Society. She’s originally from Los Angeles. She loves animals, and is also passionate about nature, outdoor activities, and cooking. She studied abroad in Sydney, Australia, where she got to learn all about the incredible wildlife in the land down under. She can’t wait for all the excitement to come this year!
Olyvia Fan
Olyvia is a sophomore from Greenville, SC. As an intended Biology and Global Health major, Olyvia is interested in the applications of data science in One Health. She is working on tracking migratory bird patterns and also cares for laboratory invertebrates for labs on campus. She is excited to be serving as the Duke Pre-Vet Society Treasurer this year!
Laurel Hawkins
Laurel is a junior from Hilton Head Island, SC majoring in Earth and Climate Science, minoring in biology on the Pre-Vet track. On the Pre-Vet Society Exec Board, Laurel is the webmaster. She is interested in exotic veterinary medicine, specifically with African wildlife. Laurel is involved in a glycogen storage deficiency lab on Duke Medical Campus where she takes care of dogs with GSD. She is also on the Lawton Stables team where she has taken care of medical, nutritional, and welfare needs of horses for 5 years. Laurel is so excited to be a part of Duke Pre-Vet Society this year!
Sierra Sewchand
Sierra is a junior at Duke and the Alumni Coordinator for the PVS. She’s a biology major with a concentration in animal behavior. She’s wanted to be a vet since she was 6 years old and it’s been her dream ever since! She doesn’t know what kind of vet she wants to be yet, but she’s enjoyed working with the lemurs at the Duke Lemurs Center. In her free time, she loves going on walks, spending time with family and friends, and listening to music.
Dr. Bernie Fischer (bernie.fischer@duke.edu), Pre-Vet Society Faculty Advisor
Dr. Fischer graduated from Emory University in 1984 with a BS in Biology and then went on to veterinary school at NC State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from NCSU-CVM in 1988 and then went into private practice in Henderson, NC for 2 years treating small animals, pet birds, and wildlife. He returned to NCSU-CVM in 1990 to pursue a PhD. He completed his PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Kenneth Adler in 1997. He then joined the Duke faculty in the Department of Pediatrics in the laboratory of Dr. Judith Voynow in Pediatric Pulmonary. In 2013, when Dr. Voynow left Duke, Dr. Fischer transitioned to Pediatric Allergy-Immunology working with Dr. John Sleasman on HIV-related research. Dr. Fischer spent 25 years in the School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics. During this time, he served for 16 years as one of the departmental representatives on the Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee (IACUC). In May 2023, Dr. Fischer changed positions and joined the Duke University Population Research Institute as their Director of Administration and Research Development. He is now an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics and is still involved with research and manuscript preparation with Dr. Sleasman’s group.
Dr. Fischer became the pre–veterinary advisor in 2012 and then also took on other pre-health advising in 2014. From 2016-2020, he served as the pre-health advisor for first and second-year students that live in or lived in Gilbert-Addoms dorm. From 2019-2021, he served as the NAAHP Liaison to AAVMC. Dr. Fischer enjoys helping students and serving as the pre-veterinary advisor and faculty advisor for the Pre-Vet Society.
