Category: Member News

Letter from the President – October 2021

Alfred Mina, DVM
HVMA President

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic the HVMA Executive Board continues to work on improving veterinary services in the islands. Big mahalo to those who continue to support HVMA through these trying times. A lot of this is done through membership dues.

There’s still an increasing need for veterinarians and veterinary support staff here in Hawaii. One of the biggest issues we are currently facing is the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary support staff. Many veterinary services are overwhelmed by the high demand, putting major strain on veterinarians and support staff.

We are asking the community for compassion and patience as we are all doing our best through this difficult time. If you know of any veterinarians or veterinary support staff that are considering relocating to Hawaii feel free to contact the HVMA for support.

Please join us for the HVMA Virtual Hui 2021 – Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 12:15PM (Hawaii). It will be open to all HVMA members and interested veterinarians.

If you haven’t renewed your membership or joined HVMA yet, please consider doing so here. Also, don’t forget to check in on our online CE provided by HVMA. Please let us know if there’s any specific topics that we can look into for future presentations.

It is still hurricane season, so be prepared and make sure you have a natural disaster kit, including food and medical supplies, for your pets. Please continue to stay safe through 2021 and hope to see you all soon!

Sincerely,
Alfred J. Mina, DVM

HVMA 2021 Scholarship Awards

Congratulations to our two HVMA scholarship recipients for 2021!

Threnody Brown Earley-Clark is a 4th year student at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK. She was a part of the pre-vet club at UH Manoa and volunteered at the Animal Clinic of Honolulu and the Honolulu Zoo.

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Tyler Primavera is a WICHE scholarship recipient and 4th year student at Oregon State University. While exploring the veterinary field in Hawaii, Tyler volunteered at the Hawaiian Humane Society and worked at Kailua Animal Clinic and as a livestock inspector with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

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

Meet a Board Member – David Gans

David Gans, DVM
Vice President

David had an epiphany as a young child that he would become the world’s first ANIMAL DOCTOR, pioneering a new field and contributing a new found profession to the world. Much to his dismay, he was informed of the veterinary field and settled for that. He was born and raised in Hawaii, and after obtaining his DVM at Colorado State University in 2018, returned to the islands to work at Hawaii Kai Veterinary Clinic, where he has been ever since. 

Along with his girlfriend Jayeon, he has been slowly building up their home zoo of rescues and their COVID garden. They have two cats Amaru and Dotori, a red footed tortoise, and recently a couple ducklings. They also enjoy hiking, surfing, and other outdoor activities.

David looks forward to expanding his knowledge and experience in general practice. He is especially interested in gaining more training with exotics and expanding his abilities in rehabilitation work. 

In Remembrance – Eric Jayne

Eric Jayne, DVM, worked with Cat Friends, Molokai Humane Society, and the Hawaiian Humane Society, served as the Hawaii HSVMA representative, and was due back in the islands later this summer. He was with his partner Sally visiting their dear friend, Dr. Lori Gossard, in North Dakota when a semi truck hit their car from behind. Eric was killed instantly. He was a great man, an adoring husband, and doting father. He was tireless and committed to improving human and animal lives. His impact was felt by many, and will continue to be.

Sally plans to keep their non-profit, Sovereign Nations Veterinary, fully running and contributing back to the indigenous communities they serve. A celebration of life service for Eric was held in Des Moines, and a prayer vigil in his memory at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe reservation. His family started a go-fund-me page to help continue his work at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-honor-of-dr-eric-jayne.

In Remembrance – Trevor Leo Rodrigues

Dr. Trevor Leo Rodrigues, 64, of Papaikou, HI, died at the Hilo Medical Center on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. He was born in Tanzania and was the owner of  Aloha Veterinary Center. He was also a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, and the Makule Soccer League.

A compassionate and caring man who was always willing to help anyone who walked through the clinic door, he was admired for his selflessness, love of animals, and dedication to using his knowledge and understanding to help the community. His passing is a great loss for his family, friends and the veterinary community, and he will be deeply missed.

Private family services were held.

He is survived by his wife Colleen Rodrigues of Papaikou, HI, sons Jensen (Clarice) Rodrigues of Oahu, and Shea (Chaunda) Rodrigues of Hilo, HI, step-daughters Tiana (Dylan) Magdaro of Keaau, HI, and Kaylee Magdaro of Papaikou, HI, as well as brothers Kevin (Regina) Rodrigues of Kona, HI, Clarence (Keiko) Rodrigues of Kaneohe, Oahu, HI. He is also survived by four grandchildren, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and a nephew.

