Dr. Catarina B.

Dr. Bianchi’s academic journey began at UC Davis, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in animal science and Italian Literature. During her undergraduate years, Dr. Bianchi demonstrated a strong commitment to research and community service. She was involved in two research labs, working on correlating CRISPR knockout mouse model phenotypes to human-associated diseases and studying how certain feed additives can mitigate greenhouse gases produced by dairy cattle. Her research efforts culminated in a presentation at an undergraduate research conference and the completion of a manuscript. She was also recognized with the Undergraduate Research Scholar Award and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

During this time, Dr. Bianchi's passion for veterinary medicine extended beyond the classroom. She was heavily involved with a student-run veterinary clinic providing free services for the pets of unhoused individuals and co-founded a club to collect and donate veterinary medical supplies to underprivileged clinics abroad. Her hands-on experience includes working as a technician at a specialty hospital and gaining exposure to wildlife veterinary care during a summer internship in Australia. She also served as a tutor in the Italian and French Department, a peer mentor in animal sciences, and received the President's Volunteer Gold Service Award.

In vet school, Dr. Bianchi also served as President of the Mercer Veterinary Clinic for Pets of the Homeless and Vice President for the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She spent a summer conducting orthopedic research on a specific breed of dog that suffers from chondrodystrophy. She was also the recipient of the Students Training in Advanced Research (STAR) Award, allowing her to receive grants to conduct her own research project. She worked as a researcher in the J.D. Wheat Orthopedic Laboratory during her veterinary school career, bridging the gap between how genetics contributes to specific orthopedic and neurologic diseases in chondrodystrophic dogs.

Dr. Bianchi's academic achievements and contributions to the field have been recognized through various honors. She was awarded the Outstanding AJVR Student Manuscript Award by the American Veterinary Medical Association, demonstrating her exceptional research and writing skills. She has published research in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

Dr. Bianchi’s passion for counseling pre-veterinary students stems from the support she has received from great mentors throughout her life. She recognizes the value of having a supportive mentor on this challenging journey, and she is dedicated to providing that same level of support to students. She takes a personalized approach, providing students with dedicated attention and crafting unique, specific plans to maximize their success. Students Dr. Bianchi has coached have been accepted to top vet schools at UC Davis, Cornell University, Colorado State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Florida, and many others. 

Dr. Bianchi's greatest strengths as a consultant lie in her extensive experience and ability to quickly identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses. In her mentoring role, she excels at helping applicants craft narratives that highlight their individual experiences and create cohesive stories. Each counseling session with Dr. Bianchi is goal-oriented, yet flexible to accommodate the unexpected. She lets students drive sessions by identifying what they want to focus on, ensuring they are equipped with the resources and plans needed to answer their questions. Dr. Bianchi is passionate about helping the incoming generation of veterinary doctors and is eager to share her knowledge and insights.