Category: Veterinary Professionals

AVMA Update Summer 2022

The AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) convened in Philadelphia on July 28-29 in conjunction with the annual convention. The House of Delegates are the principal body within the Association responsible for establishing policy and providing direction for matters relating to veterinary medicine and shall be the representative body of the Principal and Constituent Allied Veterinary Organizations of the Association. This is Hawaii’s opportunity to weigh in on upcoming policy updates and other topics relating to our profession.

On the agenda for this meeting:
●  Resolutions:
–  New policy on use of prescription drugs in Veterinary Medicine
– New policy on Adverse Event Reporting
– Revised policy on genetic modification of animals in agriculture
– Revised policy on the approval and availability of antimicrobials for use in food-producing animals
– Revised policy on raw milk

●  Elections:
–  President Elect Candidates: Drs Grace Bransford and Rena Carlson-Lammers
–  Vice-President Candidate: Dr. Jennifer Quammen
–  Other: Councils, House Advisory Committee

●  Veterinary Information Forum: at each semi-annual meeting, HOD members seek your input on current issues in the profession and bring your thoughts to the House Floor for discussion. The debate is sometimes quite lively with diverse perspectives brought to the table. Often the VIF is the birthplace of new AVMA policies, programs, and initiatives. Thank you to our colleagues who have contributed to the discussion. Topics on the docket for the summer 2022 meeting are: (we have included a comment from our colleagues and look forward to hearing from you too.)
○  Needed Updates to the Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA). We are seeking feedback on whether the MVPA language might be revised to better support license portability; whether the MVPA should provide more detail around the roles and supervision of veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants; and provide more guidance around the practice of veterinary telehealth, including telemedicine.

○  Comment: License portability would be the biggest help in my area, which has a serious lack of veterinarians. It is expensive to live in Hawaii so it is difficult to get vets to commit to owning a practice here. Telemedicine would be helpful as well, especially for some emergency services, since we have no emergency clinics on our island and the existing practices are functioning at beyond capacity already. We need help here!

○  Responsibility to Provide Emergency Care. What is the ethical responsibility to provide essential services for animals when necessary to save life or relieve suffering? When not available, what should our responsibility be to provide readily accessible information to assist clients in obtaining emergency services? How do these obligations fit with maintaining a sustainable work-life balance and protecting the safety of our workforce?

○  Comment (partial): I think providing emergency care for your patients is important. Providing emergency care for all animals regardless of whether they have ever been to a veterinarian or not or whether they have an ability to pay or not seems to be an unfair burden for the veterinarian. The vast majority of emergency cases are the result of owners not taking proper care of their pets. Where I live veterinarians don’t answer their phones after hours to avoid taking care of emergencies when with a cell phone and call forwarding it is easy to answer the phone. We are on an island so there is no driving to an emergency clinic elsewhere. There are none. People want pets but don’t want to take good care of them in a manner that would avoid emergencies. Most emergencies are avoidable or could be handled in regular hours. We have enough trouble taking care of those who have been willing to try to care for their animals.

Please feel free to share your thoughts by contacting Leianne Lee Loy and Carolyn Naun.

Highlights of recent AVMA activities

● AVMA Annual report
●  AVMF has funneled over $500,000 to relief efforts in Ukraine. Funds are being directed to groups working on the ground to help people and animals affected by the crisis. Read more.

●  The annual AVMA Legislative Fly-In brings veterinary professionals from across the country together with their members of congress to discuss matters important to our profession. It also provides us with the opportunity to position ourselves as nonpartisan experts on animal related matters within their constituencies. This year’s fly-in was, once again, virtual and involved 200 of our colleagues across 49 states. Dr. Jenee Odani and Dr. Carolyn Naun met with the offices of Senators Hirono and Schatz and Representative Kahele, and directly with Representative Case and asked them to cosponsor or support the following pieces of legislation:
○  The Healthy Dog Importation Act would require all dogs entering the US to be accompanied by a health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian and to create a database of this information to enable disease tracking and increase biosecurity.

○  The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act would make the awards non-taxable, thus freeing up additional funds and allowing more positions in USDA designated shortage areas to be filled.

○ Veterinarians press lawmakers on rural veterinary shortages, dog importation

●  AVMA has created free printable resources for members to quickly reference antibiotic prescription recommendations. Two are handouts that can be given to cat and dog owners or printed as posters, and two are white sheets for practitioners, one for cats and one for dogs, both broken down by location of infection and/or disease. Read more and access the downloads (AVMA members only) here: When do cats and dogs need antibiotics?

Thank you for your engagement and we look forward to continue to represent your voices!

Leianne Lee Loy (Delegate – Hawaii)
Carolyn Naun (Alternate Delegate – Hawaii)

2022 Legislative Update – SB2798

SB2798 was signed into law by the governor in June. This bill amends the veterinary practice law in Hawaii 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.  This bill also helps to address the shortage of licensed veterinarians in Hawaii by allowing the temporary permitting of out-of-state veterinarians, providing for international veterinary school graduates to qualify for licensure examination in Hawaii, and extending the amount of time that out-of-state veterinarians may practice in Hawaii while awaiting their licensing exam date. The HVMA is grateful for support from the American Veterinary Medical Association and across the state from multiple organizations, legislators, and individual citizens to help push this bill across the finish line. 

