Dr. Kaori Sakamoto, associate professor of anatomic pathology, has recently been named the director of wellness and wellbeing for the Association of Asian American Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP).

In this role, Dr. Sakamoto will be responsible for developing wellness workshops and opportunities designed to improve wellbeing and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for AAVMP community members. She will also offer resources and guidance to community members in need.

Dr. Sakamoto has been a long-term proponent of mental health, wellness, and wellbeing at the College, having orchestrated programming and education opportunities for College faculty, staff, and students. With Stevie Stigler, one of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s embedded licensed professional counselors, Dr. Sakamoto founded the Bulldawg Support Network—a voluntary peer support network open to all members of the College community. Dr. Sakamoto was also instrumental in the development of the Veterinary Wellness Certificate program for students at the CVM. She also offers weekly yoga classes for CVM community members (and a few goats on occasion)

In her new role, Dr. Sakamoto hopes to share wellbeing resources with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) veterinary community based on the initiatives developed here at the CVM.

AAVMP was founded in 2020 to create a community for Asian veterinary professionals and further establish a veterinary community that reflects the clients they serve through representation, mentorship, advocacy, and fellowship.