Category: Member News

HVMA Mentorship Program Update

The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA) Mentorship program is a voluntary program that offers guidance and resources for new graduate veterinarians and mentoring opportunities for senior veterinarians in Hawaii. In addition, the program aims to foster mentee-mentor relationships among the veterinary community. 

The HVMA has recently partnered with MentorVet, which is a national organization that offers a structured platform for new graduate veterinarians and mentors in online modules, coaching, and resources. If you’re a new graduate veterinarian who has recently graduated within the past five years (class of 2017 to 2022) or you’re a veterinarian who has practiced for many years, please apply for the HVMA mentorship program below:

New Graduate Veterinarians/Mentee
Senior Veterinarians/Mentor

Meet a Board Member – Jerrisa Ching, DVM

Jerrisa Ching, DVM

Jerrisa was born and raised on the island of Oahu. She graduated from Moanalua High school and received her Bachelors of Science in Animal Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Jerrisa then attended Washington State University and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May 2021. Shortly after, in December 2021, Jerrisa completed her Masters of Public Health with a Veterinary Public Health focus at University of Missouri – Columbia. Jerrisa is currently working in small animal general practice at Kama’aina Pet Hospital & Vetco Total Care. 

As the New Graduate Delegate, Jerrisa provides resources and information to new graduate veterinarians in Hawaii. She oversees the HVMA Mentorship Program for new graduate veterinarians, who graduated within the past five years, and veterinarians who have many years of experience in the veterinary profession. Jerrisa’s goal as a New Graduate Delegate is to strengthen the relationship among veterinarians in Hawaii while improving the veterinary medical profession.   

In Remembrance – Russell Shoji, DVM

Russell Shoji, DVM

Dr. Russell Shoji of Kaimuki passed away on June 9, 2022. He was a loving husband and father, former veterinarian, enthusiastic golfer, and avid fisherman. Russell is survived by his wife Laureen Shoji (née Katsuda); daughter Alyson Shoji; stepchildren, Daniel (Christina) Kong, Jenilee (Chris) Green, and Justin (Keiko)Kong; brother Dean (Renee) Shoji and sister Sandy (Paul) Hoshino; nephews Rane (Rie) Shoji and Lon Hoshino. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Borthwick Mortuary, Maunakea Chapel; service 11:00 a.m. No flowers. Casual attire.

2022 HVMA Scholarship Award

Congratulations to our two HVMA scholarship recipients for 2022!

Kealaka’i Matsumoto is a third-year student at Iowa State University. He plans to return to Hilo to offer veterinary care for food animals, companion animals, and exotic pets. He hopes to build collaboration between Hawaii clinics to reduce burnout and improve access to after-hours emergency services. He also hopes to become a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in order to attract local students back to the state for externships and encourage them to practice in Hawaii after graduating. He graduated from Waiakea High School and worked for Maika’i Veterinary Clinic before going to Iowa State.

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Shelby Suzuki is a first-year at Western University. She has interests in ophthalmology, radiology, and exotic animal medicine. She is involved in her SAVMA chapter’s Mental Health Committee and hopes to advocate for mental health awareness throughout her career. Before leaving to veterinary school, she worked at Ohana Veterinary Hospital and volunteered at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

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We look forward to welcoming them back to Hawaii and our local veterinary community.

Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association Mentorship Program

The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association will be starting a mentorship pilot program. This program is for recent graduates who are interested in connecting with a HVMA veterinarian that has knowledge and experience to share, as well as guidance for your career.

Mentors and mentees shall both be HVMA members and commit to the program for 12 months. The process will begin with the interested mentee initiating contact through an introductory e-mail or letter. If accepted, a mentor will contact the mentee to set up a meeting to discuss the expectations, goals, frequency of meetings, and confidentiality of the program.

Why be a mentor?
Being a mentor can be a rewarding experience as you share the knowledge and expertise you have with fellow mentees to help them transition to veterinary professional life. You also gain opportunities to build upon your communication and leadership skills. Mentees can share with you the latest
techniques, and treatments in the veterinary field.

Why be a mentee?
Being a mentee is an amazing opportunity to discuss any challenges, concerns, and goals you have with another colleague who may have gone through similar experiences. Mentors can be a source of information, provide encouragement and support.

Read more and find the applications on our Mentorship Program page.

Meet a Board Member – Atiya Hakeem

Atiya Hakeem
Assistant to the Exec VP

Atiya Hakeem received her PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Until 2015 she was a neuroscientist at Caltech studying primate vision and social cognition in humans, apes, elephants, and cetaceans. In 2016 she moved back to Honolulu and has worked in various capacities at the Honolulu Zoo as an animal keeper and veterinary assistant until joining the HVMA as Assistant to the Executive VP in 2021.

Legislative Update 2022

The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA) seeks to amend Chapter 471, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to better define the practice and parameters of veterinary medicine and veterinary telemedicine to protect consumers and their pets from inadequate, improper, or unlicensed veterinary care.  Further, because there is a shortage of licensed veterinarians in Hawaii, HVMA is proposing to provide for the temporary permitting of out-of-state veterinarians and providing for international veterinary school graduates to qualify for licensure examination in Hawaii.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions brought about consumer demand for telehealth in the field of veterinary medicine. Telemedicine has allowed consumers more access to veterinary services for their pets, particularly in areas where access to veterinary care is limited.  However, HVMA is aware that the use of telemedicine may also be abused without an established veterinary-client-patient relationship.  Without actual physical examination of a pet, veterinary services rendered through telemedicine alone can be inadequate and below the standard of veterinary care. The addition of telehealth definitions and the telemedicine section will help to clarify the practice of veterinary telemedicine and assist the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine in ensuring consumers in Hawaii receive proper and licensed veterinary telemedicine services.

Additionally, the pandemic highlighted the shortage of veterinarians available to provide specialty and routine veterinary care for Hawaii’s people and their pets. At times, veterinary emergency hospitals were unable to operate 24/7 and surgeon schedules were completely booked for months due to the inability to fill these staffing shortages by temporary permit. In one specific case, there was a veterinary surgeon within the state that could have assisted during this period, but due to her international veterinary school degree, was unable to sit for Hawaii’s state licensing exam due to a technicality in the administrative rules. These amendments are critically important to prevent such veterinary care shortages in the future, and ensure that all qualified veterinarians are allowed to sit for the Hawaii state licensing exam.

This bill has currently been introduced to the House (HB 1598) by Representatives Johanson, Hashem, and Nishimoto; and into the Senate (SB 2798) by Senators Lee, Gabbard, Keith-Agaran, Misalucha, Acasio, Ihara, and San Buenaventura . Please take the time to thank them for their support, and write your local representative to ask for theirs!

Letter from the President – January 2022

Alfred Mina, DVM
HVMA President

Happy New Year Everyone!

As the COVID -19 Pandemic continues through 2022, we’ve learned how to adapt to providing veterinary care to the communities in Hawaii.  However, many of us have been affected by the omicron variant hitting close to home, causing staff shortage and supply chain issues.  Hopefully, 2022 gets better as we continue to stay vigilantly safe, healthy, and happy.  The HVMA board will continue to meet bi-monthly this year to discuss veterinary-related issues and prepare for HVMA Annual Meeting scheduled for November 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Alfred J. Mina, DVM
HVMA President