Delivering Compassion: Vetcor’s Continued Impact in the Marshall Islands
June 3, 2026
Earlier this year, Vetcor sent a team to the Marshall Islands in partnership with RMI Love Animals and the Mission Aloha Foundation and saw tremendous success. Building on that momentum, another group of Vetcor leaders and clinicians recently traveled to Majuro to expand that impact. This latest trip brought together Team Vetcor and the Mission Aloha Foundation under the leadership of Chief of Staff Dr. Kelly Dowdall-Garberson, alongside a team of four first-year veterinarians and mentor veterinarians, including Chief of Staff Advisor Dr. Raj Singh, Chief of Staff Dr. Jennene Rehberger, and Dr. Alana Stewart. They were supported by RVTs and Regional Managers Bridgette Pribyl and Laura Mays, veterinary assistants and a Marshallese veterinary technician student, as well as the volunteer group RMI Love Animals and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Together, the team delivered essential spay and neuter services, vaccinations, and general veterinary care in a region where access to these services is limited.
Expanding Access to Care and Community Impact
The work in the Marshall Islands is about more than clinical outcomes, it’s about improving everyday life for both animals and people. Free-roaming animals, limited access to care, and overpopulation create real challenges that these trips help address.
As Dr. Raj Singh shared:
"The pictures speak volumes of the great effort to spay, neuter, vaccinate and microchip the Marshallese dogs and cats that do not otherwise have access to veterinary care. Many of the Marshallese have been bitten by the dogs that run loose and during mating season especially fight and are hit by cars. With no veterinary care usually available these animals suffer, lead to overpopulation problems and attack people randomly. We examined, vaccinated, provided medical care, spayed and neutered over 250 animals in 4.5 days. We also grew new lifetime bonds with each other, developed new skills, and grew professionally. We also reaped compassion rewards that wrapped our hearts around the Marshallese community. I recommend this community service immersion to anyone who is a recent graduate. It is definitely another Vetcor career experience I will treasure forever!"
Laura Mays echoed the profound community connection:
"This RMI spay and neuter trip was hands-down one of the most unforgettable experiences! The RMI community is something truly special, kind, welcoming, generous, and full of heart. The kids showed so much curiosity and excitement. They jumped right in to help us draw up vaccines, prep patients, and care for animals in recovery.
With so many pets on the island, it felt amazing to make a real difference for the community and their animals. Aside from falling in love with a kitten we named Batman, one of my favorite parts was watching our veterinarians grow throughout the trip. Seeing their confidence build after just one day of practicing new techniques and sharpening their skills was fun to see.
This trip also gave me a whole new perspective. It was a reminder of how impactful even small acts of service can be, and how much joy comes from simply showing up to help animals and their people. Being surrounded by people who were so grateful, resourceful, and community-focused made me step back and appreciate what really matters.
RMI 2026 was packed with wins from every angle: helping the animals of the RMI community, supporting our new grads, inspiring kids to explore animal care, and doing it all with the backdrop of one of the most breathtaking, crystal-clear oceans on the planet. It was equal parts meaningful, inspiring, and unforgettable."
Growth Through High-Volume, Resourceful Medicine
Practicing in a resource-limited, high-volume environment challenged the team to adapt quickly, think creatively, and prioritize both efficiency and patient safety.
As Bridgette Pribyl reflected:
"I think this was a great opportunity to show that we can provide quality care even with limited resources. If care isn’t provided due to those limitations, it can significantly impact an animal’s overall quality of life."
"I really liked the creative medicine, we did the best for the patients with the resources that we had, and it was appreciated by the pet owners."
Dr. Jennene Rehberger noted a critical insight gained during the trip:
"This experience reinforced that patient safety depends not only on equipment and resources, but also on well-designed protocols, effective teamwork, and vigilant monitoring."
