This article was originally printed in the Jan/Feb 2026 issue of the California Veterinarian magazine.

Dr. Teresa Morishita serves on the CVMA’s Board of Governors as an at-large governor. To relay your thoughts to Dr. Morishita, you may contact her at tmorishita@cvma.net.

What kind of veterinary medicine do you practice and where do you currently work?

I’m a Professor of Poultry Medicine and Food Safety in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences.

What’s your favorite thing about where you grew up?

I grew up in Hawaii and I enjoyed all that nature had to offer. My family often climbed up Diamond Head to eat breakfast on Saturday mornings as the sun began to rise or had dinner at the beach. Having many ethnic cultures in Hawaii also meant good food and learning about other cultures and traditions.

Where did you graduate from?

I graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa with a bachelor’s in animal science. My DVM degree is from the University of California-Davis.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

Being in nature or going “holoholoing,” where we just ride around the area to explore new things or revisit favorite places (often including eating something yummy or trying a new restaurant!).

Do you have any pets? If so, what are their names?

My dilute calico (caliby) cat’s name is Katherine “Kiki” Kealani. She was taken off the streets of Pomona along with her late brown tabby mom, Polly Wog. My newest additions are a son and father duo. The son is a silver tabby kitten named Kitty Kitty Bang Bang and his Maine Coon-like father is Big Daddy. Both are from the streets of Pomona.

Where do you volunteer?

I volunteer serving food for the unhoused and leading nature tours at local gardens.

What are your favorite television shows?

I like non-scary TV travel shows (even the reruns) that also feature local food. These include Samantha Brown’s Places to Love (or any of her shows) and reruns of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Can you tell that I like travel and food?

What are your favorite movies?

I have many favorite movies, such as Giant (1956), musicals, and Hallmark’s holiday seasonal movies. My fellow CVMA Board of Governors member Diane McClure will try to convince you that I like the Twilight series! I must say, I think their soundtracks are interesting!

Do you collect anything?

I collect unique bird and animal jewelry from places I have visited. These are souvenirs as well as pieces I can wear to work or just for fun! My favorites include a jellyfish from Alaska, a tick from Texas, and a disguised pod of whales from Maine. From loved ones, I’ve received crabs, turtles, and a hedgehog. I think I have a zoo!

What aspects of veterinary medicine are you most passionate about?

Providing help to flock owners to take care of their flocks (written resources, podcasts, or in-person/virtual workshops)—and, of course, working with students, too!

What’s the career highlight you’re most proud of?

I am fortunate to be the Founding Director of the Poultry Health Management School with my colleagues. We will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026! I have also been invited to write textbooks.

However, I would say helping and positively impacting others is by far the best career highlight, such as helping rural 4-H children learn about chickens and seeing them excited to learn. Their handmade certificates of appreciation are cherished along with my profession awards and degrees.

Another highlight is that I have been writing a monthly poultry advice column called “Fowl Talk by Dr. Teresa Morishita” for over 20 years. When I give educational programs, people bring binders of my articles that they clipped out and collected. They ask me if I can autograph their binders and take photos with them and their children. I am so humbled, honored, and amazed at their collection of my articles. I appreciate their gestures.

Moreover, I am proud to receive letters from former students out of the blue. They tell me of my impact on their lives some 20+ years ago after I last saw them. When they tell me how I impacted their lives, it touches my heart!

Who made the biggest impact on your professional career?

• My grandfather, who taught me animal handling, knot tying, and how to lasso.
• My parents, who supported me having many types of animals and encouraged me to gain a diversity of experiences with animals.
• My early-career mentors, including the late Dr. George West (UC Davis and California Department of Food and Agriculture), who encouraged me to specialize in poultry. I am also grateful for the late Dr. Dale Brooks (UC Davis), as he provided me career advice, mentorship, and leadership opportunities, and made me think outside the box. For example, he directed me to develop a facility design plan for the California Raptor Center at UC Davis. I can’t believe that I designed the layout and it is still there today, some 30+ years later!

 

There are so many individuals along my career path who have helped me that I would need a book to thank and acknowledge them. I am grateful for all those who I have met along the way. They are the ones who put me on the track of veterinary medicine and my career development. I am so grateful.

Why did you get involved in organized veterinary medicine?

I was so fortunate to get involved in the CVMA when I was a veterinary student, serving on the CVMA’s Environmental Affairs Committee. The friendliness and collegiality I found in the association allowed me to continue to be involved even when I moved to Ohio.

Most recently, I was fortunate to be selected as a CVMA at-large Board of Governors member. By joining organized veterinary medicine, we not only help our profession, but we also meet many other veterinarians who are not in our specialty areas. We are so interconnected in the field of veterinary medicine!

I get to meet and interact with a lot of great individuals who I would not normally meet if I only remained in my area of practice. It’s wonderful to interact with colleagues while making our profession the best it can be!

What’s your favorite thing about being a veterinarian?

My favorite thing is helping the animals and their human caretakers. The human-animal bond is so strong, and I see this even with my pet chicken-owning clients.

What’s your least favorite part?

My least favorite thing is when I have to euthanize animals, especially when I’ve treated them for most of their life, and help distraught owners overcome their pet’s passing.

What area of veterinary medicine are you still interested in learning about?

Bees.

What do you want people to know about the CVMA and organized veterinary medicine?

Join the CVMA and become an advocate for our profession. Only we can help make our profession better. One of the benefits of joining the CVMA is the camaraderie and fellowship as you meet colleagues around the state.

I can truly say the CVMA enhances your professional career and your life because there is just a general feeling of happiness in being part of one of the greatest professions. By all working together, we can accomplish great things! Please come and join us!

Meet the rest of your CVMA Board of Governors by clicking this link.