Site Administrator | Hawaii VMA

Letter from the President – Fall 2026

As I reflect on the past two years as President of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA), I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our members for your participation, support, and dedication to our profession. Together, we have worked to strengthen our association and build a more connected, representative veterinary community across Hawaii. We have expanded our voluntary board to include more representatives from each island and representatives of the many aspects of the veterinary industry. We have supported our shelter and higher education colleagues in everything from disaster relief to legislation to scholarships. We have also increased opportunities for connection through our newsletter, events throughout the year, growing our social media presence, and continued support of signature events such as the HVMA Pet Expo in May and the HVMA Conference in November. These accomplishments reflect the collective efforts of our volunteers, board members, and engaged membership, and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, energy, and support.

Perhaps most importantly HVMA continues to advocate for our profession and the interests of both veterinarians and the clients we serve. One example of our political advocacy is our amendments to Hawaii Senate Bill 874. SB 874 requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription for animal patients upon a client’s request. The HVMA Board proposed amendments to the original draft of the senate bill to help ensure fair, practical requirements for veterinary practices. Our proposed amendments clarify that posted signage or electronic notification through a website or email is sufficient to inform clients of their right to receive a written prescription (instead of direct communication to each one), removed the requirement for drug label cautionary statements by placing that responsibility with the dispensing pharmacist, and provided a release of liability for veterinarians when clients choose to have a written prescription filled elsewhere. This work highlights the importance of having a unified voice in legislative discussions that affect our profession.

As I transition into the next two years as Past President, I will continue working with the DCCA Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine on clarifying and adjusting the language in the Hawaii Practice Act. I will also continue to support Dr. Lissa Kam, the current chairperson of the HVMA Pet Expo, and co-chair if needed (save the date- Pet Expo 2027 on May 1 & 2). Finally, I plan to keep doing what I do best: build meaningful relationships, connect people, and strengthen our veterinary community across the islands through networking. I hope to see many of you at the HVMA Conference, November 11–15, 2026, at the Sheraton Princess Kaʻiulani, where we can continue building connections, sharing knowledge, and strengthening our profession together. It has been an honor to serve as your president, and I thank you for your trust, collaboration, and commitment to advancing veterinary medicine in Hawaii.

Mahalo!

Dr. Heather Kihara
President, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association

Interpersonal Skills Research Survey Request

All vets are invited to participate in a research study on “Beyond Client Communication: Measuring Intra-Team Interpersonal Preparedness Across Career Stages”, which is examining interpersonal skill preparedness during the transition from veterinary training to independent practice.

The purpose of this study is to better understand which interpersonal skills matter most in veterinary clinical practice and how prepared veterinarians feel in them, so that gaps between the two can help inform training and professional development.

We are seeking participation from rotating and specialty interns, residents, and practicing veterinarians, including general practitioners who entered practice directly after graduation and board-certified specialists.

The survey focuses on communication, collaboration, and team coordination skills required for effective clinical practice. It does not address business management, practice ownership, or financial operations.

Participation is voluntary and anonymous. No personally identifiable information, including IP addresses, will be collected. The survey takes approximately 13 to 16 minutes to complete.

This study is conducted independently by Matthew Love, Psy.D. (Principal Investigator), as a needs assessment, gathering profession-wide information about interpersonal skills and professional quality of life in veterinary medicine to help identify training gaps. Edwina Love, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), serves as a sub-investigator. Please be aware that the Principal Investigator is developing a leadership-development framework (the REAL Leadership Framework) that is general in focus and not specific to veterinary medicine. This survey does not evaluate, test, or market that framework or any other product or service. The anonymous, aggregate information from this survey may later inform the investigator’s general thinking about leadership development; any comparison with that framework would happen only after the main planned analyses and would not affect this study. The study’s hypotheses and analysis plan are registered in advance on the Open Science Framework (OSF), a public research registry, in the interest of transparency. Your participation is anonymous, your responses cannot be linked to you, and no identifying information will ever be accessed or used for any commercial purpose. Your participation is voluntary, and you may stop at any time.