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.

Updated HI State Laws Related to Animals

The following are law changes passed in 2021:

New: Animal sexual assault https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0711/HRS_0711-1109_0008.htm

Amended: Tethering https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0711/HRS_0711-1109.htm

New: Veterinary emergency care https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol10_Ch0436-0474/HRS0471/HRS_0471-0017.htm

New: Veterinary mandatory reporting https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol10_Ch0436-0474/HRS0471/HRS_0471-0018.htm

Microchipping, statewide:
Amended: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0143/HRS_0143-0002.htm
New: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0143/HRS_0143-0002_0002.htm

Upcoming free training on the role of veterinarians in identifying animal abuse:

Tuesday, May 3rd, 10:00-11:15am HST
https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/the-forgotten-partner-in-responding-to-animal-abuse-the-veterinarian/ (registration required)

HB 1598 Hearing Notice 2/8/2022 – Testimony Needed!

HB 1598 will be heard on Tuesday February 8, 2022 at 2pm by the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce via videoconference. Please submit written testimony in support of this bill which will amend Chapter 471, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to better define the practice and parameters of veterinary medicine and veterinary telemedicine to protect Hawaii consumers and their pets from inadequate, improper, or unlicensed veterinary care. In addition, to address the current shortage of licensed veterinarians in Hawaii, this bill will also provide for the temporary permitting of out-of-state veterinarians and ensure international veterinary school graduates of both AVMA Council on Education and AAVSB approved programs are able to qualify for licensure examination in Hawaii. For more background on this bill, see this post.

SB 2798 Hearing Notice 2/7/2022 – Testimony Needed!

SB 2798 will be heard on Monday February 7, 2022 at 1pm by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment via videoconference. Please submit written testimony in support of this bill which will amend Chapter 471, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to better define the practice and parameters of veterinary medicine and veterinary telemedicine to protect Hawaii consumers and their pets from inadequate, improper, or unlicensed veterinary care. In addition, to address the current shortage of licensed veterinarians in Hawaii, this bill will also provide for the temporary permitting of out-of-state veterinarians and ensure international veterinary school graduates of both AVMA Council on Education and AAVSB approved programs are able to qualify for licensure examination in Hawaii. For more background on this bill, see this post.

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!

African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever (ASF) virus is a highly contagious Asfivirus that can cause serious disease and death in domestic and feral swine. The disease originated in Africa, then spread to Europe (2007) and Asia (2018). In 2021, the disease was detected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, marking the first time the disease was diagnosed in the western hemisphere in 40 years.

ASFV is transmitted directly between pigs or indirectly via Ornithodoros ticks, ingestion of infected meat, or fomites. Meat from infected animals can remain infectious for up to 5 months.

After exposure, the incubation period is between 3-19 days. In the peracute form, sudden death may be observed. In the acute form, pigs demonstrate high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abortion, and mortality (up to 100%). Less virulent subacute or chronic forms are often seen with less intense symptoms and lower mortality. A small number of animals can become lifelong carriers. No vaccine or treatment for this disease exists. The disease does not infect humans and poses no food safety threat.

International travelers should understand the risk of bringing ASF into the US, declare items and farm visits to US Customs, and avoid farms or locations with pigs for at least 5 days upon return.

Meet a Local Vet – Anya Cotliarenko

Dr. Anya Cotliarenko

Anya Cotliarenko, BVetMed, MPVM, has been the Hawaii Liaison Veterinary Medical Officer for the USDA APHIS Vet Services since July 2021, filling the position vacated by Dr. Tim Falls when he retired at the end of 2020. She is originally from the Pacific Northwest and is a graduate of Royal Veterinary College/University of London. 

Following graduation, she completed an internship at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, an exclusive equine veterinary practice in central California. She then decided to pursue veterinary public health and completed a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree at UC Davis before joining USDA/FSIS. 

She served in several roles during her seven years of service with FSIS: Enforcement Investigations and Analysis Officer; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV), and Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Frontline Supervisor. She started as a VS field veterinarian in the Ontario District of California from September 2019. While there, she helped close out the 2018 vND outbreak and assisted in the development of CAHEN (California Avian Health Education Network) program: an education/outreach program for backyard poultry producers geared toward decreasing the risks associated with introducing Newcastle disease into the US.

She and her husband Guilherme have two children, Enzo (5) and Anita (2), one dog and two cats. Her other interests include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, running (has completed 3 marathons!), water sports, photography, painting, piano, and equestrian activities.

Pet Kokua Wellness Clinics

The Hawaiian Humane Society is seeking licensed veterinarians to assist with community outreach clinics in District 9 (Ewa Beach, Waipahu, Mililani).  Pet Kōkua Wellness Clinics are pop-up veterinary clinics that assist low-income and houseless pet owners with wellness checks, vaccinations, flea/tick preventatives, heartworm tests and preventatives, deworming, and treatments for minor illnesses and injury, at no cost to the owner.

Clinics are generally hosted one to two times a month, are 4 hours long and are generally appointment-based.  The Pet Kōkua Program is able to offer veterinarians a stipend of $250 per clinic due to a generous grant from the City & County of Honolulu.  If interested, please email outreach@hawaiianhumane.org with your general availability. You may also call Suzy Tam at 808-356-2225 with any questions.