Ivayla is a veterinarian specializing in Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) and a diplomate of both ACVECC (2017) and ECVECC (2019) colleges. After obtaining her veterinary degree from Trakia University, Bulgaria, Ivayla pursued a Small Animal Rotating Internship at the National Veterinary College of Toulouse, France (2009). Her passion for ECC led her to complete a 3-year ECC residency at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland (2016). Here, she earned her postgraduate doctoral degree for research on hydroxyethyl starches (2015). Prior to her residency, Ivayla worked in a private small animal ECC practice on the French Riviera (2010-2012). She also holds an MBA (2011) and a Pain Management Certificate (2012) from notable institutions in France. Currently, Ivayla serves as a Senior Lecturer of Veterinary ECC at Massey University (since 2017) and directs their ECVECC residency program (since 2020). Balancing clinical work at the Pet Emergency Centre, Ivayla enthusiastically imparts her knowledge to students, interns, and residents, fostering effective learning as a Higher Education Academy fellow. A strong advocate for compassionate care, Ivayla initiated the cat-friendly clinic initiative at Massey University. In research, Ivayla's interests include the endothelial glycocalyx (PhD project), trauma, stress response, POCUS, and minimally invasive monitoring tools, focusing almost exclusively on felines. Beyond her professional endeavours, Ivayla is an active member of the Massey University's Veterinary Emergency Response Team and holds certifications in swift water rescue and rope operations.