At MedVet, we are proud to celebrate the beauty of individuality and the unique contributions that make our world a better place. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are sharing stories from some history makers who have made an impact on the veterinary profession.
History Makers from MedVet
Jonathan T. Shiroma, DVM, MS, DACVR
Dr. Jonathan Shiroma is a MedVet Founding Partner and Veterinary Radiologist. He serves as the Radiology Specialty Leader for MedVet and is a well-known figure in the national veterinary community. His career has taken him across the country including earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University, completing a three-year residency in small animal radiology and earning his Master of Science at The Ohio State University, and becoming an instructor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
In 1993, he went on to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Dr. Shiroma’s work has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals, including Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology.
Thaibinh Nguyenba, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Dr. Nguyenba is a Board-certified Veterinary Cardiologist and serves as the Cardiology Specialty Leader for all MedVet locations. He is also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology).
Dr. Nguyenba is a global consultant to veterinary cardiologists and has travelled nationally to lecture, train colleagues, and perform cardiac procedures. His expertise in veterinary interventional cardiology allowed him to play a leading role in the research and development of the first cardiovascular device designed specifically for the dog, the Amplatz® Canine Duct Occluder, for minimally invasive correction of patent ductus arterisus (PDA). Dr. Nguyenba has been published in a variety of veterinary medical journals including the Journal of Veterinary Cardiology, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and American Journal of Veterinary Research. He also appeared on Animal Planet’s “Dogs 101.”
Michael B. Mison, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Mison is a Board-certified Veterinary Surgeon and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Florida. Then he went on to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After that, he did his rotating internship and surgery residency at Michigan State University.
Dr. Mison has held faculty positions at Washington State University (Assistant Professor) and the University of Pennsylvania (full Professor). Additionally, he served as the Hospital Director and Chief Medical Officer while at the University of Pennsylvania. He received the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award in 2003 and 2020. Dr. Mison has been published in book chapters and veterinary journal articles. Dr. Mison is experienced in all aspects of veterinary surgery with a particular interest in soft tissue surgery and surgical oncology. His favorite part of veterinary medicine is being able to go above and beyond to provide his patients’ families compassionate care and peace of mind when their pet is undergoing surgery.
History Makers in the Broader Veterinary Profession
Hira Basit and Dr. Stephanie Kuo
Seeing the need for Asian veterinary professionals to connect, Dr. Stephanie Kuo and DVM candidate Hira Basit co-founded the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP) in April 2020. This organization created a community for professionals of Asian heritage and allies in veterinary medicine to share stories of their journeys, offer education on the importance of representation, and provide mentorship and fellowship opportunities. Dr. Kuo and Hira Basit have worked tirelessly to bring together like-minded doctors, students, and professionals to give a voice and resources to Asian representation, mentorship, and allyship in the veterinary profession.
Dr. Christina V. Tran and Dr. Marie Sato Quicksall
As founding board members of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA), Drs. Christina V. Tran and Marie Sato Quicksall strive to bring racial and ethnic diversity, equity and inclusion to the veterinary field. Dr. Tran is currently on faculty at University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine and serves in several veterinary medical organizations including MCVMA as immediate past president. She and her pet Marley, a registered pet therapy dog, also volunteer with Pet Partners to promote health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education.
A passionate advocate for representation, Dr. Quicksall currently serves as the President of the MCVMA. She is currently a small animal general practitioner and certified in veterinary acupuncture. While in vet school, she founded the Ohio State chapter of VOICE and served as its national president. Dr. Quicksall continues to pioneer paths for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the veterinary profession.
Dr. Florina S. Tseng
Dr. Florina S. Tseng is Director of the Wildlife Clinic at Tufts University. She received her DVM from Cornell University and completed an internship at the Wildlife Center of Virginia focusing on wildlife medicine. In 1996, Dr. Tseng worked as the Research Director for the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in Berkeley, California. She has worked with nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation centers and participated in more than 20 oil spill responses. Her research focus is pain management in wildlife species, and her work with the IBRRC helped save and care for aquatic birds in emergency situations. Her recent publications include works on accumulation of rodenticides in red-tailed hawks, birds exposed to oil spills, and research on sharks and spiny dogfish.
Dr. Tseng is an avid participant in Adventures in Veterinary Medicine, a program that fosters a better understanding of the veterinary profession and the demands of veterinary school for researchers and students of all ages. She also serves as the Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Climate (ADDIEC) at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Sources:
- https://www.aavmp.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/asiansinvetmed/
- https://www.instagram.com/asiansinvetmed
- https://www.mcvma.org
- https://vetprofiles.tufts.edu/profile/florina-s-tseng
- https://diversity.tufts.edu/what-we-do-/bias-education-and-resource-team/
- https://news.vet.tufts.edu/2015/04/flo-tseng-dvm/
- https://www.veterinarianedu.org/15-influential-veterinarians/