Take the survey here

Questions may be directed to Matthew Love, Psy.D., Principal Investigator, at research@matthewlovepsyd.com, or mlove@matthewlovepsyd.com.

Caring for Each Other

Submitted by Kelly Foster, DVM, HVMA Hawaii County Representative

Aloha, colleagues.

This fall, VIN News reported the death by suicide of a recent veterinary graduate on the mainland, someone just beginning a career they’d worked years to reach. Out of respect for the family, we won’t name them. But many of us read it and felt it in our chests.

We know the weight of this work: long days, hard goodbyes, debt, clients who don’t see how much we give. Veterinarians face higher suicide risk; in one Canadian survey, about a quarter had considered it in the past year. If that’s ever been you, you’re not weak, and you’re not alone. Connection is one of our strongest protections.

Here in Hawaiʻi, we’re few and spread across islands, and it’s easy to carry things quietly. Please don’t.

A painful moment at NOMV

For many of us, Not One More Vet was the first place we felt understood. Now, according to a September 30 VIN News report, it’s in turmoil. Long-time volunteers, including Dr. Carrie Jurney, say they were removed or locked out after raising concerns about transparency, and that the Lifeboat peer-support program was ended without consulting them. NOMV says it parted ways with a small number of volunteers, disputes the word “banned,” and declined to give details. We hope the community finds its footing. In the meantime, confirm what NOMV currently offers before relying on it.

If you need someone today

Call or text 988 (808 numbers reach Hawaiʻi CARES)
Hawaiʻi CARES, 24/7: 808-832-3100 or 1-800-753-6879
Text ALOHA to 741741
VMHS: free, confidential virtual support groups for all veterinary staff (not a crisis line): VMHS@nomv.org

Text a colleague today. Ask how they’re really doing, then stay for the answer.

Maui County Delegate Candidate – Anna McBarnet

As a practicing veterinarian on Maui, I have developed a deep appreciation for the vital role the HVMA plays in supporting our profession, advocating for animal health and welfare, and strengthening the veterinary community throughout the islands. I would be honored to represent the veterinarians of Maui County and serve as a voice for our unique community while contributing to the continued success of the Association.

One of the most defining experiences of my career was caring for animals injured during the Lahaina wildfire disaster. In my role at Central Maui Animal Clinic, I had the privilege of treating numerous wildfire victims, including patients with severe burn injuries, cats suffering from smoke inhalation and asthma-like respiratory disease, and animals experiencing profound behavioral changes following the disaster. Many of these patients required not only emergency medical treatment but also weeks to months of continued care for chronic pain, anxiety, fear, and kennel aggression resulting from the trauma they had endured. Witnessing their resilience, the dedication of our veterinary team, and the unwavering compassion of the Maui community profoundly impacted me. Although I was not raised on Maui, the support and acceptance I experienced during this time strengthened my connection to this island and inspired a lasting commitment to serve the community that welcomed me. I hope to continue giving back by serving as the Maui County Representative on the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association Board, advocating for both the veterinary profession and the communities we serve.

As Maui County Representative, I would strive to ensure that the perspectives and needs of veterinarians practicing on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi are thoughtfully represented. I recognize the unique opportunities and challenges of practicing on a neighbor island and would work to strengthen communication between local practitioners and the HVMA Board while helping advance initiatives that benefit veterinarians and the communities we serve.

Serving on the HVMA Board would allow me to give back to a profession that has given me so much. I am passionate about strengthening our veterinary community, supporting both new and experienced practitioners, and helping ensure that Hawaii remains an exceptional place to practice veterinary medicine. I value open communication, thoughtful decision-making, and building consensus among diverse perspectives, and I believe these qualities would allow me to be an effective and dedicated board member.

I am eager to contribute wherever my skills and experience can best serve the Association. Whether through strategic planning, committee work, member engagement, or advocacy initiatives, I am committed to supporting the continued success and growth of the HVMA.