DR. GINA MARIA PINEDA

FELINE MEDICINE

Dr. Gina is an Associate Veterinarian at Vets in Practice, Inc. and the Chief Veterinarian and Medical Head at the clinic’s Mandaluyong branch. This year, she says, will be her “15th year in companion animal practice,” and though she’s experienced in diagnostics, soft-tissue surgery, and emergency and critical care in both canine and feline medicine, she’s the clinic’s “go-to vet for feline medicine.”

In an interview with Animal Scene, Dr. Gina explains, “As a [C]at lover who has been fostering and adopting kittens since [childhood, I find it] exhilarating to be able to practice what I have learned in all the years of having my own [C]ats.”

Her attraction to the life sciences, fascination with diseases, and love for nonhuman animals led to her deciding to become a vet, which she describes as serendipitous. As a veterinary student and part of Rodeo Club Philippines, she spent much of her time doing volunteer work, “even going as far as Palawan.”

Now, as a practitioner, she says, “I believe that we can make more impactful changes by starting small, so I instead chose to concentrate my volunteer work hyper-locally, focusing my efforts by doing a tiny TNR [Trap-neuter-return] program on the community [C]ats within the area of my residence with the help of my wife, who is also a veterinarian.”

Asked about her advice for those interested in feline medicine, Dr. Gina says, “Feline medicine specifically is an up-and-coming specialization.” More and more veterinarians are now realizing that “[C]ats need highly specialized and individualized care. There is still a lot to discover, and this makes it an exciting time to be in this particular area of study.”

Though Dr. Gina admits that being in the medical field is difficult, especially amid the pandemic, she reminds vet students that “medicine is a team sport.” Taking care of oneself and one’s team, as well as finding good mentors, is part and parcel of practicing medicine.