Category: Veterinary Professionals

2025 HVMA Scholarship Recipients

HVMA would like to congratulate our 2025 scholarship recipients this year! We had a record number of applicants and it was very difficult to choose our awardees. Your dues help to provide these scholarships and support our local veterinary students – thank you!

Kylie Ebisuya
Washington State University

Kylie Ebisuya is a rising third year student at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine who intends to practice in small animal clinical medicine when she returns to Hawaii. She has a strong interest in organized veterinary medicine and serves as the WSU Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) President. She is also a WSU Clinical Skills lab peer instructor, a position that requires strong clinical skills, approachability, creativity, calm demeanor, and the ability to work with all types of people. Kylie received a B.S. in Animal Sciences and a B.A.in Japanese from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While an undergraduate student, she worked at The Pet Clinic in Honolulu and was active in the research laboratories of Dr. Birendra Mishra and Dr. Jenee Odani.

Eric Fukawa
Oregon State University

Eric Fukawa will also be starting his third year at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University this September.  Eric grew up in Mililani and is a proud graduate of Damien Memorial School Class of 2016.  His aim is to focus on small animal general practice with interest in small animal surgery. Eric is looking forward to coming back to Hawaii to serve his community when he graduates.

2025 HVMA 72nd Annual Conference Registration NOW OPEN

This year we are moving our annual conference back to Waikiki at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel! Labs will be offered on Nov 5-6, 2025, including Essentials for Fracture Repair for General Practitioners and Stabilization of Unstable Joints, Dental Radiography Positioning, Physical Medicine and Pain Management Workshop, and a hands on Laser Lab. See more lab details here.

Multiple track lectures will fill Nov 7-9, 2025, including ophthalmology, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia and analgesia, and an equine track on Saturday. Veterinary technician specific lectures will be offered on Saturday and Sunday. The HVMA Hui (Annual Business Meeting) will occur over lunch on Saturday, and we will be holding our annual social event with dinner at the Zoo on Saturday evening.

Registration is now open for attendees and exhibitors. Remember to log in to your HVMA online account to receive the discounted registration rates for active members. Discounted group room rates at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani will be posted soon and must be booked by October 1, 2025.  

Check out our conference page for more information as we will continue to post details such as the conference schedule and speaker bios. Please join us for great RACE-approved CE, our lively exhibit hall, food, and fellowship with your local vet community! 

AVMA July 2025 Resolutions

These resolutions will be voted on at the AVMA House of Delegates meeting July 18-22, 2025. Please send comments/opinions to our HVMA House of Delegate Reps: Carolyn Naun and Jenee Odani

Resolution 9: Pediatric Sterilization of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

Resolution 10: Therapeutic Pet Food Health Claims

Resolution 11: Sow Housing

Resolution 12: Declawing of Domestic Cats

Resolution 13: Pain in Animals

Resolution 14: Model Veterinary Practice Act

Resolution 15: Mitigating Hazards in the Veterinary Workplace

One Health Lecture

Species-Spanning Medicine for Humans and Other Animals

Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz will be presenting a One Health lecture sponsored by UH John A Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz is a cardiologist and evolutionary biologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, Harvard University’s Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, and the School of Medicine at UCLA. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology and the natural world as sources of insights for human health and development. A leader in the field of evolutionary medicine, she co-chairs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research (BAHSCR). 

Zoobiquity, her best-selling popular science book co-authored with K. Bowers, was a finalist in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Excellence in Science Books Award, a Smithsonian Top Book of 2012, and a Discover Magazine Best Book of the Year. Her recently published Wildhood chronicles the transition from juvenile to adult biology and behavior across vertebrate species. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz earned her B.A. and M.A. at Harvard University and her M.D. at University of California, San Francisco. 

Her presentation “Species-Spanning Medicine for Humans and Other Animals” will be held at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka’ako.

Friday May 9, 2025
5:30pm
Room 102

RSVP here

Legislative Update – Spring 2025

The 2025 Hawaii legislative session is wrapping up. Here are the bills still winding their way through the legislative process:

It’s easy to stay informed and get involved in our local legislative process!

2025 Legislative Update

The 2025 Hawaii legislative session is in full swing. Here are some bills HVMA is keeping tabs on this session:

  • HB456 / SB962 Relating to Raw Milk – HVMA opposes
  • HB544 / SB1026 Relating to Pet Insurance – HVMA supports
  • HB1427 / SB1591 Relating to Avian Influenza – HVMA supports
  • SB493 Relating to Veterinarians – HVMA opposes (due to workforce development fee on vet license renewals and logistical challenges of developing new program/fund)
  • SB1021 / HB49 Relating to Wildlife – HVMA opposes
  • SB874 Relating to Veterinary Medicine – HVMA would submit comments that AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics already requires vets to provide written prescriptions upon request. Would prefer to include language specifying that posting signage in the lobby to inform the client of their right to request a written prescription is sufficient.

Keep an eye out as we may call on you to submit testimony on these bills as hearings arise, particularly SB874.

AVMA Updates – Winter 2025

AVMA Winter Session

AVMA convened on January 10th-11th for our annual winter session. We discussed two topics in the Veterinary Information Forum: supporting rural veterinarians and the current status of accreditation in veterinary education. We also voted on several new and revised policies ranging from biosecurity and cellular agriculture to veterinary license portability and guidelines on pet ownership. We always welcome your input! Please see here for the full details. 

AVMA Mentorship

Any AVMA member with less than 10 years of professional experience can now get free professional mentoring through MentorVet Connect, brought to you by the AVMA. Learn more.

Meet a Board Member – Raquel Wong

Raquel Wong, DVM
Oahu Rep

Raquel Wong, DVM, has been with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for almost 25 years and has a wide breadth of experience within the Animal Industry Division working in all branches of the Division. Dr. Wong earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in veterinary medicine. Dr. Wong enjoys spending her free time with family both on Oahu and the Big Island, caring for 3 large dogs, and keeping busy with many hobbies.

FDA Solicits Public Comments on Use of Cannabis-Derived Products in Veterinary Medicine

The FDA has released a request for information (RFI)soliciting comments from the public, particularly veterinarians, related to the use of cannabis-derived products (CDP) in animals. The focus of this RFI is on cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from hemp.The FDA is trying to better understand what veterinarians are experiencing related to CDPs in their patients, such as: general patterns of use (i.e., animal species, brands, formulations, doses, indications for use), quality standards, benefits of use, potential drug interactions, adverse events and safety problems, and toxicological concerns.

The Federal Register notice about the RFI contains instructions for submitting comments. FDA will fully consider all comments, including comments submitted anonymously. The comment period for this RFI opens on January 16, and will be open for 90 days. If you have relevant responses to the questions in the RFI, please submit them no later than April 16, 2025.