Dr. Alana Stewart emphasized how repetition and adaptability built up her confidence:
"The most significant clinical skill I refined during the trip was performing an ovariohysterectomy... Learning to deal with difficulties that arose in the patients on the RMI definitely helped with my confidence level in performing surgery on patients at the practice I work at."
Mentorship, Teamwork, and Professional Development
One of the defining themes across the trip was the growth of early-career veterinarians, supported by a collaborative and encouraging team environment.
Bridgette highlighted the power of mentorship:
"I really enjoy working with new graduates and supporting them when they’re feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes they just need a calm presence to guide them through the situation and remind them that they already have the knowledge and skills. This experience was especially meaningful because we were all in the same position, doing something completely new and growing together. By the final day, the progress we had made as a team was truly impressive."
"Everyone learned something new, and I saw significant growth in the new graduate doctors. They started out very nervous, but their confidence grew with each day."
Dr. Rehberger saw that same transformation firsthand:
"One of the most inspiring aspects of the trip was witnessing the growth and confidence of the newer veterinarians on the team. Throughout the experience, I saw significant development in both their surgical abilities and their client communication skills. As the week progressed, they became more confident in making clinical decisions, performing procedures, and interacting with pet owners."
Dr. Stewart reflected on the culture of collaboration:
"There was so much knowledge and talent on the team that came on the trip, but what stood out to me the most was the attitude of most everyone who attended. Everyone had such a positive outlook on the trip and brought with them both a curiosity and openness to learn new things and help wherever it was needed."
Building Connections and Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond medicine, the trip fostered meaningful human connections, especially with local families and children eager to learn.
Dr. Jennene Rehberger described one of the most memorable aspects:
"One of my favorite parts of the trip was getting out into the community and working directly from the veterinary van... It was a completely different way of practicing veterinary medicine and gave us the chance to connect with people and their animals on a more personal level."
She also shared a powerful moment that captured both the challenges and rewards of the work:
"One moment from the trip that I will never forget was returning to a family's home to tell them that their cat had not survived anesthesia. It was a difficult conversation, and we were all heartbroken. What surprised me was how understanding and gracious the family was despite their loss. At the same time, we had a friendly kitten that was in need of a home. We offered the kitten to the family, and they welcomed it immediately. I'll never forget the look on the young boy's face when he met the kitten. His face completely lit up with excitement and happiness. That moment has stayed with me because it captured both the hardest and most rewarding parts of veterinary medicine."
Dr. Stewart reflected on the shared sense of purpose across cultures:
"It was quite humbling to travel somewhere I had never even heard of previously, and yet meet people who were just like me and so many of my colleagues: passionate about helping animals and making the community better."
Renewed Purpose and Lasting Gratitude
For many team members, the experience reinforced why they chose veterinary medicine and renewed their commitment to accessible care and service.
Dr. Stewart shared:
"I love working in accessible care... Experiences such as this one prove that if resources are made available, people will not only utilize them but jump at the chance to do so."
Bridgette reflected on both the professional and personal impact:
"It was an incredible experience to immerse myself in a different culture and to feel so welcomed and respected for the care we were able to provide to the animals, as well as the education we could share with pet owners and the community.
I would 100% do this again, it was amazing and filled my cup!"
Dr. Rehberger expressed deep appreciation for the people and leadership that made the trip possible:
"When I reflect on the trip, I am most grateful for the Marshallese people and for Dr. Kelly's leadership. The Marshallese community was incredibly welcoming, kind, and sincere... This was a trip of a lifetime, and I am eternally grateful..."
Continuing the Momentum
With another successful trip completed, Vetcor’s partnership with RMI Love Animals and the Mission Aloha Foundation continues to make a meaningful and measurable difference. From improving animal welfare and community safety to developing veterinary talent and strengthening human connections, the impact is both immediate and enduring.
As these teams return home, they carry forward renewed purpose, deeper compassion, and a shared commitment to making veterinary care accessible wherever it’s needed most.
