HONOLULU — Military veterinary leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region convened in Honolulu for the third Veterinary One Health International Military Symposium, Indo-Pacific (VOHIMS, IP), underscoring a growing commitment to integrated health solutions across animal, environmental, and human domains. The symposium commenced with a Traditional Polynesian Introduction followed by a warm aloha welcome from COL Edgardo Ramirez.
The symposium, held April 13-17, 2026, brought together more than 80 military veterinarians from the United States and partner nations throughout the Indo-Pacific. The event focused on advancing the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in military and global health systems.
Participants engaged in five days of professional development and cultural enrichment, earning over 20 hours of continuing veterinary education credits. The agenda included educational lectures, networking sessions, team building exercises and a Hawaiian style Luau, hosted by Public Health Command-Pacific Commander COL Edgardo Ramirez. The program was designed to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of future partnerships.
Keynote presentations addressed a range of topics, including the evolving role of Army Medicine in the Pacific and strategies for enhancing health care delivery across the military enterprise. The sessions provided actionable insights and highlighted the importance of innovation and cooperation in addressing complex health challenges.
A Global Health Engagement (GHE) Planning Forum was also held during the symposium, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss upcoming engagements, partner capabilities, and opportunities for collaboration. The forum aimed to strengthen multinational partnerships and enhance the readiness of joint and allied forces through coordinated health initiatives.
The symposium marked a significant milestone in the Indo-Pacific region’s efforts to integrate veterinary medicine into broader military health security strategies, reinforcing the value of the One Health approach in supporting force health protection and mission readiness.