Aki Otomo, DVM ’17, a graduate of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, is a veterinary surgical oncologist specializing in small animal surgery and surgical oncology at the Care Center Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH. Since earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2017, she has built a career defined by technical precision, research excellence, and dedication to advancing patient care.
Dr. Otomo has been published in leading veterinary journals, as well as journals in human physiology and avian science. Her most recent research, focused on theriogenology (reproductive physiology) in dogs, was even provisionally accepted for publication in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Her accomplishments extend beyond her publications. During her surgical residency, Dr. Otomo earned first place in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons 2020 Outstanding Surgery Residents’ Awards for her research presentation in the Small Animal Residents’ Forum. She also received the Charles Blass Fund Small Animal Surgery Resident Award during her surgery residency.
Long before she became a veterinarian, Dr. Otomo was simply an animal lover at heart. Growing up surrounded by cats and taking horseback riding lessons, she was always drawn to animals.
“When we visited friends or family, I was usually more interested in spending time with their pets,” Dr. Otomo reminisced.
At 16 years old, she gained her first hands-on experience in veterinary medicine through a high school work-based learning program. A two-week externship at a local general practice veterinary clinic quickly turned into an after-school and weekend job. This was the confirmation Dr. Otomo needed that this was her field.
“Since then, I’ve been a part of veterinary medicine in some way and haven’t looked back,” she said.
While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Dr. Otomo worked as a veterinary assistant at Western Canada’s largest private referral specialty hospital. The experience solidified her interest in specialized veterinary medicine and offered invaluable exposure to advanced surgery and referral-level practice. The level of care and expertise of the veterinary specialists inspired Dr. Otomo to emulate them.
“It wasn’t long before I decided to pursue a specialization in small animal surgery even before starting veterinary school!” Dr. Otomo said.
SGU News spoke with Dr. Otomo to learn more about her work, her path in veterinary medicine, and the experiences that shaped her career.
SGU: Tell us about your current role. What gets you up in the morning to go to work?
Dr. Otomo: I am currently a private practice surgical oncologist serving pets and their parents in Cincinnati and the Ohio tri-state region.
My favorite part of my work is when I get to see pet parents reunited with their pet after a challenging surgical procedure. The pets are so happy and overjoyed to be back with their families, and I can see how happy and grateful pet parents are. It is very rewarding to make a tangible difference in patient care and outcomes so that pets can continue to have a good quality of life.
SGU: What drew you to surgical oncology?
Dr. Otomo: I was drawn to surgical oncology within small animal surgery after seeing how prevalent cancer is in pets and how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be for their owners. This inspired my passion for oncology and my commitment to improving outcomes and quality of life for these patients. I strive to work in a comprehensive oncology setting where medical expertise, radiation treatment, and surgical oncologists come together to determine optimal treatment plans for patients.
My subspecialized training in surgical oncology enables me to determine the optimal extent of surgery for each oncologic case. It also allows me to collaborate closely with on-site medical and radiation oncologists to deliver comprehensive care that extends survival and improves quality of life for pet patients.
SGU: What has been a particularly memorable, rewarding, or challenging experience in your career so far?
Dr. Otomo: One of the most memorable patients I’ve treated—and one of the greatest “wins” of my career as a surgical oncologist—was a dog named Turner.
Turner developed a non-healing surgical wound after undergoing recurrent soft tissue sarcoma removal—a type of cancer surgery to remove a regrown tumor—with his family veterinarian. The surgery site was on his leg, which had been treated with radiation therapy two years earlier.
Wounds that occur or develop at previous radiation therapy sites are notoriously challenging to achieve closure of the skin and healing of the surgical site. I had to scour human medical journals and applied extra corporeal shock wave therapy, a noninvasive treatment that uses sound waves to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration, a reconstructive surgical flap procedure to close the wound. This has never been reported to be performed in a dog before with the novel use of extra corporeal shock wave therapy to salvage the reconstructive flap and treat distal tip necrosis, a condition where the far end of the surgical tissue begins to die due to lack of blood flow.
Turner’s owner was so grateful for the successful outcome as the outlook to heal the wound was very grim. After three and a half weeks of hospitalization, negative pressure wound therapy, two surgical procedures, and over $20,000 in veterinary treatment, Turner was discharged fully healed just in time for Christmas!
It was an incredible moment and feeling when I discharged Turner to his owner after such an ordeal, and I’ll remember Turner for the rest of my life.
SGU: What are your long-term career goals? How do you hope to contribute to the larger field of veterinary medicine?
Dr. Otomo: Since completing my surgical oncology fellowship in academia in 2023, I have been working in private practice but am now transitioning back to academia as faculty at a veterinary teaching hospital. Academia provides the opportunity to conduct clinically relevant research that advances veterinary medicine and improves treatment for pets. I hope to contribute to the ever-growing body of veterinary knowledge to continue to improve veterinary medicine.
Additionally, I am looking forward to didactic aspects of academia and teaching veterinary students, residents, and interns as they are the future of veterinary medicine. It is an honor and privilege to be a practicing veterinarian and to impact future generations of veterinarians through mentorship and teaching.
SGU: Why did you choose SGU?
Dr. Otomo: I chose SGU because I believe it has a strong reputation and a history of producing practice-ready veterinarians. Additionally, I love to travel to other countries and experience different cultures. Moving to Grenada definitely fit the bill for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse myself into a completely different culture, all while working towards my goal of becoming a veterinarian. SGU combined the best of both worlds: I had the opportunity to live in a different country with plenty of opportunities for adventure while advancing my academic endeavors.
SGU: How did SGU help you achieve your dream of becoming a veterinarian?
Dr. Otomo: SGU provides not only a strong knowledge base, but also a solid foundation in preparing veterinarians to navigate the daily rigors of being a practicing veterinarian. Living in Grenada teaches students resilience, perseverance in the face of challenges, and collaboration with fellow students in a supportive atmosphere. I found SGU faculty to be very approachable, knowledgeable, and dedicated to teaching students. It was clear to me that the SGU faculty deeply cared about their students.
I took part in leadership positions at SGU serving as vice-president of SGU’s Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association. I truly believe that involvement in leadership positions allows for invaluable opportunities and growth. The skills I gained during my time in Grenada have been instrumental and widely applicable to the challenges that I face daily.
SGU: Why would you recommend SGU to an aspiring vet student?
Dr. Otomo: I would recommend SGU to an aspiring veterinary student for the unique experience of pursuing a DVM degree while living in Grenada. The School’s curriculum provides not just a strong knowledge base, but the clinical skills that are critical in the field of veterinary medicine. I enjoyed being taught by experienced faculty who also exhibited caring demeanors and dedication to students. The experiences I had at SGU in Grenada were instrumental in developing me into the veterinarian I am today.
