Dr. Waka Hashimoto Blair, DVM, CVA, CVBMA, CVFT, CCRP – Owner

A Path of Purpose: How Dr. Blair Realized the American Dream at Acorn Veterinary Clinic

In June 1999, Dr. Blair left Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city, where she had lived her entire life, to move to Davis, California, at 26. Initially, she felt at a loss for things to do. She adapted to this new culture by meeting people and learning about the U.S., soon realizing that the social constructs and norms she knew in Japan no longer applied. In America, the land of dreams, she saw that people of all ages and backgrounds pursued fresh starts and new opportunities, something almost unthinkable in Japan.

Dr. Blair had always been interested in America. At 15, she spent a year as an exchange student in a small town in Montana. Her strengths and interests in English and education led her to major in English as a Second Language and minor in Education at college in Japan, earning her a teaching credential. While in college, she worked as a coordinator for an exchange program for Japanese college students with host families in Georgia and Florida and taught English to Japanese college students. These experiences eventually landed her a position as the head teacher at an English school with over 300 students, where she managed the school and taught students ranging from age three to seventy. It was here that she met her future husband, Bob, an American expatriate teacher, and together they moved to the U.S.

During her first months in Davis, she reconnected with her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. Observing local wildlife—hawks, cranes, and rabbits—sparked her interest, as these animals were scarce in a large city like Osaka. She also noticed the variety of livestock around Davis, reminding her of her dream to work with animals in northern Japan. A respiratory illness affecting her pet prairie dog back in Japan highlighted her desire to help animals. She soon discovered UC Davis’s prestigious veterinary program and began to consider a new career path. Dr. Blair wrestled with two conflicting thoughts: “Now I’m in America, where I can break away from my past and pursue something entirely new. I will become a vet,” versus, “It’s impossible. I’m too old to start over. I should focus on becoming a traditional housewife like most women back home.” Yet, the spirit of possibility that defines America spoke to her heart, urging, “Take a chance on me. Nothing is impossible here. Let this be the path to fulfilling your childhood dream.”

In fall 1999, she put her doubts aside and began taking high school level introductory science courses needed to take prerequisite science courses for her application to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. With little background in science since junior high and minimal English scientific vocabulary, these classes were initially very challenging. However, her English improved, her fear of science subsided, and she grew to enjoy and excel in the subject.

Dr. Blair volunteered for over two years at animal-related organizations, where she often carried an English-Japanese dictionary to learn veterinary terminology. In September 2002, she accepted her first paid job in the U.S. as a receptionist and volunteer veterinary assistant at Acorn Veterinary Clinic. Despite the initial struggle with new terminology and cultural differences, her experience there taught her invaluable communication skills and the dynamics of a general practice setting. To enhance her skills, she completed a degree in veterinary technology at Cosumnes River College and became a registered veterinary technician (RVT), which enabled her to work at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. There, she cared for hospitalized patients and eventually became a small animal kidney transplant coordinator, a role that sharpened her communication and leadership skills.

Accepted into the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006, Dr. Blair returned to Acorn Veterinary Clinic in July 2015 as an associate veterinarian. She had completed two prestigious academic veterinary internships in surgery, internal medicine, and emergency and critical care at Texas A&M University and her alma mater, UC Davis, as well as three years working at a busy after-hours emergency clinic and training in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine through Chi University in Florida. With her daughter just turning one, Dr. Blair sought a position that would allow her to balance motherhood with her career as a veterinarian. Dr. Sally Borges and Dr. Joy Jackman welcomed her back to Acorn as an associate veterinarian, and she found Acorn to be the ideal place for her. In April 2019, Dr. Blair became a co-owner, and by November 2021, she took over as the sole owner of Acorn.

While working and living comfortably as a teacher in Japan, Dr. Blair never imagined she would one day realize her childhood dream. Yet, America and Acorn Veterinary Clinic made it possible. She knows she wouldn’t be where she is today without the support and kindness of countless Americans who encouraged her journey to becoming a veterinarian and helped her grow both professionally and personally. America has become her beloved home, a place where she has witnessed and experienced endless possibilities. Dr. Blair is deeply grateful to the American people for the impact they have had on her life. She is dedicated to serving those in need as both a veterinarian and clinic owner, hoping to help others achieve their dreams, just as so many Americans helped her achieve hers.