When Gabby Jamain transferred back home to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ after starting college out of state, she wasn¡¯t sure if veterinary medicine was still the right path for her. She decided to give the field one last chance through an internship course at the (HKVC)—where she quickly found the encouragement she needed.
“Everyone was incredibly welcoming and committed to teaching me about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it,” Jamain said. “Their faith in me when I was feeling such uncertainty about my future motivated me to grow and reignited my desire to work in a veterinary setting.”
She graduated with her bachelor¡¯s degree in animal sciences from UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ in 2020 and enrolled in Windward Community College¡¯s veterinary technician program. Choosing the hybrid track allowed her to balance coursework with hands-on clinic experience.
Hands-on learning
“The hybrid program was the perfect option for me to get my certification while also getting to work in the field. I am very much a hands-on learner, so being at work was a great opportunity for me to understand the coursework more deeply and master the skills I¡¯m actively learning about,” she said.
Jamain earned a certificate of achievement in veterinary assisting in 2022. That preparation proved invaluable in 2023 when she flew to Maui to volunteer at a pop-up clinic in the wake of the Lahaina fires. The makeshift site served as a triage center for animals rescued from the burn zone and provided urgent care for pets in need.
She earned her associate¡¯s degree in veterinary technology in 2024. Today, Jamain has come full circle. She is now the head technician at HKVC, mentoring the next generation of animal care professionals.
“The mentorship I received from UH alumni during my UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ internship was invaluable for me staying in this field, while my Windward CC grad coworkers not only shared their old textbooks, but amazing advice on what to expect at Windward,” Jamain said. “Now that I¡¯m a UH alumni I hope to be that person for aspiring vet professionals.”