Category: Newsletter

2016 Member Updates

Welcome new members in 2016: Neal Villanueva, Rajdeep Singh Turna, Hui Nee Chin, Melanie Pearson, Krystina Keikionalani Cunningham, Edward Hsu, Ednee Yoshioka, Daniel McConnel, Heidi Choy, Chelsea Monroe, Caroline Olausen, Jamie Ota, Kristina Ramer, Karen Park, Renee Nagata, Lei Imaino-Hata, Clarence Carl Ducummon III.

Please congratulate our newest lifetime members: Richard Fujie, Patrick Ahana, Ted Cleghorn, Roger Kondo, Sharman Ellison, Tim Lau, Sterling Iwashita, and Thomas Lee.

Send us your updates to share with others! newsletter@hawaiivetmed.org

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AVMA District X Representative, George Bishop, presented an update from the AVMA at the HVMA annual meeting.

  • Dr. Janet Donlin is the new AVMA EVP/CEO, replacing Dr. Ron DeHaven who recently retired.
  • There will be a cyberbullying hotline available for members in January 2017. A 30 minute free consultation is included as part of the service.
  • Member wellness/ wellbeing and the student debt issue are top priorities for the AVMA currently.
  • Highlights of recent advocacy efforts:
    • The AVMA has been actively working with the USDA on the Horse Protection Act, urging regulatory changes to eliminate soring.
    • AVMA is also working actively to defeat the Fairness to Pet Owners Act.
  • The 2016 Veterinary Economic Reports Series will be released over the course of 2016. The reports can be viewed free by members at https://www.avma.org/PracticeManagement/BusinessIssues/Pages/AVMA-Economic-Report-Subscription.aspx
  • AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference is January 12-14, 2017 in Chicago.
  • AVMA Convention is July 21-25, 2017 in Indianapolis.
  • More AVMA updates can be viewed at www.avma.org

Cordell Chang and Leianne LeeLoy are the Hawaii delegates to the AVMA.

2016 Member Renewal Information

Thank you to those early adopters who have already signed up for an account at hawaiivetmed.org!

New this year, we will be managing your membership renewal seamlessly through our website. Once registered, you’ll be able to check your membership status, pay dues, and update your professional and contact information.

Plus you’ll have access to these member-exclusive features:

  • Create classified and help-wanted ads for public viewing

  • List your clinic under our public “Find a Vet” feature (practice owners only)

  • Read past newsletters (starting with this edition)

  • Access Executive Board meeting notes and future meeting dates

  • Find and contact your island delegate(s)

  • Research the HVMA by-laws

  • Access the relief vet list

The website also features important news, resources for veterinarians and pet owners, and rabies quarantine information (easier than navigating the government website!). If you have associates moving to Hawaii to join your practice, we also have a comprehensive page outlining the steps to getting licensed and accredited in Hawaii.

This first year, we are asking everyone to fill out the complete registration form (similar to the form you filled out when you first signed up) so that we have up-to-date information. This should take about fifteen minutes.

If you have already created an account, you can go ahead and log in, then go to “My Membership” to pay your dues and fill out your member profile.

We greatly appreciate your time! This should make the renewal process very simple in future years!

Leaders Wanted!

If you have been looking to get involved in organized veterinary medicine, or just want to find out more, you will have the chance to let us know during registration. We have many opportunities, whatever your interests, talents, and available time may be. Join a committee, help us with web development and social media outreach, or come lend a hand at an event.

If you have suggestions or ideas for making our online resources even better, or are having any difficulties getting connected, send an email to webmaster@hawaiivetmed.org.

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Two major bills were passed with the support of the HVMA last year and have been signed into law by Governor Ige.

Legislative Act 147 (SB2671) will go into effect July 1, 2018. This legislation recognizes veterinary technicians as qualified professionals. It is a title protection law and restricts the use of the title “veterinary technician” to those who have passed the national board exam and met the state of Hawaii requirements for the profession. The law does not place restrictions on what duties can be performed by technician or other staff supervised by a licensed veterinarian. Encourage your technical staff to research both the traditional path (through completion of an accredited program) and the alternate pathway to becoming registered veterinary technicians. The alternate pathway provides potential registration eligibility for those who have been working at least 5 years in Hawaii veterinary practices and meet the requirements. This pathway will only be available prior to July 1, 2021. All registered veterinary technicians are required to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam. Hawaii will also recognize technicians licensed/registered in other states. For more information visit http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2016/bills/SB2671_CD1_.pdf

Legislative Act (SB 2915) was signed by Governor Ige and controlled substances reporting is now much easier for veterinarians! Thanks to the exemption for veterinarians weekly electronic reporting is no longer required. A HUGE thank you goes to Dr. Ako for leading efforts on this bill. And to Dr. Yoshicedo for managing communications to the members so they could provide much needed testimony.

Email legislative_committee@hawaiivetmed.org to get more involved in the legislative committee.

Updates from the 63rd Annual HVMA Conference

The 63rd Annual Meeting at the Hilton Waikiki Beach was a great success.

This year’s meeting was held in memory of Dr. Allen Y. Miyahara, who played an instrumental role in forming the HVMA as well as mentoring many of our members.

In attendance were 180 veterinarians, 1 student, and 79 technicians and support staff from Hawaii, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Guam and the US mainland. The exhibit hall featured 34 vendors and offered something for everyone.  Our annual business meeting and elections were held on Saturday after lunch.

Highlights from the conference include Dr. Sueda and Carly Crowell speaking about behavior topics as well as our own local experts from VCA Oahu Veterinary Specialty Center: Drs. Lam, White and Atherton on the latest updates in surgery, Internal Medicine and Radiology.

The Saturday pau hana was one to remember with incredible food and hula lessons!

Many thanks to our major sponsors: Abaxis, Bayer, inTrauma, VCA, Veterinary Orthopedic Implants, and Zoetis.

We hope you enjoyed your time with our excellent guest speakers, packed exhibit hall, great food and your friends and colleagues. We would appreciate your feedback on the event. Please take our post-conference survey here.

We look forward to seeing you all next year.

Save the date: October 26-29, 2017.

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Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for choosing to be a part of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association. You are a valuable member of our veterinary community here in Hawaii, and we welcome you to be active with us! As a non-profit organization, the HVMA serves as our local veterinarians’ public face and collective voice.

This year we will seek to improve the accessibility of the HVMA to its members in various ways. Our website has undergone tremendous upgrades and continues as a work in progress in providing services such as an online public membership directory, as well as job postings and relief vet listings for members. Our transition to electronic communication continues with improved online membership registration and our first e-newsletter!

We have many areas that members can volunteer to contribute to, such as with Membership outreach, Public Relations, Newsletter production, Legislative action, and Website updates. All of our current progress has come about from members seeing areas of need in our organization, and stepping up to offer their services. We are so grateful for every cog in our wheel, and we welcome any input or help you can offer to improve our HVMA.

If you are interested in getting involved and would like more information, let us know! You can email us at contact@hawaiivetmed.org, indicate your interest when you complete your membership registration online, or find a board member to speak with directly.

Wishing you good health, growth, and abundant aloha in 2017!

On behalf of your HVMA Board,

Jill Yoshicedo, DVM