In Remembrance – Lei Yamasaki

The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association regretfully reports the unexpected passing of Dr. Lei Sachiko Yamasaki, D.V.M., M.S. on May 8, 2021. Lei was born and raised in Honolulu, HI, graduated from Roosevelt High School, and earned a B.A. in Zoology (with a Marine Options Program Certificate) at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. She completed an M.S. degree in Animal Sciences also at UHM, and she received her DVM from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. During her years as a student, she participated in many programs that led to cherished friendships and future collaborations, including: Hanauma Bay, Oceanic Institute, HDOA Aquaculture Development Program, AquaVet I/II, Los Angeles Zoo, University of Arizona Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, USGS Honolulu Field Station, USDA APHIS/Veterinary Services, and the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory.

Following graduation, she returned to Hawaii to work at Moana Technologies, LLC and in 2012 joined the Hawaii Department of Agriculture as the Aquaculture Veterinary Medical Officer. At HDOA, she supervised the Hawaii Shrimp Health Certification Program and provided dedicated diagnostic and regulatory services to support the aquaculture industry that she loved. She worked on projects relating to the presence of Nile tilapia and Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis in Hawaii and molecular and histologic diagnostics for fish/shrimp/oyster pathogens. She supported education and aquaculture in the community as a Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair judge, Technical Committee member for the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, Advisory Subcommittee member on invertebrate and aquatic biota for the State of Hawaii, and many other events with endless energy and a smile that lit up every room.

Lei was a lifelong scholar and never tired of pursuing new projects or learning new things. Yet she still managed to carve time out to enjoy the natural beauty of the world through her hobbies of surfing, hiking, fishing, traveling, conservation, and animal rescue. She was a dedicated and respected veterinarian whose love of animals was evident in the menagerie of animals that she cared for over the years: her beloved Simon, Emma, Mao, Copper, Atsila, and many others.

Lei will be forever remembered and missed by her family (parents Michael and Joann, sister Ann), friends, and colleagues from around the world.

Specialty/ER Service Interruption

The Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine has recently reinterpreted Hawaii’s veterinary practice law and begun rejecting the practice of veterinary sponsorship. This practice previously allowed many out-of-state specialists to share their services with our clients on a short-term or intermittent basis. All of us have benefited from referring our clients to visiting dermatologists, radiologists, surgeons, as well as our few emergency care centers that operate 24/7. This interruption in veterinary sponsorship has limited service hours at emergency clinics and worsened the backlog of surgery cases in Hawaii.

If your clients are being affected, please encourage them to file a complaint with the DCCA and Board of Veterinary Medicine to insist that they must immediately return to honoring the practice of veterinary sponsorship in Hawaii as clearly allowed by HRS 471(2)-5.

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

Delve into the latest research on suicide and its causes in this conversation on veterinary mental health with experts from the AVMA and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Learn strategies to promote mental health, prevent suicide, and intervene in a mental health crisis. Come away knowing individual and community risk and protective factors, get guidance on mental health crisis warning signs, and learn how to get help for someone in crisis – vital steps in building healthy communities and supporting our colleagues and peers. A culture of caring offers help and hope to its members—and we all can play a role in building that community.
View webinar here

Meet a Board Member: Caren Tamura-Taira

Caren Tamura-Taira, DVM
Oahu County Representative

Dr. Caren Tamura-Taira grew up on the beautiful countryside of Waianae, Hawaii. From a young age she loved animals and had fishes, rabbits, cats, a pet chicken that was hatched from an egg at school, and “Chummy” her first dog.

After graduating from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1983, Caren did her undergraduate years majoring in microbiology at Colorado State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree at Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science in 1990.

Soon after completing college, she came back to Hawaii to start her dream career as a small animal medicine veterinarian. Caren is currently practicing at the Waipio Pet Clinic and previously was at the Animal Clinic Waimalu for many years.

She enjoys spending time with her family and dog Simba. Whenever there is free time she also enjoys crafting, cooking, hiking and now running in virtual marathons. This is her first year on the HVMA board and she is honored to be a part of the organization. She looks forward to working hard and collaborating with the other members and the veterinary community.